Protect Your Digital Assets in Utah Estate Planning for Email, Social, and Crypto
Plain-English guide to inventories, passwords, fiduciary access, and Utah’s RUFADAA
In today’s connected world, much of your life lives online. When you pass away, what happens to your Facebook, Google, or crypto accounts? This guide explains how Utah families can protect their digital assets through estate planning so loved ones can access important information without invading privacy or violating the law.
What Counts as a Digital Asset in Utah
Digital assets include almost anything you store or manage online. Under Utah law, these can include:
- Email accounts (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo)
- Social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok)
- Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
- Online banking and payment accounts
- Domain names, blogs, and websites
- Subscriptions, streaming services, and loyalty programs
- Cryptocurrency and digital wallets
Why Digital Estate Planning Matters
If you don’t leave instructions, your family may face closed accounts, locked devices, or privacy barriers from tech companies. A clear plan helps ensure that:
- Heirs can recover sentimental items like photos and messages
- Financial accounts are transferred or closed correctly
- Sensitive or private data stays secure
- Online identities aren’t misused after death
Utah’s RUFADAA allows your executor, agent, or trustee to manage your digital property, but only if you’ve given permission.
Step-by-Step Checklist for Protecting Digital Assets
- Create a digital inventory. List your accounts, devices, and assets with where they live and what they’re for.
- Securely store passwords. Use a password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden. Share access only with a trusted person or executor.
- Appoint a digital executor. Name a fiduciary in your will or trust to handle online accounts under Utah’s rules.
- Add access language to documents. Your will, trust, and power of attorney should explicitly grant access to digital property.
- Leave privacy and access instructions. Specify what to do with each account: memorialize, delete, or transfer.
- Use built-in tools. Turn on Facebook Legacy Contact and Google Inactive Account Manager where available.
- Keep it updated. Refresh your list after new accounts or password changes. Review annually and after major life events.
- Know the default. Without instructions, some accounts may remain locked or be deleted.
Understanding Utah’s RUFADAA
Key Takeaways
You can authorize access through a will, trust, power of attorney, or an online platform setting.
Without authorization, service providers may refuse to share data.
Fiduciaries can manage digital files, but content of communications (emails/DMs) may require explicit permission.
Platform Tools You Should Activate
What Happens Without a Plan
- Executors face roadblocks or permanent account locks
- Loss of photos, messages, and business data
- Unresolved subscriptions and charges
- Higher risk of identity theft or account misuse
Video & Social Learning Hub
YouTube: Digital Estate Planning
Bring Digital Assets Into Your Estate Plan
Digital assets are now part of nearly every Utah family’s legacy. With clear instructions and the right legal language, you can protect privacy, make access simple for loved ones, and avoid digital confusion later.
Talk to a Utah AttorneyFor more plain-English legal guidance, stay updated with Utah Law Explained, explore our mission on the About Us page, or connect with trusted counsel like Gibb Law Firm.