Should I put passwords in my will?

Question

I am creating an inventory of online accounts for my executor and thought about putting usernames and passwords directly in my will. Someone told me wills can become part of a public probate record, which made me realize that may be a bad place for sensitive login information. How should passwords and access instructions be stored so the executor can find what is needed without putting security information into a document that could become public?

Soradin · Accepted Answer

A probated will may become public, so a secure password manager or separate protected inventory is usually safer. In the estate planning context, digital assets can include email, cloud storage, social media, online businesses, cryptocurrency, reward accounts, and devices. For this legal issue, a plan should identify assets, provide lawful access instructions, and name a fiduciary without placing sensitive passwords in a public will. The answer can shift based on state law and the governing account documents, and a qualified professional should review the specifics before anything is changed.

Should I put passwords in my will?

Soradin

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