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Digital Executor

Also known as: Digital Estate Executor, Online Asset Manager

Definition

A digital executor is a person named in your will to manage your online accounts, digital assets, and electronic records after your death, working alongside or as part of your main executor role.

This role has become increasingly important as the average person now has 70-100 online accounts, many with financial or sentimental value that would otherwise be lost.

What Does Digital Executor Mean?

The term "digital executor" describes someone you name in your will to handle the digital aspects of your estate, though it's not currently a formal legal role in UK law. Under the Administration of Estates Act 1925, your regular executor already has the legal duty to administer all estate assets, including digital ones. The Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill 2024 (expected to pass in 2025) will clarify that digital assets are personal property under UK law, making executor responsibilities clearer. Your digital executor can be the same person as your main executor or someone different who's more tech-savvy.

Digital assets typically include social media accounts, email, cryptocurrency, domain names, cloud storage, subscription services, and online businesses. The practical challenge is that each requires passwords and often two-factor authentication. Without proper planning, executors face significant barriers—some platforms require death certificates and probate documents, others prohibit access entirely. Sarah, 34, appointed her tech-savvy brother James as digital executor for her £45,000 cryptocurrency holdings across Coinbase and a hardware wallet, while her parents remained main executors. James understood blockchain technology and could access her wallet using private keys Sarah stored in a password manager.

Your digital executor needs specific information: an inventory of accounts, access credentials stored securely (never in the will itself), and clear wishes for each account. They must coordinate with your main executor since digital assets count toward your estate for inheritance tax purposes. Some decisions are time-sensitive—domain renewals and business continuity can't wait the typical 9-12 month probate timeline. Emma, 39, appointed her business mentor Claire to handle her e-commerce business, preventing collapse when critical domain renewals came due within weeks of Emma's death.

Common Questions

"Can I appoint someone different from my main executor to handle my digital assets?" Yes, you can appoint a separate person as your digital executor in your will. This is helpful if you have someone tech-savvy who understands cryptocurrency or online businesses better than your main executor. Both executors must coordinate since digital assets must be valued for inheritance tax purposes.

"What powers does a digital executor actually have under UK law?" Currently, there's no formal legal status for "digital executor" in UK law. However, under the Administration of Estates Act 1925, your executor has the duty to administer all estate assets, including digital ones. The Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill 2024 will clarify digital assets as personal property when passed. You can give specific instructions in your will authorising someone to handle your digital assets.

"Do I need to leave my passwords in my will for my digital executor?" Never include passwords in your will, as wills become public documents during probate. Instead, keep a separate password-protected document or use a password manager with emergency access features, and tell your digital executor how to access it. Many platforms also allow you to nominate a legacy contact independently of your will (Facebook, Google, Apple).

Common Misconceptions

Myth: "Digital executor is a formal legal role in the UK, like executor or trustee."

Reality: There is no statutory role of "digital executor" in UK law. The term is informal, describing someone you name in your will to handle online accounts and digital assets. Your executor already has legal duty to administer all estate assets including digital ones under the Administration of Estates Act 1925. You can give specific powers to someone to handle digital aspects, but they work within the existing executor framework.

Myth: "My digital executor can access all my online accounts automatically after I die."

Reality: Digital executors face significant access challenges. They need passwords, answers to security questions, and often physical devices for two-factor authentication. Most platforms have specific policies—some require death certificate and probate documents, others prohibit access entirely, and some require advance designation of a "legacy contact." Without proper planning (password manager, legacy contact designations, account inventory), your digital executor may be locked out permanently.

  • Digital Assets: The broader category of online accounts, cryptocurrency, social media, cloud storage, and digital businesses that a digital executor manages after your death.
  • Executor: The formal legal role under the Administration of Estates Act 1925 that already includes the duty to administer digital assets as part of the estate.
  • Cryptocurrency: A specific type of digital asset requiring specialist knowledge of private keys, hardware wallets, and blockchain transactions—a common reason for appointing a tech-savvy digital executor.
  • Social Media Accounts: One of the most common digital assets requiring sensitive decisions about memorialization, deletion, or transfer, with platform-specific legacy contact features.
  • Estate Administration: The overall legal process within which a digital executor operates, coordinating with the main executor to ensure digital assets are valued for inheritance tax and distributed properly.

Need Help with Your Will?

Planning for digital assets is essential in 2025. Understanding who will manage your online accounts, cryptocurrency, and digital businesses after your death ensures nothing valuable is lost.

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Legal Disclaimer:

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. WUHLD is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws and guidance change and their application depends on your circumstances. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified solicitor or regulated professional. Unless stated otherwise, information relates to England and Wales.