What happens to all of your online accounts – credit cards, merchants, news subscriptions, social media, streaming services – after you die? How will your heirs know how to access these accounts or understand what you want done with them? Most people haven’t considered these questions, and this lack of planning can create significant headaches for next of kin.
We studied challenges older adults encounter when thinking about what should happen to their online accounts after they die. We interviewed 21 American adults over age 60 to learn about their concerns, needs and practices for their online accounts, as well as what would make planning for these accounts easier.
kAm|@DE @7 E96 A6@A=6 H6 :?E6CG:6H65 925 9:C65 =2HJ6CD @C 6DE2E6 A=2??6CD E@ 5C27E H:==D DA64:7J:?8 9@H E96:C >@?6J 2?5 A9JD:42= AC@A6CEJ D9@F=5 36 92?5=65 27E6C E96:C 562E9D] %96J H2?E65 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E 96:CD 925 62DJ 2446DD E@ E96 >@?6J 2?5 2DD6ED =67E 369:?5]k^Am
kAm!6@A=6 2=D@ H2?E65 E96:C C6=2E:G6D E@ 92G6 62DJ 2446DD E@ E96:C 5:8:E2= 6DE2E6D[ 3FE E96J 925 ?@E 5@?6 2?J 7@C>2= A=2??:?8 2?5 5:5?’E <?@H 9@H E@ A=2? 7@C EC2?D:E:@?:?8 @C D9FEE:?8 5@H? @?=:?6 244@F?ED[ DF49 2D 6>2:=[ D@4:2= >65:2 2?5 244@F?ED 7@C @?=:?6 3:==D] $@>6 E@=5 FD E96J 925?’E E9@F89E 23@FE E96:C @?=:?6 244@F?ED 2E 2==] ~E96CD D2:5 E96J 2DDF>65 96:CD H@F=5 <?@H H92E E@ 5@[ @C E96J 2DDF>65 E92E 8:G:?8 96:CD E96 A2DDH@C5D E@ 244@F?ED H@F=5 36 6?@F89 E@ 8C2?E 2446DD E@ E96:C 5:8:E2= 6DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ >@C6 A=2??:?8 :D EJA:42==J ?646DD2CJ E@ D>@@E9=J EC2?D:E:@? 2 5:8:E2= 6DE2E6]k^Am
k9am!2DD:?8 5@H? 2 =:DE @7 A2DDH@C5Dk^9am
kAm%96 @=56C 25F=ED H6 :?E6CG:6H65 >2:?=J <6AE EC24< @7 E96:C A2DDH@C5D 3J 92?5i %96J HC@E6 E96:C A2DDH@C5D 5@H? @? A2A6C[ @C E96J DE@C65 E96> :? 2 5:8:E2= 7:=6] p=>@DE 6G6CJ@?6 925 2=C625J D92C65 D@>6 @7 E96:C A2DDH@C5D H:E9 72>:=J >6>36CD H9@ 96=A E96> >2?286 E96:C 244@F?ED] tG6CJ@?6 2=D@ 36=:6G65 E92E E96:C 96:CD H@F=5 36 23=6 E@ 7:?5 E96:C =:DE @7 A2DDH@C5D 27E6C E96:C 562E9]k^Am
kAm%96 A6@A=6 H6 :?E6CG:6H65 H6C6?’E 2=H2JD 92AAJ H:E9 E96:C 4FCC6?E DJDE6>D 7@C <66A:?8 EC24< @7 E96:C A2DDH@C5D] $@>6 A6@A=6 4@>A=2:?65 E92E H96? 244@F?ED C6BF:C65 7C6BF6?E A2DDH@C5 492?86D[ :E H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD6?:I]@C8^DJDE6>^7:=6D^D@FADa_`h\A62C>2?]A57Qm5:77:4F=E E@ <66A E96:C A2DDH@C5 =:DED FA E@ 52E6k^2m] pD 2 C6DF=E[ E96J H6C6?’E DFC6 E96:C 96:CD H@F=5 86E E96 =2E6DE G6CD:@? @7 2== E96:C A2DDH@C5D]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A4>28]4@>^A:4<D^E96\36DE\A2DDH@C5\>2?286CDQm!2DDH@C5 >2?286CDk^2m 42? 36 2 8@@5 H2J E@ >2<6 DFC6 A2DDH@C5D 2C6 FA E@ 52E6 2?5[ :7 D6E FA 2AAC@AC:2E6=J[ 2446DD:3=6 E@ 2 56D:8?2E65 96:C] (9:=6 >@DE @7 E96 A6@A=6 H6 :?E6CG:6H65 FD65 A2DDH@C5 >2?286CD[ D@>6 D2:5 E96J 5:5?’E D2G6 :>A@CE2?E A2DDH@C5D :? E96> 3642FD6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD6?:I]@C8^DJDE6>^7:=6D^D64a`DF>>6C0C2J]A57QmE96J 5:5?’E <?@H H96E96C E96J H6C6 D64FC6k^2m] w@H6G6C[ FD:?8 2 A2DDH@C5 >2?286C :D E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD6?:I]@C8^4@?76C6?46^D@FADa_ad^AC6D6?E2E:@?^@CE=@77Qm>@DE 7C6BF6?E D64FC:EJ C64@>>6?52E:@? 7C@> 6IA6CEDk^2m[ H9@ EJA:42==J FD6 E96> E@ DE@C6 A2DDH@C5D 7@C 2== @7 E96:C 244@F?ED]k^Am
kAmqJ FD:?8 2 A2DDH@C5 >2?286C[ J@F 42? >2<6 DFC6 J@FC 56D:8?2E65 96:C 92D 2446DD E@ 2== J@FC =2E6DE A2DDH@C5D] $@>6 A2DDH@C5 >2?286CD AC@G:56 2446DD 7@C DFCG:G@CD 3J 5672F=E[ DF49 2D E9C@F89 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DFAA@CE]?@C5A2DD]4@>^94^6?\FD^2CE:4=6D^deh`fffhdghah\w@H\E@\8:G6\t>6C86?4J\p446DD\:?\}@C5!2DDQmE:>6\56=2J65k^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3:EH2C56?]4@>^96=A^6>6C86?4J\2446DD^Qm6>6C86?4J 2446DD 762EFC6Dk^2m] *@F 42? 2=D@ HC:E6 E96 >2DE6C A2DDH@C5 5@H? D@>6H96C6 D276 E@ A2DD E@ J@FC 96:C] x?DE625 @7 >2<:?8 DFC6 5@K6?D @7 244@F?E A2DDH@C5D 2C6 FA E@ 52E6[ J@F @?=J 92G6 E@ >2?286 @?6]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQ2 >:55=6 2865 >2? 2?5 H@>2? D:E 2E 2 E23=6 2D 2 J@F?86C >2? DE2?5D 36EH66? E96>[ 2== =@@<:?8 2E 2 =2AE@A D4C66?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^feh`ed^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae`_ah\ec\Gb<:G<];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AU2>AjHlfc_Q ^mk7:842AE:@?m*@FC 96:CD 4@F=5 92G6 2 7CFDEC2E:?8 E:>6 2446DD:?8 J@FC @?=:?6 244@F?ED 6G6? :7 E96J 92G6 J@FC A2DDH@C5D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^A9@E@^72>:=J\E2=<:?8\2?5\5@:?8\9@>6\7:?2?46D\@?\=2AE@A\2E\C@J2=EJ\7C66\:>286^a`ebgh___bQmuv %C256 {2E:?^tZ G:2 v6EEJ x>286D G:2 %96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9am!2DDH@C5D 2=@?6 42??@E F?=@4< 2== 244@F?EDk^9am
kAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ ;FDE 92?5:?8 D@>6@?6 J@FC A2DDH@C5D 5@6D?’E 2=H2JD >62? E96J 42? =@8 :? 2?5 >2?286 J@FC 244@F?E] x7 E96 244@F?E 2D<D 7@C EH@\724E@C 2FE96?E:42E:@?[ DF49 2D E9C@F89 2 4@56 D6?E E@ 2 A9@?6 @C 6>2:=[ 2 A2DDH@C5 2=@?6 H@?’E 8C2?E 2446DD] p?5 :7 E96 6>2:= 244@F?E :D 4=@D65 @C E96 A9@?6 ?F>36C :D ?@ =@?86C 24E:G6 27E6C J@F 5:6[ E96? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_ac^_a^ae^E649^5:8:E2=\=6824J\A=2??:?8\A6CD@?2=\E649?@=@8J^:?56I]9E>=QmE96J >:89E 36 @FE @7 =F4<k^2m]k^Am
kAm%@ >2<6 DFC6 J@FC 96:CD 2C6?’E =@4<65 @FE[ :56?E:7J E96 56G:46D 2?5 244@F?ED E92E 42? 24E 2D <6JD 7@C 96:CD E@ F?=@4< E96 C6DE @7 J@FC @?=:?6 244@F?ED[ 2?5 5:C64E J@FC 96:CD E@ <66A E96> @A6? F?E:= @E96C 244@F?ED 92G6 366? D6EE=65] %9:D ?@E @?=J >2<6D DFC6 E92E 96:CD 42? 86E 2FE96?E:42E:@? 4@56D[ 3FE 2=D@ =6ED 96:CD C6D6E A2DDH@C5D E@ J@FC @E96C 244@F?ED :7 E96J 42?’E 7:?5 E96 A2DDH@C5]k^Am
kAmx? D@>6 42D6D[ A2DDH@C5D >:89E ?@E 36 ?646DD2CJ] $@>6 @?=:?6 D6CG:46D[ DF49 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]72463@@<]4@>^96=A^`_bghfhbhf_``cb^Qmu2463@@<k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DFAA@CE]8@@8=6]4@>^244@F?ED^2?DH6C^b_bedcen2:`94l`Qmv@@8=6k^2m[ 92G6 762EFC6D E92E =6E J@F 49@@D6 D@>6@?6 E@ >2?286 J@FC 244@F?E @C 86E J@FC 52E2 27E6C J@F 5:6] w@H6G6C[ ?@E 2== A=2E7@C>D @776C E9:D @AE:@?[ 2?5 76H @7 E96 @=56C 25F=ED H6 :?E6CG:6H65 H6C6 2H2C6 @7 E96D6 762EFC6D]k^Am
k9am~?=:?6 244@F?ED 5@?’E 2FE@>2E:42==J 5:6 H:E9 J@Fk^9am
kAm{:<6 >2?J @7 E96 A6@A=6 H6 :?E6CG:6H65[ J@F >:89E 2=D@ 2DDF>6 E92E 96:CD H:== AC@A6C=J 562= H:E9 244@F?ED H:E9 >@?6J 2?5 :>A@CE2?E 52E2[ H9:=6 F?:>A@CE2?E 244@F?ED 42? 36 :8?@C65] qFE 6G6? :7 E96C6 :D ?@E9:?8 :>A@CE2?E :? 2? 244@F?E[ :E 42? DE:== 36 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3=@8]8@@8=6^:??@G2E:@?\2?5\2:^E649?@=@8J^D276EJ\D64FC:EJ^FA52E:?8\@FC\:?24E:G6\244@F?E\A@=:4:6D^QmFD65 3J 924<6CD 7@C :56?E:EJ E967E[ DA2> @C 7C2F5F=6?E 24E:G:E:6Dk^2m] pFE@>2E:4 >@?E9=J 492C86D[ E@ 4@G6C E96 4@DE @7 DEC62>:?8 D6CG:46D @C 2??F2= 3:==:?8 7@C >282K:?6 DF3D4C:AE:@?D[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ >:89E 2=D@ 4@?E:?F6 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6]k^Am
kAm(:E9@FE :?DECF4E:@?D[ E96 A6@A=6 >2?28:?8 J@FC @?=:?6 244@F?ED 27E6C J@F 5:6 >:89E ?@E E9:?< E@ 4=@D6 E9@D6 244@F?ED] %96J >:89E 2=D@ 7:?5 :E 92C5 E@ 8F6DD J@FC :?E6?E:@?D]k^Am
kAm*@F 42? =62G6 :?DECF4E:@?D 7@C J@FC 96:CD 3J 8@:?8 E9C@F89 J@FC 244@F?ED 2?5 ?@E:?8 H9:49 @?6D 42? 36 4=@D65 @FEC:89E[ H9:49 @?6D C6BF:C6 7:?2= A2J>6?ED 367@C6 4=@DFC6[ 2?5 H9:49 @?6D >:89E C6BF:C6 @E96C 24E:@?D] *@F 42? 2=D@ A6C:@5:42==J E:5J FA 2?5 4=@D6 244@F?ED J@F 2C6 ?@ =@?86C FD:?8 E@ <66A J@FC =:DE @7 244@F?ED >@C6 >2?28623=6]k^Am
k9am!=2??:?8 29625 7@C J@F 2?5 J@FC 96:CDk^9am
kAm(9:=6 :E D66>D D:>A=6 E@ ;FDE =6E J@FC 96:CD 92?5=6 J@FC :>A@CE2?E @?=:?6 244@F?ED 2?5 =6E E96 @E96CD D=@H=J 7256 :?E@ ?@?6I:DE6?46 27E6C J@F 5:6[ E96 C62=:EJ :D @7E6? >@C6 4@>A=6I]k^Am
kAm*@FC @?=:?6 244@F?ED H:== =:G6 @? 27E6C J@F 5:6] !=2??:?8 29625 7@C H92E 92AA6?D E@ E9@D6 244@F?ED 42? C65F46 E96 DEC6DD @? J@FC 96:CD 2?5 6?DFC6 J@FC 5:8:E2= 244@F?ED 2C6 92?5=65 244@C5:?8 E@ J@FC H:D96D]k^Am
kAmk6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4J=23]4>F]65F^5:C64E@CJ^3:@D^32F6C\=F;@]9E>=Qm{F;@ q2F6Ck^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6?8:?66C:?8]4>F]65F^5:C64E@CJ^3:@D^49C:DE:?\?:4@=2D]9E>=Qm}:4@=2D r9C:DE:?k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^Db5]4>F]65F^A6@A=6^4@C6\724F=EJ^4C2?@C\=@CC:6]9E>=Qm{@CC:6 rC2?@Ck^2m 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D 2CE:4=6]k^6>mk^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbd_aQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji kDA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^;6??J\E2?8\aefeee`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbd_aQmy6??J %2?8k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^42C?68:6\>6==@?\F?:G6CD:EJ\hf_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbd_aQmr2C?68:6 |6==@? &?:G6CD:EJk^2mk^6>m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^I:2@JF2?\@H6?\HF\afeh_`fnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbd_aQm):2@JF2? W~H6?X (Fk^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^42C?68:6\>6==@?\F?:G6CD:EJ\hf_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbd_aQmr2C?68:6 |6==@? &?:G6CD:EJk^2mk^6>mk^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^@?=:?6\E@@=D\AFE\H:==\HC:E:?8\:?\C6249\7@C\>@DE\A6@A=6\3FE\E96JC6\?@E\E96\6?5\@7\E96\=:?6\7@C\AC@5F4:?8\2\=682==J\3:?5:?8\5@4F>6?E\`fbdehnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbd_aQm~?=:?6 E@@=D AFE H:==‑HC:E:?8 :? C6249 7@C >@DE A6@A=6 – 3FE E96J’C6 ?@E E96 6?5 @7 E96 =:?6 7@C AC@5F4:?8 2 =682==J 3:?5:?8 5@4F>6?Ek^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^2C6\@=56C\25F=ED\>@C6\GF=?6C23=6\E@\D42>D\H92E\ADJ49@=@8:DED\92G6\=62C?65\23@FE\H9@D\>@DE\DFD46AE:3=6\2?5\H96?\aafhh`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbd_aQmpC6 @=56C 25F=ED >@C6 GF=?6C23=6 E@ D42>Dn (92E ADJ49@=@8:DED 92G6 =62C?65 23@FE H9@’D >@DE DFD46AE:3=6[ 2?5 H96?k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^6=56C\7C2F5\92D\C624965\6A:56>:4\AC@A@CE:@?D\2\86C:2EC:4:2?\6IA=2:?D\H92E\@=56C\2>6C:42?D\?665\E@\<?@H\ab_fdcnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbd_aQmt=56C 7C2F5 92D C624965 6A:56>:4 AC@A@CE:@?D – 2 86C:2EC:4:2? 6IA=2:?D H92E @=56C p>6C:42?D ?665 E@ <?@Hk^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m%96 2FE9@CD 5@ ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92G6 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^ahbd_a^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.