Digital estate checklist

A digital estate checklist gathers, in one list, everything a relative should be able to find: accounts, devices, documents, contacts, memories and official access tools. It never holds passwords — it holds locations, intentions and the names of the people allowed to act.

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What this checklist is, and what it is not

It is an inventory. It answers one question: what exists, and where? It does not say how to divide an estate, and it does not replace the administrative steps a family has to take.

A first pass takes one to two hours, then a yearly re-read. An incomplete but current list beats a perfect one nobody has touched in five years.

  • Inventory: this page.
  • Step-by-step method: the “prepare your digital life” page.
  • Succession paperwork: the “estate planning checklist” page.

The password rule

Never write a password into this list, into a shared document, or into an email sent to yourself. Credentials belong in a password manager, several of which offer an emergency or recovery access feature.

What your family needs is not your password: it is the list of accounts that matter, where the credentials live, and who is allowed to ask for them.

How to use the list below

Go through each section and record only what applies to you. Three details are enough per item: what it is, where it lives, and what you want to happen to it — keep, pass on, or close.

What exists in Solexi today

Available today

  • Document vault, organized by category
  • Memory space for photos, videos and recordings
  • Written wishes and instructions stored next to the matching documents
  • Trusted people with role-based access
  • Export of your content

Planned / in development

  • Printable, downloadable version of this checklist
  • Section-by-section progress tracking

The checklist, section by section

Six sections, in order. Fill it in on paper, in a private document, or directly inside Solexi.

1. Accounts

  • Primary email address and any secondary ones
  • Cloud storage: photos, files, phone backups
  • Social media and messaging apps
  • Recurring subscriptions: streaming, software, apps, news
  • Financial platforms: bank, brokerage, wallets, online payments
  • Work accounts, domain names, websites and online shops

Record the service name and the email tied to it — never the password.

2. Devices

  • Phone: model and the unlocking arrangement you intend
  • Laptop or desktop computer
  • Tablet and e-reader
  • External drives, USB sticks, memory cards
  • Connected devices holding data (watch, camera, home hub)

3. Important files

  • Legal: will, mandate, powers of attorney, contracts
  • Financial: statements, loans, retirement plans
  • Insurance: life, home, auto, health, disability
  • Property: titles, leases, deeds, warranties, vehicles
  • Personal records: health, education, immigration, military service

4. Family information

  • Trusted people and the role you intend for each
  • Professional contacts: notary, lawyer, accountant, adviser, insurer
  • Instructions written in plain language, section by section
  • People to notify first

5. Memories

  • Photos, including the ones that exist only on a phone
  • Videos and family films, digitized or not
  • Voice recordings and audio messages
  • Stories, letters, recipes, traditions

These have no administrative value and usually no backup copy — which is why they disappear first.

6. Access preparation

  • Official legacy tools switched on: Google Inactive Account Manager, Apple Legacy Contact, equivalents on other platforms
  • Recovery methods up to date: phone number, backup email, recovery codes
  • Emergency access configured in your password manager
  • Where the original paper documents are kept
  • The date of your next review

This checklist is an organizing tool. It is not legal, financial or tax advice. Applicable rules vary by jurisdiction and family situation: for any decision with legal effect, consult a notary, a lawyer or another qualified professional.

Pricing, in plain words

  • 14 days free, 1 GB included during the trial
  • Then CAD $199, one time only
  • Lifetime access, 10 GB included
  • No monthly subscription, no renewal

Frequently asked questions

Should a digital estate checklist contain passwords?

No. The checklist records accounts, where they live and what you intend for each. Credentials stay in a password manager that has its own emergency access mechanism.

How long does it take to complete?

One to two hours for a usable first version. Start with the main email address, the accounts that charge money, and the photos with no local copy.

How often should it be updated?

Once a year, and after any major change: a move, a new bank account, a separation, a birth, a new device.

Does this list carry legal weight?

No. It is an organizing document. It makes an executor’s work far easier, but it replaces neither a will, nor a mandate, nor professional advice.

Sources & Further Reading

Last reviewed : 2026-08-21

Solexi does not replace a legal will, a notary or a lawyer. Solexi helps you gather, organize and pass on your information.

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