Digital Estate Planning in Alberta: Your Online Accounts After Death | Libra Law

Most of us now live a large part of our lives online. Email, online banking, photos in the cloud, social media, subscriptions, loyalty points, cryptocurrency, and even entire businesses run through digital platforms. These are real assets with real value — some financial, some deeply sentimental. Yet when someone passes away, their online accounts do not simply transfer to their family the way a bank account or a home might.

Digital estate planning is the process of deciding, in advance, what happens to your online life after you die. For Albertans, a little planning now can spare your loved ones a great deal of frustration later — and can prevent valuable assets from being lost for good.

What counts as a "digital asset"?

A digital asset is essentially anything you own or control that exists in electronic form or online. It is easy to underestimate how many you have. Common examples include:

• Email and messaging accounts
• Social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok)
• Online banking, investment, and payment accounts (PayPal, Wise)
• Cryptocurrency and digital wallets
• Photos, videos, and documents stored in the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox)
• Loyalty and rewards programs, including air miles and points
• Domain names, websites, and blogs
• Online business and marketplace accounts (Amazon, Etsy, Shopify)
• Subscriptions and streaming services
• The contents of phones, laptops, and other devices

Why online accounts are harder to deal with than physical assets

With a physical asset, ownership is usually clear. Digital assets are different for a few reasons. Many accounts are governed by the service provider’s terms of service, which often say you hold only a personal, non-transferable licence — not something you own outright. Passwords and two-factor authentication protect access that no one else may have. Privacy laws and provider policies can restrict who is allowed into an account, even a spouse. And the value at stake varies enormously: a lost cryptocurrency key can mean losing thousands of dollars permanently, while a locked cloud account may hold irreplaceable family photos.

What happens if you don’t plan ahead

When there is no plan, the people winding up your estate are often left guessing. Your executor may not even know an account exists. Accounts can be frozen or locked, sometimes forever. Cryptocurrency with no recorded key is generally gone for good. Dormant accounts can become targets for identity theft, and recurring subscription charges may quietly continue to draw down the estate. All of this lands on grieving family members at the worst possible time.

How Alberta law treats digital assets

There is no single Alberta statute that neatly governs digital assets on death. A personal representative (executor) has authority to gather in and administer the estate's property, but that authority is subject to the terms of service set by each online provider and to federal privacy law. In practice, what makes digital assets accessible is not a single rule — it is clear, written authority in your will combined with a good inventory and secure access instructions.

We cover the will-drafting side of this in more detail in our article on digital assets and your Alberta will, and it is worth thinking through as part of everything that goes into a will. The key takeaway is that thoughtful planning, rather than the law alone, is what protects your digital legacy.

Steps to protect your digital legacy

1. Make a digital asset inventory

List your important accounts and where to find them. Keep this list separate from your will itself — once a will is submitted for probate, it can become a public court document, so it is not the place to record passwords or private keys.

2. Store access information securely

A reputable password manager, or sealed written instructions kept with your important papers, lets your executor access the accounts when the time comes. Update it whenever passwords change.

3. Give your executor clear authority

Your will can expressly authorize your executor to access, manage, transfer, and close your digital accounts and devices. Spelling this out reduces the chance a provider refuses to cooperate.

4. Use the platforms’ own legacy tools

Several major providers offer built-in features: Google’s Inactive Account Manager, Apple’s Legacy Contact, and Facebook’s legacy contact all let you nominate someone in advance. Setting these up now saves your family a difficult process later.

5. Plan for cryptocurrency specifically

Crypto is unforgiving. Without the private key or recovery phrase, the assets cannot be recovered by anyone. Record custody instructions securely and make sure a trusted person will know where to look.

6. Leave instructions for what you actually want

Do you want social media accounts memorialized or deleted? Photos preserved and shared? A business account transferred? Write down your wishes so your executor is not left to guess.

A note on passwords and your will

It is worth repeating: do not write passwords, PINs, or crypto keys into the text of your will. Instead, refer to a separate secure document or a memorandum kept with your will that can be updated without re-signing your entire will. This keeps sensitive credentials out of the public record while still guiding your executor.

Frequently asked questions

Can my executor access my email after I die?

Not automatically. Access depends on the provider’s terms of service and on the authority granted in your will. Clear written authority and secure access instructions make this far more likely to work.

Does my will cover my online accounts automatically?

A general will may not address digital assets at all. It is best to name your digital assets and give your executor specific authority to deal with them.

What happens to my social media if I do nothing?

The account usually stays as-is until a family member requests memorialization or deletion, which each platform handles differently and can be a slow, evidence-heavy process.

Planning your digital estate? The team at Libra Law helps Calgary and Alberta families put practical, up-to-date plans in place — including wills and estates that account for your digital life. Call or text us at +1 (587) 438-2051, or get in touch to book a consultation.

This article provides general information about Alberta law and is not legal advice. Every situation is different. For advice about your specific circumstances, please speak with a lawyer at Libra Law.