Digital Services Guide

Why Track Digital Services?

Most people have dozens of online accounts that together form their digital life. Email accounts serve as the gateway to other services. Domain names require timely renewal. Paid subscriptions continue charging. Social media profiles hold memories and connections. Without a record of these services, your loved ones may struggle to manage, memorialise, or close your accounts.

How to Add Digital Services

Recording your digital services ensures they are included in your estate plan and your trusted contacts know how to find and manage them.

1. Go to Asset Management → Personal Asset Tracker → Digital Services
2. Click "Add Digital Service"
3. Select the service type (email, social media, domain, subscription, etc.)
4. Enter the platform or provider name and account identifier
5. For domains, add the registrar as the provider, plus the domain name and expiry date
6. Record any associated costs or subscription amounts
7. Set up access and security information (2FA, recovery codes)
8. Upload supporting documents if needed
9. Save the service to your portfolio

Security Best Practices

Your digital services contain personal data, memories, and ongoing financial commitments. Follow these practices to protect your accounts while ensuring they remain manageable by your estate.

• Never store passwords directly in Orchard72. Record their locations instead
• Use the password hint and PIN hint fields to provide clues about access without exposing credentials
• Record which accounts use two-factor authentication and where backup codes are stored
• Identify your "gateway" email account, the one used for password recovery on other services
• Document family plan memberships where others depend on your account
• Note any accounts with auto-renewal to help your executor cancel unnecessary charges

Digital Services & Your Will

Digital services present unique estate planning considerations. Laws governing digital inheritance vary by jurisdiction and are still evolving.

• Many online service terms prohibit account transfer, but beneficiaries may still be able to access content
• Domain names can be transferred to a new owner through the registrar
• Some platforms (e.g. Google, Facebook) offer legacy contact or memorialisation features
• Paid subscriptions should be cancelled to avoid ongoing charges to your estate
• Social media accounts can often be memorialised or removed upon request with a death certificate

Lawful access after death

Most major platforms now provide an authorised process for managing or accessing a deceased person’s account. These routes follow the platform’s own terms and are generally the safest option wherever you live, because they do not rely on someone logging in as the person who died. Use them rather than relying on stored passwords.

• Google: Inactive Account Manager lets you nominate a trusted contact who can receive selected data after a period of inactivity.
• Apple: Legacy Contact gives a nominated person access to your iCloud data after death (with a death certificate).
• Facebook / Meta: Memorialisation freezes the account; a designated Legacy Contact can manage limited aspects.
• Microsoft: Next-of-kin process releases account contents on request, with documentation.
• Banks: In many countries, including the UK, larger banks run a dedicated bereavement team that handles account access once the estate paperwork is in place.

Should I include all my online accounts?

Focus on accounts with financial value (paid subscriptions, domain names, marketplace seller accounts) and those with sentimental or practical importance (email, cloud storage with family photos, social media). You do not need to record every free service, but it is helpful to include those your family would want to manage or memorialise.

What about cryptocurrency and blockchain assets?

Cryptocurrency, exchange accounts, DeFi wallets, and NFTs are managed separately under Crypto Assets. This separation reflects their different security requirements and update cadences. Visit the Crypto Assets section in your Asset Tracker or see our Crypto Assets Help Guide for details.

How do I handle accounts with family plans?

For accounts with family plans (Spotify Family, Netflix, iCloud Family Sharing), use the notes field to record who else is on the plan and what happens if the primary account holder changes. This helps your executor avoid disrupting services for family members.

Can I add services from any country or platform?

Yes. Orchard72 supports digital services from any country and any platform. You can record accounts held on international services, foreign domain registrars, or regional providers. The service types on offer cover the full range of digital services.