We are all used to the idea of an executor: the person who sorts out an estate after a death. Fewer people have thought about the digital version of that job. Yet so much of what we own and treasure now lives online that handling it well needs someone comfortable doing so. A digital executor is the person who takes that on. Here is what the role involves and how to choose yours.
What a digital executor does
A digital executor manages your digital estate after you die: your accounts, files and online presence. In practice that can mean:
- Closing or memorialising social media and other accounts.
- Retrieving and safeguarding photos and important files.
- Cancelling subscriptions and dealing with any online finances.
- Carrying out the wishes you set out, for example in a social media will.
It is a practical role as much as an administrative one, and it suits someone who is confident with technology.
How it differs from a traditional executor
The legal authority to deal with your estate still sits with the executor named in your will. A digital executor is often a helper focused on the online side, working under that authority. They can be the same person, if your executor is comfortable with the digital world, or someone different who is better suited to it. Because the role is not yet a formal legal position in the UK in the way a will’s executor is, it works best when you name the person clearly, set out their authority and refer to your digital assets in your will. A solicitor can advise on wording so there is no doubt.
Choosing the right person
Look for someone who is:
- Comfortable and capable with technology and online accounts.
- Trustworthy with sensitive personal information.
- Likely to be around and willing to take it on.
- Able to work alongside your main executor without friction.
Talk to them first. It is not a role to spring on someone by surprise.
Give them what they need
A digital executor cannot act on wishes they cannot find. Leave them a list of the accounts that matter, your wishes for each, and access to the legacy tools you have set up. Do not simply hand over passwords in a document; use a password manager’s emergency access and the platforms’ own legacy features. Our digital legacy planning guide walks through the whole setup.
Where FamilySafe fits
FamilySafe gives your digital executor exactly what they need: the map of your accounts, your recorded wishes and access shared on your terms. So when the time comes, they can act with clarity rather than piecing it together from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
Is a digital executor a legal role in the UK?
Not a formal one in the way a will’s executor is. The legal authority rests with your named executor. Naming a digital executor, setting out their authority, and referring to digital assets in your will gives the arrangement clarity, and a solicitor can help word it.
Can my digital executor be the same as my main executor?
Yes, if that person is comfortable with the online side. Many people choose a separate, more tech-confident person to focus on the digital estate.
What should I give them?
A list of the accounts that matter, your wishes for each and access through legacy tools and a password manager’s emergency access, rather than a plain list of passwords.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Making a will
- Apple, Google and Meta legacy tools
