Take Control of Your Digital Legacy, 2nd Edition

2. Inventory Your Digital Assets

Your computer or mobile device is a virtual warehouse, with many thousands of files. Knowing what you have is a crucial first step.

When you’re writing a will, it helps to have a fairly detailed list of your tangible assets—home, car, money, furniture, artwork, and so on. Perhaps you’re leaving most of your estate to your spouse and kids, but you know your nephew has always loved that old cuckoo clock in the hall, or your neighbor would be thrilled to have your woodworking tools, and you want to make sure each item goes to the right recipient.

Many of your digital assets are qualitatively different in that they ...