In today’s digital-first world, it’s not just property, pensions, and savings you need to consider when writing a will—it’s also your digital life. From cherished family photos stored in the cloud to cryptocurrency, social media accounts, and email logins, these digital assets often go overlooked.
If you’re using or considering a Mirror Will—a popular option for couples who want to leave everything to each other—this guide explains how digital assets fit into the picture and what you should do to ensure they’re properly managed after you’re gone.
What Is a Mirror Will?
A Mirror Will is a pair of almost identical wills typically made by married or long-term partners. Each person leaves their estate to the other, and then to chosen beneficiaries (like children) after the surviving partner’s death.
They are:
- Cost-effective
- Simple to draft
- Popular among couples with similar wishes
But simplicity comes at a cost: standard mirror wills may not address your digital footprint unless you add custom provisions.
What Are Digital Assets?
Digital assets are any online accounts, subscriptions, or files stored digitally that have sentimental, monetary, or functional value. These may include:
- Email accounts (e.g., Gmail, Outlook)
- Social media profiles (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
- Online banking and PayPal
- Cryptocurrency wallets (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum)
- Cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive, iCloud)
- Online businesses or monetised websites
- Digital photos, videos, eBooks
- Subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime)
These assets may contain personal information, digital memories, or money—yet most traditional wills don’t account for them properly.
Do Mirror Wills Automatically Cover Digital Assets?
Short answer: Not unless you include them. Digital assets can be covered in a mirror will—but they’re often not explicitly mentioned unless the will is professionally drafted with digital estate planning in mind. This can result in:
- Loved ones struggling to access your online accounts
- Financial loss (e.g., unused crypto wallets or PayPal balances)
- Missed sentimental assets like family photos or videos
- Security risks, including identity theft
🧠 Did You Know? Platforms like Google and Facebook have their own policies on what happens to your account after you die—most default to deletion unless you pre-set preferences.
Why You Should Include Digital Assets in Your Mirror Will
The reality is, without proper instructions, many digital assets may go undiscovered or become impossible to retrieve.
Including digital assets in your Mirror Will:
- Prevents confusion or disputes among family members
- Protects valuable assets (like cryptocurrency or monetised content)
- Secures sentimental items like photos or private messages
- Reduces the chance of post-death fraud or hacking
How to Protect Your Digital Assets in a Mirror Will
Here’s a step-by-step approach to ensuring your digital assets are safe and accessible:
- Create a Digital Asset Inventory: List all your important online accounts, including:
– Login URLs
– Usernames or emails used
– Type of asset (e.g., financial, sentimental, business-related)
– Don’t include passwords in the will itself, but store them securely (e.g., in a password manager like LastPass or Dashlane). - Appoint a Digital Executor or Trustee: This can be the same person as your main executor, or someone else who is more tech-savvy. They’ll be responsible for managing, closing, or transferring your digital accounts.
- Include Clear Instructions: in the WillUse custom clauses to:
Identify digital assets you want to be preserved, deleted, or passed on
Give permission for trusted individuals to access them - Use Tools from Major Platforms: Google Inactive Account Manager: Lets you designate a trusted contact to access your account after a set time of inactivity.
Facebook Legacy Contact: Allows a chosen person to memorialise your profile.
Apple Digital Legacy: Lets you add Legacy Contacts in iOS.
A Mirror Will is a great estate planning tool for couples—but in 2025, it must evolve to reflect modern realities. Digital assets are part of your legacy. Without proper instructions, they could be lost forever.
✅ Speak to our expert team today to update your mirror will and protect your digital footprint. We offer free, no-obligation consultations across the UK.