How to Make Sure Your Family Can Get Into Your Accounts If Something Happens to You

Oct 28

A question that comes up more and more in our community: if something happened to me tomorrow, could anyone actually get into my accounts? By accounts, we mean the logins themselves: the bank app, the email every password reset goes to, the photos, the account that pays the electric bill.

For a lot of women, the honest answer is no. Many of us are the ones keeping the household running, which means the passwords live in our heads and on our phones. And many estate plans skip this part entirely.

Picture your partner or your sister trying to pay that electric bill next month from a hospital waiting room, with no login and no authorization. Closing that gap mostly comes down to a few small, practical steps.

A password manager with emergency access, the legacy tools built into Google and Apple, and a financial power of attorney that covers digital accounts can work together so someone you trust is able to step in.

This is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Estate planning laws vary by state. Mitzi is not a law firm. Please consult a licensed attorney for guidance specific to your situation.

Why your passwords belong in your plan

Our founder Katie Katz, an estate planning attorney by background, often asks people to think about how much of their life sits behind a password.

Estate planning documents name the people you trust. They don't hand anyone a login. So even when the right person is ready to help, they can end up stuck at a password screen at exactly the moment you need them.

Start with a password manager

One of the simplest fixes is a password manager. That's an app that stores all your logins in one secure place, locked behind one master password. You only have to remember that one. And many password managers let you plan for this.

Emergency access. Some let you name a trusted person for emergency access, often with a waiting period you choose. If that person requests access and you don't respond in time, they can get in. If you're fine, you have time to respond first.

A printable emergency sheet. Others give you a printable emergency sheet with what someone would need to get into your account. You keep it somewhere safe.

Some of these features are only available on paid plans, so it's worth checking what yours includes.

Many accounts also send a code to your phone when someone logs in. Your password manager may be able to store backup codes, and it's worth thinking about whether someone you trust could get into your phone in an emergency.

Use the tools your biggest accounts already have

Google and Apple each have their own tools. Google has Inactive Account Manager, and Apple has Legacy Contact. Each takes a few minutes to set up and lets you choose who can get access if something happens to you.

Two things are worth knowing. First, these tools are generally designed for after death or a long period of inactivity, not a sudden hospital stay. Second, an Apple Legacy Contact generally can't see your saved passwords, so it isn't a full solution on its own. For the unexpected moments in between, your password manager and your financial power of attorney typically do more of the work.

It's also worth setting these up with care. In many states, the choices you make in tools like these can take priority over what your other documents say about that account.

Connect it to your estate plan

Once your password manager is set up, write down which one you use and who has emergency access, and keep that note with your estate planning documents. Just don't put your master password on a sticky note. The note tells your people where to look.

Look at your financial power of attorney

This step is easy to overlook. A financial power of attorney is the document that names someone, often called your agent, to handle money matters if you can't.

It can include specific authority over digital accounts. But many older ones don't mention digital anything. Certain powers often have to be spelled out in the document to be used. In many states, for example, an agent may need specific permission to see the content of things like your emails and messages, not just a list of your accounts. We walk through this in Three Things to Check Before You Sign On as Someone's Power of Attorney.

Some providers' terms don't allow anyone else to log in as you, even with permission, which is one reason the authority in your power of attorney matters alongside the login.

A power of attorney is generally only effective while you're alive. After death, the person handling your estate typically steps in, and different rules may apply to your accounts.

If you don't have a financial power of attorney in place, or yours is quite old, it may be worth putting it on your list. It's one of the three core estate planning documents many adults benefit from having.

A few things that generally help

Start small. You don't have to do all of this today. Pick a password manager and name one person. That alone can go a long way.

Write the note. Which password manager you use, who has emergency access, and where your documents live. Keep it with your estate planning documents.

Check your documents. Look at whether your financial power of attorney mentions digital accounts, and if you don't have one, put it on your list.

Save this for later. If today isn't the day, come back to it when you have twenty quiet minutes.

If you live in Michigan, Mitzi's financial power of attorney includes language addressing digital accounts, and you can get started for $99. If you're anywhere else, take our Prepare to Plan Quiz for a free personalized checklist. We'll also add you to our waitlist so we can let you know the minute we are live in your state.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to my online accounts if I'm in the hospital and can't log in?

Unless someone you trust has a way in, your accounts generally stay locked. Legal documents like a financial power of attorney can give someone authority to act for you, but they don't provide passwords. A password manager with emergency access is commonly used to fill that gap.

What is emergency access in a password manager?

Emergency access is a feature in some password managers that lets you name a trusted person who can request access to your account. Many include a waiting period you choose. If you don't respond within that time, your trusted person can get in. Some password managers only offer this on paid plans.

What is Google Inactive Account Manager?

Inactive Account Manager is Google's tool for choosing what happens to your account if it goes unused for a period of time, including who can get access. It takes a few minutes to set up. It's generally designed for long periods of inactivity rather than a sudden emergency.

Can an Apple Legacy Contact see my passwords?

Generally, no. An Apple Legacy Contact can be given access to certain account data after death, but generally can't see your saved passwords. That's why it works best alongside a password manager rather than on its own.

Can a financial power of attorney cover digital accounts?

It can. A financial power of attorney may include specific authority over digital accounts, but many older documents don't mention them. Certain powers often have to be spelled out in the document to be used, so it's worth checking what yours says.

What happens to my accounts after I die?

A power of attorney generally ends at death. After that, the person handling your estate typically steps in. In many states, the choices you made in tools like Google Inactive Account Manager or Apple Legacy Contact can also take priority for those accounts. Rules vary by state, so it's worth asking an attorney about your situation.

Should I write down my master password?

It depends on your setup. Some people keep it in a sealed envelope with their estate planning documents or in a safe, and others rely on emergency access instead. Either way, many people find it helpful to write down which password manager they use and who has emergency access. Leaving the master password itself on a sticky note generally isn't a good idea.

Where should I start?

Pick a password manager and name one person for emergency access. Then, when you're ready, look at your financial power of attorney and set up Google Inactive Account Manager and Apple Legacy Contact.

Darlene Kenney