Organizing digital accounts and access
A practical way to list the accounts that matter for care and finances, and where access information is kept.
Start with what exists
Make a simple inventory: account name, where the login info is stored (password manager, paper, browser), whether it is critical for care or finances, and who should have access if you cannot manage it.
NIA's Important Documents and Paperwork worksheet includes login information for online banking, bill paying, and other critical services in its list of records to gather. A list of where things are kept can do the same job without putting passwords on paper.
A password manager can help
The FTC describes password managers as one way to create and remember strong passwords, and suggests reading expert reviews to find a reputable one. Some password managers also have features for sharing specific logins with a trusted person. CareKeeper does not recommend any particular product.
Keep a low-tech backup for critical accounts
For the handful of accounts that matter most for care and money — email, banking, medical portal, pharmacy — a page in the binder can list the service name and where the login information is kept, such as "in the password manager" or "sealed envelope in the desk drawer." Keep passwords and password hints off any page that visitors can see. CareKeeper tools never ask for or store account details.
- Email (often the recovery key for everything else)
- Banking and bill pay
- Medical patient portal
- Pharmacy account
- Insurance portal
Plan for digital access after a loss
NIA notes that closing or changing accounts after a death is much easier when the person left a list of their accounts. Some online services also have their own settings for what happens to an account after someone dies; each service's help pages explain its options.
Some families set these things up ahead of time, while the person can take part. CareKeeper does not provide legal advice on digital assets — an attorney can help with estate planning questions.
Questions worth bringing to a tech-savvy helper or attorney
This is a good topic to raise directly rather than guess about on your own.
- What features matter for our household if we use a password manager, such as sharing or emergency access?
- Which of the person's key accounts have settings for what happens after a death, and who can help set them up?
- What documentation does each service require for account access after a death?
- Where should written instructions about digital access be kept, and who should know where they are?
Last reviewed October 14, 2026