The Digital Ghosts You Leave Behind

It’s Halloween—a season of ghosts, goblins, and spooky surprises. But one of the scariest things you can leave behind for your family isn’t a haunted house. It’s your digital ghosts—unprotected online accounts, lost passwords, and forgotten assets that come back to haunt your loved ones.

What Are Digital Ghosts?

• A Facebook account that can’t be closed or memorialized.

• A crypto wallet that disappears without the key.

• Online bills or subscriptions no one knows about.

• Photos, music, or videos locked in the cloud forever.

• Old email addresses hackers exploit for fraud.

These aren’t just inconveniences—they can cause real emotional and financial harm.

The Risks of Ignoring Digital Assets

1. Lost memories: Family photos and videos may be gone forever.

2. Lost wealth: Cryptocurrency or PayPal balances may never be recovered.

3. Identity theft: Hackers love inactive accounts.

4. Family conflict: Loved ones may fight over access or ownership.

How to Keep Your Family from Being Haunted

• Make a digital asset inventory.

• Include digital access in your estate plan.

• Use legal tools like wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.

• Decide what happens to accounts (closed, transferred, or memorialized).

Illinois Law and Your Digital Legacy

With Illinois’ RUFADAA, you can legally authorize your executor or trustee to manage digital assets—but only if your documents include it. Otherwise, your family may face a nightmare of red tape.

Don’t Leave a Scary Legacy

This Halloween, the scariest mistake you can make is ignoring your digital assets. Give your loved ones peace of mind by planning ahead.

👉 Don’t let your digital ghosts haunt your family. Schedule a consultation with our Libertyville estate planning attorney today.