By Peter Lee
Mobile phones seem to be the most important device in our daily lives nowadays. For many of us, the first thing we reach for in the morning is not a cup of coffee but our mobile phone. Throughout the day, whether for leisure or work, it stays in our hands, pockets, or by our side. Our attachment to it is so deep that it feels like we’re saying to the device, “I can’t smile without you.”
But here’s the irony: as important as our phones are during our lifetime, they are almost never mentioned in a will.
Why is that?
Perhaps it’s because we don’t see the phone itself as an asset worth distributing. But maybe it’s time we do especially considering what’s inside the phone which is our digital assets.
Why Digital Assets Matter
When people think about writing a will, the focus is usually on physical and financial assets such as bank accounts, mutual funds, properties, shares in private businesses, and so on. These are tangible and familiar.
But in this digital age, we hold just as much if not more value in digital form. Think about it:
- E-wallets (Touch ’n Go, Boost, GrabPay)
- Crypto wallets and digital currencies
- Cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud)
- Social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
- Online trading accounts (Forex, stocks, digital platforms)
These digital assets are part of our lives. They’re real, they’re valuable, and in some cases, they may even be more difficult to recover than physical ones especially if no one else knows they exist.
A Lesson from Tragedy
The recent Air India crash, which claimed nearly 260 lives, is a painful reminder of how sudden and unpredictable life can be. Watching grieving families on the news, waiting to claim the remains of their loved ones, is absolutely heartbreaking. Tragedies like this strike without warning like lightning and leave behind devastation.
Beyond the emotional loss, families often face another challenge which is recovering the assets of the deceased. This is already difficult for physical assets, but for digital assets without a will or any form of documentation it can be nearly impossible.
Start with a Will
One of the most practical ways to protect your loved ones is by preparing a will. In a will, you can appoint suitable Executors and Trustees who will manage and distribute your estate according to your wishes.
In a tragedy like the Air India crash, what if the entire immediate family perishes?
- Who becomes the substitute Executor or Trustee?
- Who are your next line of substitute beneficiaries after your immediate family members?
- Who will be appointed as guardians if a young couple leaves behind minor children?”
These are not easy questions, but they are necessary.
Once these basics are covered, you can then work out the structure for the distribution of your assets for both movable and immovable.
Don’t Forget Your Digital Assets
One of the most commonly overlooked areas in estate planning is digital assets. As I mentioned earlier, these are just as important today as traditional assets, and they require special attention.
Here’s what you should do:
- Appoint a Digital Administrator
This is someone you trust to access your digital assets and accounts. They will recover these assets and pass the relevant access codes to your Executor for proper distribution according to your will. - Record Your Digital Credentials
Write down your IDs, usernames, passwords, or recovery instructions—preferably in a secure physical format (a notebook or file). Keep it in a safe place at home, and ensure your appointed Digital Administrator knows where to find it. - Keep It Updated
Digital information changes frequently. Make sure you review and update this information regularly.
Without such planning, you risk leaving behind a trail of locked accounts, inaccessible funds, or important personal data lost forever. All that value and all those memories could vanish into thin air and just like that, the very device you once said “I can’t smile without you” to, now becomes something no one else can unlock.
Final Thoughts
We live in a digital age, but our estate planning is still stuck in the analog world. It’s time to bridge that gap. Your phone is not just a device but instead it is a vault. A vault filled with digital keys, memories, and wealth.
So don’t wait. Start planning today. Because getting your affairs in order isn’t just for the elderly or the wealthy but it’s for anyone who truly cares about their loved ones and it’s also for someone who knows “they can’t smile without you.”