In today’s age of the worldwide web, we engage in a great deal of Internet commerce.  We order office supplies, buy books, pay bills, transfer funds, check account balances, sell things, check email, and need a password to access a laptop or office computer.  We all have difficulty keeping track of our own passwords, let alone other people’s passwords.  Therefore, what would happen if you were to become incapacitated or were to die?  Who would have knowledge of your computer passwords?  We generally supply our loved ones with bank account information, safety deposit box key location, location of life insurance papers, wills, etc.  However, it is time that we know include passwords in otherwise confidential information.

My family personally experienced this situation upon the January 6, 2010 death of my father-in-law, Alan Feinberg, age 68.  Luckily, he had hand written his passwords on a peace of paper that was readily available.  However, were unable to access a few of his accounts and had to spend significant time determining the status of some accounts.

I urge you to have a system in place, as part of organizing your estate, for your loved ones to access your passwords in a time of crisis.  As more and more commerce is transacted electronically, this will take on increasing importance.