If you are the executor of a will, you should always be aware of the location of the will and all associated documents. But – do you know the passwords for the deceased’s e-mail, banking or investment accounts? As an executor, you are responsible for being able to access investment, life insurance, retirement and e-mail accounts cannot be overstated. If you have done estate planning, you should be certain that the executor of your estate has all the information they need to settle your estate.

We are an increasingly “online” society and many of our business transactions for banking, investment or retirement accounts are done online. An executor will most likely need to access those accounts as part of their duties.

According to the Wall Street Journal, obtaining the e-mail account for the deceased can be accomplished with “sufficient proof,” but expect this to be a time-consuming proposition, even with well-known e-mail providers. It’s not impossible to break into an e-mail account, but it can be expensive, especially when experts charge anywhere from $150 to $300 per hour.

Many people have elected to “go green”; in other words, to have their utilities, life insurance and other bills delivered electronically, so knowing the e-mail account(s) and password(s) should not be overlooked.

To keep password and account information safe during your life and after your death, the list should be kept in a safe deposit box or left with the attorney who drafted the documents. Passwords should not be placed in the text of the will because when it goes through probate, the will, including the passwords, becomes public.

The important thing to remember is that the executor and/or attorney needs to know where the accounts, usernames and passwords are located so that their job of settling the estate is made easier.