Digital Divorce: Managing Family Logins and Passwords

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Managing Logins and Passwords in DivorceIn a previous post, I talked about the digital assets (books, music, movies, etc.) that you, your spouse and your children may own.

Those are a type of asset to be assigned, divided, or shared as a result of divorce that are starting to be included in the process.

Another aspect of your digital lives is that you and your spouse may need to continue to share access to certain online accounts, even after your divorce. Potential accounts include:

  • Checking, savings, and credit card accounts. Electronic access to statements and transactions; automatic bill payment services.
  • Investment accounts. Regular and IRA accounts; pension accounts.
  • Life, home, auto insurance.
  • Medical insurance.
  • Medical and pharmacy records. Your own, your children’s records, perhaps even your pet’s veterinary records.
  • Government sites. Department of motor vehicles, property tax, etc.
  • Your children’s school system. Access to class information, grades, sports schedules, communication with teachers and coaches.
  • Your local library system. Tracking what’s been checked out, by whom, and when it needs to be returned.
  • Netflix/Hulu/Redbox movie entertainment.
  • Family email accounts. If you and your spouse share an email account and/or monitor children’s email or social media.
  • Billing and payment sites for all kinds of products and services. Including mortgage, utilities, cell phone, cable, Internet, grocery store, retail stores, etc.
  • A shared Google calendar to coordinate the kids’ activities and appointments and family commitments.
  • Online (“cloud”) photo storage and document sites. Family photos, important documents and other files.
  • Miscellaneous sites supporting the household. Amazon, Turbo Tax, pet food ordering, etc.

Sharing or Transferring Online Accounts in Divorce

As with many technology issues, the law has yet to catch up with this aspect. In particular, there are no specific guidelines for sharing accounts or establishing consequences should your former spouse deliberately change a password to lock you out of a shared account.

As you proceed through the divorce process, you and your spouse must work together to decide which accounts you both will need access to, especially those connected with taking care of your children. Depending on the account, you may need to:

  • Share a single login.
  • Set up separate logins to access the same account.
  • One of you creates a new, separate account in your own name.

The First Step: Use the Same Password Management Tool

One of the most useful software tools available today helps you manage the overwhelming number of account logins and passwords we all struggle to track. If you are not using a password management tool now, I strongly recommend you and your spouse pick one. Even if you choose not to use the same tool, managing your individual account data will save you hours and frustration down the road.

About password management tools:

  1. If you both use the same tool, most all you to have your own individual, private password database (encrypted for security) in your own copy of the app. You store both shared and individual account password information in your database, and your spouse does the same in theirs. Neither sees the other’s database.
  2. Some tools (like eWallet described below) have the option to create a third shared password database. This database would contain just the logins and passwords that you need to share during and/or after the divorce. You each would have a copy of this database in your password tool. Then, if either of you needs to change the password on a shared account, you update this database, make a backup of it, and then email it to the other person. Your individual password databases remain separate and private.
  3. Be sure to use the same password management tool on your computer, smartphone, and/or tablet(s). If you add a new login or update the password on one device, be sure to sync your database across all devices afterwards.

Popular Password Management Tools

This PC Magazine list reviews and compares several password tools. Most offer versions for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.

While that survey doesn’t include eWallet, I highly recommend it. (Here’s a review of eWallet.) My husband and I chose this tool several years ago, and we are very happy with it. It’s easy to use and allows you to safely store critical information such as Social Security numbers, passport numbers, and other important data.

Document the Online Accounts to Be Shared

In your separation or divorce agreement, list the account names, associated web site names (URLs), and logins/passwords that the two of you agree will be shared as well as why, and for how long.

Prepare Your “Digital Legacy”

Whether shared or unique to you, your online accounts will outlive you. Your estate documents should contain digital legacy instructions. What happens to your secure accounts after you’ve died? Include instructions so a trusted individual has access to key sites involved in managing your affairs or estate if you become incapacitated or die.

Prepare for Your New Digital Life

Divorce is difficult enough without having problems getting access to the information and resources you need. Taking the time now to select and use a password tool to organize your online accounts will help smooth the way.

Resources About Digital Accounts

These sites provide excellent advice about how to have your online accounts handled after your death, which is something to consider when you change your will after your divorce. It’s also critical to consider some of this advice about how to have someone manage these on your behalf you become incapacitated or otherwise unable to do so after your divorce.


Photo credit: CanStockPhoto

About the Author: Mary Anne Shew is a Certified Content Marketer. For more information, please visit Creative Nation.


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