While traditional estate planning covers wills and powers of attorney, experts warn that modern life requires additional preparation for online accounts, passwords and digital assets.
Consumer Reports outlined five steps to help families navigate a crisis more easily.
The first recommendation is to create an "in case of emergency" document. It should include the names, phone numbers and emails of important contacts, along with a list of key websites, account access information and the physical locations of essential documents such as birth certificates, passports and Social Security cards.
"This document should also have your bank accounts, investments and recurring bills," said Brian Vines of Consumer Reports. "Put down when they're due and how you pay them. Be sure to mention if anything is autopay."
The second step is to share passwords or provide hints so trusted individuals can manage bills and other affairs.
Consumer Reports suggests using a password manager, recommending 1Password, which offers a $60peryear family plan covering up to five people with access to shared folders.
Third, people should designate a legacy contact for major online accounts.
"A few tech companies let you grant control to someone else," Vines said. "There's Google's Inactive Account Manager, Facebook Legacy Contact, and Apple's Legacy Contact to name a few."
Next, Consumer Reports advises adding digital assets to a traditional will so all information is consolidated and easy for family members or close friends to locate.
Finally, families should hold an emergency planning meeting to discuss wishes and explain where all documents and information can be found.
For those concerned about what happens to their social media accounts, a free social media will generator from Epilogue allows users to document their preferences for platforms including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.