Digital Accounts and Passwords During Divorce

Start with a simple inventory. Include email accounts, cloud storage, phone plans, family calendars, streaming services, shopping accounts, delivery apps, banking logins, utilities, smart home systems, photo libraries, and password managers. Note who owns the account, who pays for it, and who has access.

Update passwords for personal email, banking, medical portals, cloud storage, and devices. Use unique passwords and turn on two-factor authentication. Do not access your spouse's private accounts without permission. Digital privacy laws can be serious.

Many subscriptions continue billing a joint account or shared credit card long after separation. Decide which subscriptions will be canceled, transferred, or paid individually. Save confirmation emails when accounts are closed or changed.

Before deleting or separating shared accounts, save records you may need, such as household bills, receipts, insurance documents, children's school records, or tax documents. Be careful with shared photo libraries and cloud drives. Copy what belongs to you before access changes.

DivorceReady helps prepare divorce documents, but digital cleanup is a practical step you control. Build it into your divorce organization plan so privacy and billing do not become afterthoughts.

Should I change passwords before filing for divorce? For personal accounts, often yes. For shared accounts, be careful and avoid locking someone out of information they have a right to access. Can I delete shared digital records? Do not delete records that may be relevant to finances, children, or court issues. Get advice if unsure.