Digital Estate Planning: Missouri’s New Digital Age
Missouri’s New Electronic Estate Planning Law
Digital estate planning will be recognized as valid under Missouri law as of August 28, 2025. On July 10, 2025, Governor Mike Kehoe signed HB 754 and SB 221 into law, officially enacting the Missouri Uniform Electronic Wills and Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act. Starting August 28, 2025, Missourians will be able to create, sign, and store estate planning documents — including wills, trusts, beneficiary deeds, and powers of attorney — entirely online with full legal recognition.
This landmark legislation makes Missouri the fifth state to enact end-to-end digital estate planning, positioning the state at the forefront of modern estate planning practices. We will have more information available for you once the law goes into effect.
The Importance of Digital Asset Planning
Digital assets have become quite valuable, sometimes even more valuable than physical property. From cryptocurrency wallets to social media accounts, online banking to digital photos, these assets require the same careful planning as traditional estate assets.
What Are Digital Assets?
Digital assets encompass any electronic record or account you own, including:
- Online banking and investment accounts
- Cryptocurrency and digital wallets
- Social media profiles and content
- Digital photos and documents stored in cloud services
- Email accounts and digital communications
- Online business accounts and websites
- Digital music, movies, and book collections
- Gaming accounts and virtual assets
Why Estate Planning for Digital Assets Matters
Without proper planning, your digital assets may become inaccessible to your loved ones. Many online platforms have specific policies about account access after your death, and some automatically delete inactive accounts. Your family may lose precious memories stored in digital formats or struggle to access important financial information.
Estate planning has long been plagued by accessibility issues. Only about one-third of Americans have a will—and that number drops even further among underserved populations. Digital estate planning helps bridge this gap by making the process more accessible and convenient.
Key Steps for Estate Planning of Digital Assets
- Create a Digital Asset Inventory: Document all your online accounts, including usernames, platforms, and approximate values for financial accounts.
- Designate Digital Executors: Appoint someone you trust to handle your digital assets, and ensure they understand your wishes for each account.
- Use Legacy Contacts: Many platforms like Google, Facebook, and Apple offer legacy contact features that allow designated individuals to manage your accounts.
- Include Digital Assets in Your Will: Specifically address digital assets in your estate planning documents, providing clear instructions for their management or disposal.
- Store Access Information Securely: Use a password manager or secure document storage to ensure your digital executor can access necessary information.
Missouri’s new law makes this process more streamlined and legally secure than ever before. Electronic documents come with tamper-evident seals, audit trails, and identity verification; often making them more secure than paper.
As our digital lives continue to expand, protecting these assets becomes increasingly important. Missouri’s progressive approach to electronic estate planning demonstrates the state’s commitment to modernizing legal frameworks for the digital age.
If you need assistance with digital estate planning or understanding how Missouri’s new law affects your estate plan, contact Kennedy, Robbins, Yarbro & Henson, LC at (573) 686-2459 for experienced legal guidance. We’re here to help.
