09/02/2026
When we think of estate planning, we often focus on wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations.
But there’s another piece of your legacy most people overlook, your digital life.
Starting in iOS 15.2, Apple introduced a Legacy Contact feature. This allows you to securely grant someone you trust access to the data in your Apple account after your death.
That means your loved ones could access:
*Photos
*Messages
*Notes
*Files
*Device backups
Certain items like passwords, payment info, and purchased media aren’t included, but much of your personal history and memories will be.
Why it matters: Without this step, accessing a deceased person’s iCloud account can be a legal and emotional nightmare for families.
For step-by-step instructions on how to add a legacy contact, see the link in the comments.