Unless a few radical sci-fi predictions become reality in the near future, one of the few things we all have in common is death.

Yep, sadly it’s inevitable: sooner or later, we’re all going to die.

But despite the certainty of death, surprisingly few of us make many plans for what should happen after we die. And most of us certainly haven’t thought about what happens to our online identity after we’re gone.

Well, why not think about it now?

In just a decade you’ve probably built a whole lifetime’s worth of content, ideas and memories on the web. What do you want to happen to all that stuff when you die? How do you want to manage it? How will all those providers even know you’re dead?

It might seem like a pretty macabre subject, but think about it this way: the more time you spend researching and preparing this stuff now, the easier it’s going to be on everyone you care about later.

So how should you approach this? Well, to learn more about the topic, you can read this AVG ebook on dealing with digital death. And to browse some of the services you can use to manage your digital afterlife, work your way through the services and links below.

1. Legacy Locker

One of the most established services on the list, Legacy Locker is a popular platform for transferring digital assets to trusted friends and relatives after you die. As with the example above, this will include email, social network and blog accounts. Legacy Locker has a three-tier pricing system, so how much you pay depends on how much you want to leave behind. The service recently merged with Password Box.

2. DeadSocial

The DeadSocial service works on the similar principle of allowing users to create and store messages that are published to social networks only once you pass away — including video and audio messages. And it’s free.

3. Dead Man’s Switch

Let’s move onto services more focused on notifying people of a death. Dead Man’s Switch works by periodically sending you emails, which contain links you need to click to prove you’re still around. If enough time elapses without you clicking, the service assumes you’ve passed away, and will send your previously recorded emails to selected addresses.

4. Deathswitch

Basically, Deathswitch is the same as Dead Man’s Switch, but with a slightly different set of options — and cost implications. Which one you choose is up to you. And it is a once-in-a-lifetime choice, after all. So you might as well look at a bunch of options.

5. Social Media Will

This is a platform for creating a social media ‘will’ — something to manage what happens to all your online profiles after you die. Social Media Will explains how to appoint an online executor, who’ll be responsible for a range of social profiles when you’re gone.

6. MyWonderfulLife

This service is more of a digital post-life planner. With MyWonderfulLife you can plan your actual, physical funeral, leave letters for loved ones, share memories, upload your favourite photos and even write your own obituary. Be modest.

7. Everplans

If you need some guidance for planning traditional end-of–life issues, Everplans takes users through some of the more confusing aspects of life/death. These include naming a power of attorney, establishing trusts, arranging life insurance and planning a funeral.

8. AssetLock

On AssetLock you can store lots of important personal data, such as email passwords, insurance policy details and estate planning. You then choose a number of recipients who’ll basically need to verify you’re dead before anything is released to them.