Set the Standard in
Digital Estate Planning

The Digital Estate Planning Board sets certification standards and confers the Digital Estate Planner (DEP™) credential to qualified practitioners. Demonstrate recognized competence in digital asset planning and modern estate administration through independent, standards-driven qualification.

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Why Digital Estate Planning matters

Digital assets are a permanent and expanding component of modern estates. Without structured planning, clients and fiduciaries face access failures, cybersecurity exposure, administrative delays, privacy issyes, and avoidable financial loss.

The Digital Estate Planning Board establishes practical, defensible standards for identifying, documenting, securing, and administering digital assets in fiduciary contexts.

Standards

Clear, evolving standards for digital estate planning that reflect real-world technology, security practices, and fiduciary realities.

Education

Structured learning designed for estate professionals, covering digital assets, cryptocurrency, access controls, and administration workflow.

Credentialing

The Digital Estate Planner (DEP™) certification signals demonstrated competency in digital estate planning and ongoing commitment to professional standards.

About the Board

The Digital Estate Planning Board is an independent professional standards and credentialing body dedicated to advancing modern digital estate planning practices

The Board convenes expertise across legal, fiduciary, financial, and technical disciplines to define clear certification standards and publish practical guidance for estate professionals navigating increasingly complex digital environments.

Our work emphasizes defensible processes, operational clarity, and professional accountability in service to attorneys, fiduciaries, advisors, and their clients.

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Develop the skills and credentials needed to address digital assets

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INVEST IN YOUR Professional
membership and CREDENTIALING

A structured pathway for estate professionals at every stage.

Estate planning

Digital Estate Planner (DEP™) Certification

The Digital Estate Planner (DEP™) is a professional certification conferred by the Digital Estate Planning Board upon qualified individuals who meet established standards for competence in digital estate planning. DEP signifies verified understanding of all facets of planning & administering modern estates.

$199 initial application and
annual re-certification fee

  • Competency-based certification based on digital assets and online accounts
  • Standards-driven review process, and comprehensive online examinations
  • Full access our Digital Asset content
  • Designed for estate professionals navigating modern digital estates. Authorized individuals may use the DEP™ designation as per our guidelines.
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TESTIMONIALS

  • “Digital assets have outpaced traditional estate planning education. Programs like DEP™ are welcomed, and long overdue.”
    Estate Planning Attorney
    Boston, MA
  • “Clients increasingly expect guidance on digital assets. Formal standards and training are essential — DEP™ leads the market.“
    Estate Planning Lawyer
    Los Angeles, CA

Prepare for the future of estate planning

Digital assets are no longer optional considerations. Equip yourself with the knowledge, standards, and practical tools needed to serve modern clients confidently.

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Common Questions

The following addresses common questions regarding certification and Board Standards.

The Digital Estate Planner (DEP™) is a professional designation awarded by the Digital Estate Planning Board to practitioners who demonstrate competency in the planning, documentation, & administration of digital assets. The certification reflects a strong understanding of the legal, technical, security, & fiduciary considerations required to develop digital estate plans that operate during incapacity & after death.

DEP™ is intended for estate planning attorneys and other qualified professionals whose work intersects with estate design, fiduciary administration, and client advisory services.

The designation is appropriate for practitioners seeking to develop recognized competency in digital assets while aligning their work with emerging professional standards.

No. DEP™ is designed to complement established legal and estate planning designations by addressing the distinct challenges introduced by digitally held property, online accounts and privacy, and technology-dependent access.

It recognizes an area of practice that increasingly requires both legal rigor and technical literacy.

DEP™ is granted through a standards-based evaluation that may consider education, professional experience, and demonstrated competency.

Designees are expected to uphold Board Standards and maintain the credential through ongoing professional development and compliance requirements as the discipline evolves.

No. DEP™ is a professional certification and does not grant legal authority or replace jurisdictional licensure requirements. Practitioners are expected to operate within the scope of their professional credentials.

The Institute Standards define the professional competencies expected of practitioners engaged in digital estate planning. They provide a framework for responsible practice while supporting fiduciaries in administering digital assets with clarity and legal authority.

The growth of digitally controlled assets has introduced planning, access, security, and administration challenges that traditional estate frameworks were not designed to address.

As a result, practitioners are increasingly expected to demonstrate familiarity with both fiduciary structures and digital asset architectures.

The Board Standards are developed through ongoing research and informed by legal, technical, security, and fiduciary considerations affecting modern estate practice.

Prepare for modern digital estates

Build the knowledge and credentials needed to address digital assets with clarity, security, and professionalism.

Explore the Digital Estate Planner (DEP™) Certification