~ by Kimberly Hand
Following my husband, Bill’s, passing, I found myself faced with sorting through the computers, networking equipment, and other technology he left behind. It has been a daunting task, and Dave Rebro, founder of DR Consulting Services, has been helping me work through it.
I’ve known Dave for several years. Bill and I worked with him on several projects and he was my Evernote tutor. During our most recent conversation about Bill’s equipment, Dave mentioned a resource he had developed for people facing a different kind of separation: The Digital Divorce Survival Kit: Step-by-Step Guide + Essential Tools for Unbundling Tech.
The idea immediately caught my attention.
Having experienced firsthand how overwhelming it can be to sort through a spouse’s digital and technological life, I could easily imagine another version of that challenge: What happens when a couple divorces and has to separate not only their finances and possessions, but their technology, as well?
Dave’s kit is designed to help divorcing couples do just that. I asked him to tell me more about why he created it and how it can help. Here’s what he shared with me:
The spirit behind this guide is very much rooted in my work as a Technology Therapist. Over the years, I have seen how deeply personal technology has become. Our phones, computers, cloud accounts, photos, passwords, email, financial logins, family calendars, shared subscriptions, and smart-home devices are not just “tech.” They are woven into daily life, identity, safety, family communication, and emotional well-being.
When a relationship changes, especially through separation or divorce, the technology side can become confusing, stressful, and sometimes unsafe. Many people do not know what is still connected, what their former partner may still have access to, or what needs to be separated. They may be overwhelmed emotionally while also trying to make clear decisions about passwords, accounts, devices, data, photos, finances, and privacy.
That is why I created the Divorce Tech Unbundling Guide & Kit.
The purpose is not to make technology more complicated. It is to help people slow down, see the full picture, and work through the separation of their digital life in a calm, organized, step-by-step way.
The guide and kit are designed around that idea. Instead of someone trying to remember every account, device, subscription, shared login, photo library, or security concern in their head, the kit gives them a structure. It helps them capture what exists, organize what matters, identify what needs action, and move forward with more confidence.
The story behind the guide came from seeing real people struggle with this exact issue. During major life transitions, people are often told to talk to an attorney, financial advisor, therapist, or accountant—all of which may be very important. But very few people are asked about their digital life:
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- Who has access to your Apple account?
- Who can see your location?
- Who controls the Wi-Fi, smart locks, cameras, or shared subscriptions?
- Who has access to your email, passwords, cloud files, or family photos?
- What accounts need to be separated before things become more difficult?
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Those are not small questions anymore. They can affect privacy, safety, finances, family memories, and peace of mind.
My hope is that the Divorce Tech Unbundling Guide & Kit gives people a compassionate starting point. It is not legal advice and does not replace professional guidance, but it helps people ask better questions, prepare for important conversations, and avoid overlooking technology connections that may matter.
Learn more about Dave’s guide and kit and hear him discuss the challenges of untangling shared technology.
Dave can be reached at [email protected].