Your Digital Legacy Plan

When developing or reviewing an estate plan, the usual focus is on assets: property, financial accounts, and mementos. Less commonly considered are digital assets, including online accounts, email, and social media. Ignoring your digital footprint in estate planning can create confusion for your surrogate or survivors. In some cases, accounts are simply not accessible at all without proper planning. Here are some considerations to develop your digital legacy plan.

Accounts and Passwords – You may have designated someone to manage your affairs if you become incapacitated or after your death, but do they know your accounts and passwords? AARP offers a helpful article that explores different options for storing passwords and sharing them with your surrogate or beneficiaries.

Digital Assets – Digital assets are possessions that you have purchased or stored on your personal devices or through online services. Some examples include email, digital photos, music, websites, e-books, streaming accounts, and Cryptocurrency. ElderLaw and Advocacy addresses digital assets in this article. While they are based in California, much of what the article says is applicable nationwide. We recommend contacting an elderlaw attorney to find out how the laws work in your area.

Social Media – Facebook and Instagram both offer the ability to designate a “legacy contact,” someone you choose to monitor your account after your passing. Your contact will have access to much of the account, can curate memorial comments, change privacy settings, and update your profile picture. A legacy contact can also request an account’s closure, if that’s what you desire. (To learn more and set up legacy contacts, click here for Facebook and here for Instagram). Other social media platforms have similar options.

The digital world is a big part of our daily lives. A digital legacy can help avoid burdens like accurate bill paying, sharing family photos and videos, and closing accounts that are no longer in use. Be sure a trusted surrogate or survivor has access to your online accounts and passwords. You never know when they’ll need it.

Warm regards,

Stephanie