It is no longer enough just to ensure that you have made adequate provisions in a will. You also must ensure that your online footprint and digital assets are securely documented.
Digital Legacy
The emergence of the internet in people's daily lives now means that it is not enough just to ensure that you have made adequate provisions in a will. You also must ensure that your online footprint and digital assets are securely documented and held with your Will to enable your beneficiaries to fully comply with your wishes and retrieve any information/memories that you want to share with family.
Keep a copy of your contacts in an address book, always keep your list of online and social media passwords and account log-in details up to date and store them safely and securely along with your Will or tell someone you trust how to access the computer file of your passwords.
Make sure your friends and family are aware of your online privacy preferences. Your digital assets may include written material such as a book(s), poetry or blogs as well as photos, videos and music, some of which would prefer to remain private when you die.
Consider whether your Facebook page should remain accessible after your death and if you wish your other online profiles such as email, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Twitter to be deleted.
To this end The Law Society recommends creating a personal assets log (an up-to-date list of all your online accounts), along with clear instructions about what you want to happen to each account after you die. However, be advised that leaving a list of passwords and PIN’s for an executor to access could be committing an offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
Facebook has an ‘In Memory of’ option which enables family and friends to gather and share memories after a person has passed away. Details are available here.
The Digital Legacy Association have a range of leaflets detailing how to sort out your Digital Assets and Digital Legacy available at this link.
MyWishes makes planning for your physical and digital estate quick and easy. Details are available here.
Further information is available at the following links:
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