Three Steps You Can Take Today to Ensure Your Digital Legacy Lives On
Daily Money Managers meticulously organize and title our clients’ tangible assets, ensuring they're distributed according to their wishes after they’re gone. Yet, amidst the paperwork and legal jargon, one critical aspect often goes overlooked: your digital footprint. Have you ever wondered what happens to your Facebook, Instagram, or Google accounts once you've passed away? It's not a cheerful topic, I know, but neglecting it could mean burdening your loved ones with digital reminders from beyond the grave. And what about those treasured photos stored on your phone or in the cloud?
The idea of a Digital Estate Plan first caught my attention during a conversation with a local estate planning attorney. It's a relatively new, yet crucial aspect of planning for the future. Similar to a traditional will, a Digital Estate Plan allows you to designate an executor to manage your online accounts. While it might not be at the forefront of your mind now, it's worth considering when updating your estate plan. It also got me thinking, is there something we could do ourselves today to safeguard our accounts?
Let’s delve into a few steps you can take today during your lunch break to lay the groundwork for your Digital Estate Plan – setting up a Digital Legacy Contact.
What Is a Digital Legacy Contact?
A digital legacy contact serves as the custodian of your digital assets once you've logged off for the final time. Think of them as the guardian of your digital estate. It's someone you trust implicitly, authorized to access your accounts in the event of your passing or if you become incapacitated. They'll ensure your digital memories and vital documents are in safe hands.
Why One Set Up?
Your digital legacy contact can access your photos, videos, and other sentimental content, allowing your loved ones to cherish and reminisce about your life. Without a designated contact, accessing your accounts can be a bureaucratic nightmare. A legacy contact streamlines the process, easing the burden on your heirs. Further, you're safeguarding your digital assets from being lost or forgotten, providing your loved ones with a roadmap to navigate your digital presence.
Establish a Digital Legacy Contact in These Three Accounts:
1. Apple
From an iPhone or iPad:
Tap the “Settings” icon on your home screen.
Tap your name (found at the top of the screen).
Go to “Sign In & Security” and select “Legacy Contact.”
Follow the prompts.
From a Mac:
Click the Apple menu in the top right of your screen.
Select “System Settings.”
Click your “Apple ID” and go to “Sign In & Security.” Scroll to “Legacy Contact” and click “Manage.”
2. Google: Inactive Account Manager
Navigate to https://myaccount.google.com/inactive.
Customize what data you share and when.
Provide instructions for contacting your digital legacy contact(s) automatically after a specified period of account inactivity (you choose the threshold).
Google will send your legacy contact(s) a message you write during setup, along with the selected data and a download link.
Important Note: Legacy contacts will be able to download your data and files on Google Drive but will not have access to your Google Password Manager or Gmail.
3. Facebook: Memorialization
From your main profile, click your profile photo in the top right of Facebook.
Select “Settings & Privacy,” then click “Settings.”
In the Meta box on the left pane, click “See More in Account Center.”
Click “Personal Details,” then click “Account ownership and control.”
Select “Memorialization.”
Follow the instructions to memorialize your account or delete it after death.
To change or remove a legacy contact, follow steps above and select a different contact.
Accounts without Legacy Contacts:
Microsoft
If you've got files stashed away on OneDrive or Outlook, here's the scoop: Microsoft doesn't facilitate data sharing with your loved ones once you're gone. The only route to accessing your accounts posthumously is by sharing your login credentials, but simply sharing them is not recommended. Instead, opt for a smarter solution: leverage a password manager with legacy sharing capabilities, such as Bitwarden, 1Password, or Dashlane.
The alternative is to wait for two years of inactivity before Microsoft will delete your account. They will; however, allow your heirs to cancel active subscriptions in the meantime.
All Other Accounts
For accounts like Amazon, LinkedIn, Twitter, Snapchat, Reddit, Pinterest, and many others, which lack native legacy contact features, utilizing a password manager that supports legacy access is advisable until they add the digital legacy contact feature natively.
Remember to choose your digital legacy contact wisely and revisit your designation periodically. Just as we plan for our physical assets, it's essential to plan for our digital legacy, ensuring our memories live on.
This article is for general information purposes only. It is not intended to offer legal or investment advice.
Further Reading
A Plan for Your Digital Assets (Nolo)
Google Inactive Account Manager
Microsoft Accessing Accounts When Someone Has Died
