In our digital age, an estate consists of much more than physical assets such as a home, an investment portfolio or an art collection. Today, digital assets, such as social media accounts, digital subscriptions, email addresses, crypto currencies, digital images and personal files, are also part of what we leave behind.
Yet when we die, we rarely think about this digital legacy. For next of kin, however, this can lead to practical and legal challenges, such as stopping subscriptions and accessing important data. Here are some steps you can take to properly manage your digital legacy.
1. Include digital assets in your continuity plan
For business owners, it is wise to prepare a continuity plan that includes digital assets. This plan can serve as a practical guide for survivors, in which you provide an overview of all your digital accounts including usernames and passwords. For additional security against unauthorized access during your lifetime, you can set up two-factor authentication or use some other encryption.
In this continuity plan, you can also include specific instructions, such as:
- Who may receive what information.
- Which accounts should be closed.
- Which accounts, if any, should be continued.
2. Establish your wishes in a will
A will provides a legal framework for managing your digital assets after death. In it, you can define who gets what rights and what steps they should take to manage your digital estate. A will not only helps make your wishes clear, but also prevents conflicts or uncertainties for next of kin.
3. Use the tools of digital platforms
Many digital platforms, such as Facebook and Google, offer their own options for specifying who may have access to your accounts after death. Through their settings, you can pre-set who becomes a "legacy contact" or what data can be transferred. This can help next of kin access or delete your digital profiles without legal obstacles.
Ensure a clear digital legacy
Arranging your digital estate properly can prevent many problems for your dependents and gives you peace of mind that your digital assets will be managed the way you want. Therefore, consider including digital assets in your continuity plan, your will, and using the tools platforms provide whenever possible.
Want to know more about how to safely arrange your digital estate? Feel free to contact us for personalized advice.
