Despite ever expanding aspects being are conducted on-line, it is often the case that we have not really given thought to our own digital legacy when we die.
Many elements of our lives including Social Media, on-line banking, savings, photographs, music, emails and even TV platforms, are all accessed on-line. These ‘life fundamentals’ are invariably protected by user names, passwords and two-stage authentications and held on a range of devices, such as smart phones, laptops and tablets etc.
Regrettably, upon death gaining access to a loved one’s digital existence can present a real challenge. This is despite some tech platforms offering ‘legacy services’ to circumvent these issues. Importantly however even where such services are available, they must be activated by the user whilst still alive, when many of us may not even be aware of their existence.
Making a will is often the start point to plan for your Digital legacy.
Planning ahead to provide for the management of all your online accounts is a very sensible step.
It will serve to protect your privacy, whilst actively assisting with the management of your Estate, by for example the sharing of sentimental digital assets, such as photographs. Otherwise, they could be lost forever.
Any will you sign, can reference a ‘letter of wishes’, documenting your digital accounts and your express wishes for them.
Providing your solicitors with the letter of wishes, and/or entrusting them with that information, (to be held on a secure, up-dateable Digital Profile Register), is an important consideration.
By so doing, it will make the duties of any Digital/Executor easier to discharge.