Digital Legacy Planning: How to Manage Your Online Presence and Digital Assets After You Pass Away

In today’s digital age, much of our lives are spent online. From social media profiles to email accounts, banking, and subscriptions, we leave behind a vast array of digital assets. At John Hossack Funeral Services, we understand the importance of planning for what happens to your digital legacy after you pass away. Proper digital legacy planning ensures that your online accounts are managed according to your wishes, providing clarity and peace of mind for your loved ones.

What is a Digital Legacy?

A digital legacy refers to the online presence and assets you leave behind when you pass away. This can include a wide range of items, such as:

• Social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
• Email accounts (Gmail, Outlook)
• Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox)
• Online banking, subscriptions, and investment accounts
• Digital photos, videos, and documents

These digital assets hold both personal and financial value, and managing them appropriately after death is crucial.

Steps for Digital Legacy Planning

1. Create an Inventory of Digital Assets: Start by creating a comprehensive list of all your digital accounts, including login details, passwords, and security questions. Be sure to include social media, email, cloud storage, and financial accounts.
2. Appoint a Digital Executor: In your will, appoint a trusted person to manage your digital assets after you pass away. This could be a family member or close friend who is familiar with your online accounts and capable of handling them responsibly.
3. Determine What You Want to Happen: Decide which accounts you want to be deleted, memorialised, or passed on to loved ones. For example, social media platforms like Facebook allow you to appoint a legacy contact to manage your account after death, while other platforms offer options for account deletion.
4. Include Digital Assets in Your Will: Make sure to clearly outline your wishes regarding your digital assets in your will. This will help your executor and loved ones understand how to handle your online presence according to your preferences.

Managing Social Media and Email Accounts

Each platform has its own process for handling accounts after someone passes away. For example:

• Facebook: Allows users to appoint a legacy contact who can memorialise the account or delete it.
• Google: Provides an option for an Inactive Account Manager, allowing you to designate someone to manage your account if it becomes inactive.
• LinkedIn: Allows family members to request account removal after death.

At John Hossack Funeral Services, we encourage families to consider digital legacy planning as part of their overall end-of-life planning. Managing digital assets responsibly not only protects your personal information but also gives your loved ones peace of mind during a difficult time.