Managing Digital Legacies

Introduction

Preparing for the Unthinkable

Utilizing the online and digital world provides great convenience, allowing us to manage an extraordinary number of tasks with a few keyboard commands. Privacy and security are of paramount importance when using online services, but these same protections can cause a great deal of challenges for loved ones left to pick up the pieces after an unexpected death. Something as simple as paying the mortgage payment every month can suddenly become a crisis if a surviving spouse doesn’t have access to the bank accounts or the online mortgage payment portal. From the practical (such as bank accounts and bills) to the sentimental (such as family photos and digital memories) a sudden death can lock out surviving loved ones if they don’t know how to access these important digital properties.

Those with a heavy digital footprint often have a great deal of online activity, social media accounts, businesses, freelance gigs, and many other items in their digital legacy that might need to be resolved after a death. Settling an estate today involves far more than simply honoring a will, distributing physical assets, selling physical property, and paying off financial obligations. From the emotional aspects of memorializing Facebook accounts to cancelling online services, all of these online conveniences create a new and unexpected challenge in settling the affairs of an online life.

Ultimately, this report will teach you how you can make it easier for ...