Settling of Digital Assets Can Be a Challenge

Digital is a relatively new asset area and will most likely grow the future.

There are many challenges to settling an estate, including distributing assets and possessions as well as carrying out other tasks in the estate. Now there is a new challenge—digital assets, according to The-Parallax in “How to settle your loved one’s digital estate.”

Most people know they need to do something, but few have a plan in place to direct their executor how to handle their digital assets. Creating a digital will can make the process easier. That could include everything from a Facebook account to photos in the cloud.

This is still a relatively new part of our digital lives that you want to prepare for. The tendency is to do nothing because people don’t know where to start. Therefore, here is an overview of the most popular digital platforms and their requirements. This is a rapidly changing area, so do the homework to make sure that these policies are still in place.

Amazon does not yet have an automated process in place to close a deceased person’s account.

Apple asks that the executor contact Apple Support. You’ll need to provide the user’s Apple ID, email address and a death certificate.

Facebook requires a special request and proof of the authority under local law that you are the representative of the deceased person or their estate. You’ll also need their birth certificate and death certificate. Facebook allows you to make an account a memorialized Facebook account, where content remains visible according to their privacy settings and friends can continue to post. Living individuals can appoint a legacy contact to manage their account.

Google requires the use of a form, verification that you are a relative or legal representative, a death certificate and additional documents. If you are preparing for your own death, you can use the Inactive Account Manager to share parts of your account data, appoint a trusted contact and notify someone, if their account has been inactive for a certain period of time.

Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, provides two options: remove it or memorialize it. Verified immediate family members can require that the account be closed with proof that you are an immediate family member, along with the decedent’s birth and death certificates.

Linked In has a form to request the closing of a user profile. You’ll need to provide the person’s profile URL, the date of death, a link to an obituary, the most recent employer, emails associated with the account and other information.

Twitter has a format requiring you to make a request and will send information required. However, Twitter will only work with immediate family members or those authorized to act on behalf of the estate.

An estate planning attorney can advise you in creating an estate plan that fits your unique circumstances and is likely to include digital assets.

Reference: The-Parallax.com (Sep. 14, 2018) “How to settle your loved one’s digital estate”