These four steps will help ensure your digital accounts and subscriptions aren’t lost when you die.
What’s will happen to your Facebook account or the songs you’ve downloaded from iTunes when you die?
As digital assets become more common for us all, it’s important to incorporate them into estate plans. Unfortunately, that’s not always easy to do.
According to a 2013 McAfee study, the average person has roughly $35,000 worth of assets stored on digital devices. That value includes purchased movies, books, music and games as well as personal memories, communications, personal records, hobbies and career information. Of those surveyed by the study, 55 percent said they store assets that would be impossible to recreate, re-download or repurchase.
Unfortunately, those assets are increasingly at risk of being lost when the account owner dies. Many digital accounts are subject to complicated terms of service agreements, which can often make it difficult or impossible for surviving loved ones to access them. Additionally, state and federal laws could put friends and relatives who try to log on to your accounts at risk of violating anti-hacking and privacy statutes.
Initiatives are under way to put more consumer-friendly laws in place regarding digital assets. Until then, though, it’s important to incorporate detailed directions and information surrounding your digital assets into your estate plan.
Here are four steps to take now:
1. Be aware. Know to speak regularly with your attorney, financial advisor and CPA about how to protect your digital assets.
2. Take a digital inventory. At least once a year, make a list of all your online accounts and subscriptions.
3. Gather your passwords. Make a list of your current passwords and keep the list in a safe place. (Several businesses offer secure, digital custodial services for lists like these.) Make sure your Trustee knows where to find the list.
4. Be specific. It’s essential that your durable power of attorney include specific provisions authorizing someone you trust to deal with your digital assets and online accounts. Your will or revocable trust should have similar provisions to allow your loved ones to deal with those assets after your death.
Finally, consult with an experienced estate planning attorney to make sure you’ve covered all your bases as to digital estate planning. Call or email the Attorneys at Cox Law Group for help protecting and planning for your digital assets. 410-988-3973. www.TheCoxLawGroup.com.
