How To Manage Your Digital Legacy
February 23, 2022
Tags: Digital Estate Planning, Estate Planning Long Island, Last Will and Testament, paralegal solution
When you think of estate planning, it’s easy to get caught up in visions of paperwork, assets, and beneficiaries. While those are all essential components, some other factors are worth considering, as well.
As our lives and legacies become more digital, so does end-of-life planning. Today, there are many ways to provide comfort to your loved ones and control your digital impact once you’re gone.
Leave a Memorial Video
So many people who have suffered a loss wish that they could hear their loved one’s voice or see them one more time. Leaving a special message for family and friends could provide the comfort they need to feel closer to you. A memorial video is a message that you can pass on to your close friends and family after you die.
Creating a video can also be a way to share information with certain people once you’re gone. For example, if you want your oldest child to know some vital family or medical history, and you’d rather not have the conversation in person, a video that’s shared when you pass on might make it easier.
Share Access to Your Memories
If your loved ones don’t already have access to photos or other memories of you, consider including that information in your estate planning instruction. Classic photographs are the gift that keeps giving and one of the best links to you that close friends and family will have once you’re gone.
Manage Your Digital Memorialization Settings
Many companies, like Facebook and Google, are starting to offer a way to control what happens to your account when you pass away. For example, in your Facebook memorialization settings, you can name a “legacy contact,” a friend who can manage your account and delete it if you wish after your death.
Logging into all of your most-used accounts and changing these settings gives you more control over your digital footprint and allows you to choose how you’re remembered.
Although it may seem overwhelming at first, spending some time on your digital legacy will significantly benefit you and your loved ones. Asking someone you trust to help you with the process can lighten your load.
Disclaimer: please note that this article is not legal advice and should be used for informational purposes only. If you need legal advice you should retain an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The opinions expressed in this guide are solely those of the author, who is not an attorney.
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