As our lives become more connected to the digital world, it’s important to think about what will happen to our online presence after we are gone. In Buffalo, NY, planning for your digital legacy is becoming just as important as planning for your physical assets. From social media profiles to email accounts and online banking, your digital life contains valuable and personal information that needs to be properly managed after you pass away. Without a plan, your family may struggle to access or control these accounts, causing stress during an already difficult time. This guide will help you understand what steps you can take to ensure that your digital legacy is protected and that your loved ones are able to handle your online accounts as you wish. At, Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC, we are here to guide you through the legal process and help you navigate the complexities of your case.
Robert Friedman
Michael Ranzenhofer
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Justin Friedman
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Understanding Your Digital Footprint
Your digital footprint includes all of the online accounts and profiles you create throughout your life. This includes things like email addresses, social media accounts, photo-sharing apps, online banking, and even streaming services like Netflix or Spotify. Each of these accounts contains different types of information, from personal photos and messages to financial details, and every account is governed by its own set of rules when it comes to what happens after the account owner passes away. Some platforms have clear policies in place for handling accounts of deceased users, while others do not, making it difficult for family members to figure out how to manage them.
In order to plan your digital legacy, it’s important to understand what your digital footprint includes. Take some time to list all of your online accounts, both active and inactive. You may be surprised by how many accounts you’ve created over the years, from online shopping sites to social media platforms. Having a complete list will make it easier for your loved ones to understand the scope of your digital presence and will help you as you begin to plan for what happens to these accounts when you are no longer around.
The Importance of Planning for Your Digital Assets
One of the main reasons it’s important to plan for your digital legacy is to prevent your accounts from being left in limbo. Without clear instructions, your family may not know how to access your accounts or may face difficulties with service providers who do not release account information without proper legal authority. This can lead to personal data being lost or locked away indefinitely, and in some cases, it may even result in financial assets being inaccessible.
Planning for your digital assets also helps protect your personal information. Many online accounts contain sensitive data, such as banking information or private communications, that you may not want to be left unsecured after your death. By taking steps to manage your digital accounts ahead of time, you can help ensure that your private information remains protected and that your accounts are handled in the way you want them to be.
Additionally, leaving instructions for your digital assets can help your loved ones avoid confusion or disputes over how to handle your online presence. For example, some people may want their social media accounts to be memorialized, while others may prefer for them to be deleted entirely. By making your wishes clear, you can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that your digital presence is managed in accordance with your values.
Steps to Take When Planning Your Digital Legacy
There are several steps you can take to ensure that your digital legacy is properly planned. The first step is to create a comprehensive list of your online accounts, along with the usernames and passwords associated with each one. This will make it easier for your loved ones to access your accounts after you pass away and will give them a clear understanding of your digital footprint. You may want to consider storing this information in a secure location, such as a password manager or a locked document that only a trusted individual can access.
Next, it’s important to think about what you want to happen to each of your accounts after your death. Some platforms, such as Facebook, offer options for memorializing an account or appointing a legacy contact to manage the account after you are gone. Other platforms may allow for accounts to be deleted or transferred to another user. By reviewing the policies of each platform and deciding what you want to happen to your accounts, you can ensure that your digital legacy is managed in the way that you prefer.
It’s also important to include instructions for your digital assets in your estate plan. In New York, state laws govern how digital assets are handled after someone dies, and including your wishes in your will can provide legal authority for your loved ones to manage your accounts. Your estate plan should also include a digital executor, who is someone you designate to manage your online accounts after you pass away. This person will have the legal authority to access your accounts and carry out your wishes.
Handling Social Media Accounts After Death
Social media accounts are a large part of many people’s digital legacies, and these platforms often have specific rules about what happens to an account after its owner passes away. On Facebook, for example, you can choose to have your account memorialized, which means that your profile will be preserved with the word “Remembering” next to your name, and people can continue to leave messages on your timeline. You can also appoint a legacy contact, who is someone you trust to manage certain aspects of your memorialized account.
Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, has a similar memorialization option, and Twitter allows loved ones to request the deactivation of an account after providing proof of death. Other platforms, such as LinkedIn and Pinterest, have their own procedures for handling deceased users’ accounts. It’s important to review the policies of each platform and decide how you would like your social media accounts to be handled. You may want some accounts to be memorialized, while others you may prefer to have deleted.
Managing Email Accounts and Cloud Storage
Email accounts are often the gateway to many other online services, as they are used to recover passwords and receive important communications. If your email account is left unmanaged after your death, it could be vulnerable to hacking, or your loved ones may miss important notifications related to your other accounts. It’s a good idea to include your email account in your digital legacy plan and provide instructions on how it should be handled.
Cloud storage services, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud, also need to be considered when planning your digital legacy. These platforms may contain important documents, photos, or other files that you want your loved ones to have access to. Each service has its own policies for managing accounts of deceased users, so it’s important to review these policies and decide how you want your cloud storage to be handled.
What Happens to Online Financial Accounts?
Online financial accounts, such as banking apps, investment platforms, and PayPal, are often more complicated to manage after someone passes away. These accounts usually contain sensitive financial information and may require legal authority for anyone other than the account holder to access them. In some cases, your family may need to provide a death certificate and a court order in order to manage your financial accounts.
It’s important to include instructions for your online financial accounts in your estate plan, and to designate a digital executor who can handle these accounts. Be sure to review the policies of each financial platform you use and decide how you would like these accounts to be managed after your death. You may also want to leave instructions for closing or transferring accounts that contain funds.
Creating a Digital Legacy Plan with Legal Help
Planning for your digital legacy can be a complicated process, especially when it comes to understanding the legal requirements for managing online accounts after death. In Buffalo, NY, it’s important to seek legal guidance when creating your digital legacy plan to ensure that your wishes are carried out and that your loved ones are able to manage your online accounts in accordance with the law. A digital legacy plan should be part of your overall estate plan, and it’s important to work with an attorney who understands the legal landscape surrounding digital assets.
An attorney can help you navigate the specific rules of each online platform and make sure that your wishes are properly documented. They can also help you designate a digital executor and ensure that your digital assets are included in your estate plan. By working with a legal professional, you can feel confident that your digital legacy will be managed according to your preferences and that your loved ones will be able to handle your online accounts with ease.
If you are ready to start planning your digital legacy, Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC is here to help. Our experienced attorneys in Buffalo, NY can guide you through the process of creating a comprehensive digital legacy plan that protects your online accounts and ensures that your wishes are carried out. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward securing your digital assets for the future.