The term “social media” can be used to describe the content that makes up your social media presence ranging from images, photos, posts, blogs, comments, interaction, and any user-generated content with which you are associated (ie tagged).
When you die, your profile on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites remains part of your digital legacy, and often becomes a place where people go to memorialise their loved ones.
To make sure your legacy lives on and ensure the right people have access to these accounts there are steps that you can and should take as part of your estate plan.
For accounts like Instagram, Pinterest, and Snapchat there isn’t currently a way to designate someone to manage your account after you die.
If you wish to have your account deleted after you die, a family member will need to apply to the relevant company with proof of death.
At times, they will either deactivate your account or in some cases, Instagram will memorialise your account.
On the other hand, accounts like Facebook and YouTube give you the option to designate a person that can be contacted and who can access the account when you die.
For Facebook, in your settings you may designate someone as your legacy contact. The person will have the power to accept friend requests, pin a tribute post and change your profile picture and cover photo.
On YouTube or other Google-related platforms, an immediate family member can request to close the account.
To control access to YouTube and other Google-owned accounts, you can make changes in Google’s Inactive Account Manager.
This facilitates a person of your choice to be contacted if your account has been inactive for a specified period of time, and they also will gain access to any accounts you allow and will be sent data you have chosen to share with them through a link.
To ensure that your social media accounts are in the right hands and the proper actions are taken after you have passed, you should put instructions in your estate plan for guidance and make sure your legacy lives digitally.
Give us a call if you have any questions about how to manage your digital assets in your estate plan.
Protecting your digital assets has become critically important. As part of this process, it’s a very good idea to look at putting all your affairs in order and explore your estate planning options, by contacting a specialist lawyer who is experienced in estate planning in South Australia.
Founded in 1848, Genders & Partners is the oldest law firm in South Australia. They choose to specialise in just a few areas of law closest to most families, so that they can provide the legal services that matter most to you and your family.
Their experienced estate planning team can discuss many estate planning tools and techniques including:
- helping you to identify, understand and manage risks in your legal and financial affairs;
- protect your digital assets;
- creation of protective trusts;
- titling of assets for joint ownership;
- consideration of insurance options.
Choosing the right estate planning lawyers can make a huge difference in ensuring proper distribution of your assets after death, minimising or avoiding any legal issues that may arise, and protecting your hard-earned assets.
Most importantly, it helps save your family all the trouble, as well as thousands of dollars in legal fees and taxes, after your death.
Download our free eBook: “7 things you must know before you make your Will” here.
Genders and Partners is the oldest law firm in South Australia, established 1848. Contact them to learn how to protect yourself, your family and your assets through modern integrated estate planning solutions, by visiting our website today and schedule a free no obligation telephone consultation to find out how they can help you and yours.
To learn how to protect yourself, your family and your assets, by creating a professionally-made estate plan, claim your FREE 15 minute Telephone Consultation .
PS For a strictly limited time Genders and Partners are giving away for FREE their Digital Assets Protection Pack with the purchase of any Gold Estate Planner package. Find out how to Protect Your Digital Assets here.
Protecting Your Digital Assets
What will happen to your online accounts, profiles, data, subscriptions and memberships, if you die or become incapacitated?
With data breaches, elder abuse and digitalisation all on the increase, read these important insights from senior Australian specialist lawyer Rod Genders to help protect yourself, your family and your assets.