From family photographs and emails to social media accounts and cloud storage, our digital accounts have become repositories for our most important information and cherished memories. While many people take steps to protect these accounts during life, few consider how loved ones will access them after death.
Fortunately, major technology companies such as Apple, Google, and Meta have introduced tools that allow users to designate trusted individuals to manage their digital accounts after death.
What is a Legacy Contact?
A Legacy Contact is a trusted contact, essentially a digital trustee, whom you designate to manage certain aspects of your digital accounts after your death. Depending on the platform, this person is able to access stored information, retrieve photos and documents, or carry out other account-related functions.
Apple’s Legacy Contact
Apple allows users to designate one or more Legacy Contacts who can request access to eligible account data after death. The designated individual uses a unique access key, along with a death certificate, to gain access after the user’s death.
For instructions on how to set up a Legacy Contact for your Apple account, click here.
Google’s Inactive Account Manager
Google’s Inactive Account Manager allows users to decide what happens to their account after a period of inactivity. Individuals can designate trusted contacts, select which services (such as Gmail, Drive, or Photos) may be shared, and even leave instructions for loved ones.
For instructions on setting up Google’s Inactive Account Manager, click here.
Facebook’s Legacy Contact
Facebook also offers a Legacy Contact feature for memorialized accounts. A designated person may be able to manage certain account settings, respond to friend requests, and help preserve the account as a place for family and friends to share memories.
For instructions on setting up a Facebook Legacy Contact, click here.
Why It Matters
As our lives become increasingly digital, planning for digital assets is just as important as planning for traditional assets. It is important to understand that Legacy Contacts, and other similar features, do not replace the need for properly drafted estate and disability planning documents. It remains crucial that Powers of Attorney, Wills and Trusts include legal provisions granting an agent, executor or trustee the power to handle digital assets in the event of incapacity or death.
By combining traditional estate planning with available digital account tools, you can help ensure that both your physical and digital assets are protected and accessible to your loved ones when they need them most.
If you would like to review or update your estate plan to ensure that your digital assets are protected, please contact our office to learn more. We are a phone call or email away!
