What happens to your “virtual” self when you are no longer here…
When making your will have you thought about your online assets, your Facebook Twitter and LinkedIn accounts for example?
When you consider that personal photographs, information, a list of your contacts and other information about you is held online it is very important to consider how these will be dealt with after your death.
Your will can ask your executor to deal with your online assets. One of the difficulties is that many social media accounts require specific usernames and passwords. You may have two or three email addresses containing hundreds of personal emails and information about you. It is important that usernames and passwords and other information to access this online information is as available as your life policy numbers and bank account details.
You might wish to discuss with your solicitor how you can ensure that your executor obtains this information after your death. Facebook has recently announced it will allow members in the US to appoint a virtual executor to manage their Facebook accounts after their death but our view is that it is perhaps better to see online assets as simply another type of asset to be dealt with in the usual way by your executor who is appointed in your will.