Here’s something important that a lot of people don’t think about: planning for your e-legacy. That means making sure that someone is in a position to handle the disposition of all your digital accounts if you pass away or become incapacitated
You’ll want to have a list of all accounts, usernames, and passwords for your legacy contact. You might even consider preparing a farewell message to post on social media or include in an email.
This information can be placed in a safe-deposit box or left with your attorney to be included with your will.
Here are some items to think about:
- Login, password, and PIN information for:
- Computers
- Smartphones
- Your home network (you don’t want a spouse to be locked out of the Internet)
- Password-protected programs and apps like Password managers and third-party security programs
- Subscription software like Office or Adobe Creative Suite
- Email accounts
- Social media accounts (Click here to learn how to designate a legacy contact for Facebook)
- Blohttps://cynmackley.com/2019/05/08/wholl-manage-your-facebook-when-youre-gone/gs or web pages you manage.
- Streaming and media accounts like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, Nook, and Spotify.
- Any shopping accounts like Amazon etc… but don’t forget about sites like eBay, Craigslist or Etsy. If you sell or have sold items online, your estate will need the power to complete any transactions, make necessary refunds, or collect your payments.
- Accounts with the Post Office, UPS, FedEx or other shippers.
- Banking, investment, and any other financial services accounts.
- Utility accounts
- Online pharmacy accounts
- websites with memberships
You’ll also want a list of newsletter subscriptions. Make sure you update this information frequently as it changes. The last thing you want to do is leave a spouse or family member struggling to get things in order without the necessary information.
Or, in the event you become ill, you’ll want someone to be able to pay bills, handle communications, and take care of other business until you’re back on your feet again.
Can we have it set up with our lawyer to just have the hard drive destroyed?
Connie, You’d have to check with your attorney to see if they offer that service. And, of course, whoever is acting as the executor of your estate would have to make sure it gets to the attorney. But simply destroying your hard drive won’t close your accounts or prevent someone from stealing your identity. If you want an attorney’s office to handle these matters, they will still need passwords etc… and need to be designated as your legacy contact for accounts like Facebook in order to close them.