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Losing important data is a widely held modern fear. However, there are certain precautions you can take to prevent this from happening. Whether you have a collection of family photos or the beginnings of a novel stored online, you want these assets protected if you were to pass away. Here’s why it’s crucial to involve digital assets like social media in your estate plan.

Why It’s Important to Include Social Media in Your Estate Plan

While you’ve set up passwords and security questions to block hackers from accessing your information, these same safeguards could keep your closest loved ones from doing so—causing your life’s work or fondest memories to get lost on the web. Therefore, it’s crucial to add an access guide to your estate plan, which designates who can view the data and what they should do with it.

How to Include Social Media in Your Estate Plan

estate planStart off by taking inventory of all your social media accounts. Jot down the username and password for each account, as well as answers to security questions. While you should bring this information to an estate planning lawyer, you’ll want to keep it somewhere private until you do so, such as in a locked safe.

Then, it’s important to pick who can access your accounts if you were to pass away. Make sure that you choose an individual who you would be comfortable sharing your accounts with. For example, you might want to choose your significant other, sibling, or best friend. Write their name next to the associated account or profile.

Finally, write down what you would like them to do with the information. You might want them to save all the photos before deleting the account, archive your blog posts to make a book, or simply delete the profile right away. Your estate planning attorney can work these instructions into your will, so your social media assets are all taken care of.

 

If you’re looking for a trusted attorney to help you draft a will, reach out to Stayton Law. This Willamette Valley, OR-based firm has several lawyers who cater to a wide variety of estate planning needs. Whether you need to file a suit under elder law or ensure your loved ones can avoid probate, they’ll offer their expertise to help you meet your goals. To learn more about their services, visit the website. You can also call (503) 769-7741 to arrange for a consultation.

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