Most of us live so much of our lives online nowadays, but protecting our digital legacy is a planning task that often gets overlooked.
Digital planning includes:
- Providing loved ones with your passwords so they can access your accounts
- Designating the name of someone who can access your online accounts once you have died
- Letting a loved one know what you’d like to happen to your social media accounts upon your death. For example, would you like those accounts deleted or memorialized?
Here are a few tips to start planning your digital legacy:
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If you use a password manager, designate the name of someone who can have access to it should you die or can’t manage your affairs yourself.
Daily life online involves keeping track of many passwords to access accounts. If you use a password manager service like LastPass or 1Password, inquire about how or where you can add the name of someone who can access it if needed. This will save your loved ones some major headaches in the future while they try to figure out your passwords.
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Add a legacy contact for your accounts through major tech providers such as Apple and Google.
This will allow your loved ones to decide what to do with your digital information, such as photos and messages, in the future. Through Apple, you should be able to designate a legacy contact through the Password & Security option under Settings. For any other major tech providers, you should be able to find information by searching online for “legacy contact” and the name of the provider.
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Decide how you’d like to handle social media accounts
Facebook allows you to name a legacy contact if you want your account memorialized. Look under Settings and Privacy to see where you can add a legacy contact. Your loved ones also can request removal of your account, which is also an option on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter.
Make sure to let your loved ones know about your plans and any preferences you have for your digital information in the future.
Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Estate Planning Management
At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.
