Don’t fail your loved ones when it comes to addressing online accounts- take the proper steps so that your loved ones are prepared to address your digital footprint.

Globally, our online presence and daily use of digital resources is astounding. A majority of Americans do some or most of their banking online and a vast majority of Americans have at least one social media account.

But how do we prepare for the inevitable and ensure our loved ones can manage the digital part of our lives when we’re gone?

Lets explore a few options:

First, What are some good ways to Manage Passwords?

Let’s start with what not to do. It’s a bad idea to use the same password for each account: if one account gets hacked, then the rest of your accounts are at risk. It’s a bad idea to store those passwords on a piece of paper on your desk under your keyboard or taped to the monitor.

There are a multitude of secure “data banks” online these days – sites that will keep your information safe for a fee. Sites like Passwordwallet.com or Lastpass.com are useful and can save you and your loved ones a lot of trouble down the line. Creating a repository for all online account login and passwords may avoid future headaches.

What about closing or modifying an Account?

Most companies have simple policies on closing or modifying ownership of an online account when the original account owner is deceased. Typically, you only need to produce a death certificate – copies of which can be obtain from either the funeral home or the county and state where the loved one passed away.

But some companies have presented challenges. Initially, Facebook required additional confirmation that an individual had died, and that process was frustrating and time-consuming.

Facebook has since revised its policies, and now offers a cleaner way toresolve the issue. A superior solution to this problem may be making sure key family members or trusted friends have access to your password should you no longer be able to give it.

What about Offline Accounts?

In some cases, more than a simple death certificate or password is needed. When dealing with assets of an estate, especially a bank account, you may need to request from a court Letters Testamentary and open probate or administration proceedings. Here, you’ll need more than a piece of paper – you may want to hire an attorney who can assist in collecting the appropriate evidence a judge will need to review to make the desired ruling.

At Weldy Law, PLLC , we assist our clients on just these matters and have years of experience. Whether it is representing your interests in court or finalizing your estate plan to include instructions on your digital assets, we’re motivated to make the most of your time and investment in your future. Call us at (806) 928-2087 to schedule a free initial consultation.