Have you ever thought about what will happen to your various high-tech assets and digital accounts after you pass away? While you may not realize it, almost everyone has some digital assets to consider. Computers, smart phones, tablets, video game systems and electronic reading devices are more common than ever. You should also consider digital photographs, music, movies, cryptocurrency, and other items of value that you may digitally own. If you plan to leave any of these types of items to a particular individual, you can specifically designate that as part of your estate plan. However, it’s also important to remember that these types of items will often require a password or username in order for your intended beneficiary to be able to access and use them.
Everyone has their own way of keeping their passwords secure and organized. Be sure that the people you have named to serve as fiduciaries in your estate plan documents will know where to look for this information. Also, make sure to keep that list up to date. Many accounts require routine password changes–so your password list should be reviewed regularly to account for those changes. This is just one more way to make settling your estate easier for everyone involved.
If you ever have any questions about how to plan for your various digital assets, our attorneys would be happy to help.