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  • Are you aware of social media legacy planning?

Are you aware of social media legacy planning?

We spend more than a third of our time online using social networks such as Facebook, but few of us have incorporated “social media legacy planning” into our estate planning in general.

All of us have a variety of online profiles such as Facebook, Twitter, blog sites or even dating profiles. If you think you have none of these profiles, you should also remember that your email accounts, login information for banking and utilities all constitute part of your online profile.

The recent and explosive popularity of social media over just the past five years have presented totally new challenges for planning an estate.

In this case, it’s important to designate someone who will take care of your online identity, and this will typically include shutting down or closing various accounts.

As well, many of the connections we make online can become quite deep and profound – people will miss you when you’re gone, and at the very least there should be some explanation about what happened so that your online friends and acquaintances can enjoy a sense of closure.

With Facebook and other online services such as Flickr that store photos and videos, there may be a significant legacy stored online with sentimental value. If you do not pass on credentials for these accounts, this information may remain locked away, or, even worse, deleted entirely.

How can you protect your posthumous online identity?

  • Document your various online identities
  • Document login names and passwords
  • Provide directions for closing accounts, removing content, and what messages to pass on to your online contacts

By giving consideration to your online legacy and its potential impact (both positive and negative) it may have on loved ones after you are gone, you are taking a bold leap into 21st Century estate planning.

Dinning Hunter are lawyers in Victoria BC.

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