Digital Executor: What it is and Do you need one

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One example: We helped one client gather all of her important records before meeting with her Estate Attorney, to have a new Will drawn up. 

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May / June 2024


The Role of a Digital Executor: Ensuring Your Digital Legacy Lives On


In today's digital age, our lives are increasingly intertwined with technology. From social media profiles to online banking accounts, our digital footprint continues to expand. However, what happens to this digital legacy when we're no longer here? Enter the digital executor—a crucial role in modern estate planning.

I recently took a seminar about protecting your Digital Legacy. Do you have a Digital Executor stated in your Will? According to The Digital Wrangler, Kate Hufnagel, you may want to consider adding one. FUFADAA, Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, is a law that provides the Executor of an Estate, or an attorney, with access to someone’s online accounts after death or incapacitation. Some states have enacted this law. 

I have designated my Legacy contacts on Facebook and Apple. Instagram does not offer it. I have not had success with Google or Linked in accounts yet. Dropbox has a legacy contact with a paid subscription. 

Some other great tips she gave us:

• Designate someone on your credit card to get your unused travel reward points or other points (nice gift to leave an heir)
• Make sure your Executor knows the password to your phone and all your devices
• Make sure your Executor knows where your legal documents are located and what legal documents you have.

Understanding the Digital Executor
A digital executor is someone appointed to manage and oversee the digital assets and online presence of an individual after their passing. While traditional estate planning often focuses on tangible assets, such as property and finances, the digital executor ensures that your digital life is handled according to your wishes.
The Importance of Digital Estate Planning
In the absence of clear instructions, digital assets can become inaccessible or lost forever. Consider the sentimental value of cherished photos stored in the cloud or the financial implications of unredeemed cryptocurrency. Without proper planning, these assets may remain undiscovered or inaccessible, causing distress to loved ones.
What Does a Digital Executor Do?

1. Inventory Digital Assets: The first step is to create a comprehensive inventory of your digital assets. This may include email accounts, social media profiles, online subscriptions, cryptocurrency holdings, digital photos, and any other online accounts or files of value.
2. Document Your Wishes: Clearly document your preferences regarding each digital asset. Do you want your social media profiles memorialized or deleted? Should your digital photos be shared with family members or preserved in a specific way? Providing clear instructions will guide your digital executor in fulfilling your wishes.
3. Secure Access: Ensure that your digital executor has access to the necessary login credentials and instructions to manage your digital assets. This may involve securely storing passwords in a designated location or utilizing password management tools.
4. Comply with Legal Requirements: Depending on your jurisdiction, there may be legal considerations surrounding digital assets and estate planning. Your digital executor should be familiar with relevant laws and regulations to ensure compliance.
5. Execute Your Plan: Upon your passing, your digital executor will carry out the instructions outlined in your digital estate plan. This may involve closing accounts, transferring assets, or preserving digital content as per your wishes.

Choosing the Right Digital Executor
Selecting the right person to serve as your digital executor is crucial. Ideally, this individual should be tech-savvy, trustworthy, and capable of handling sensitive information. Communication is key—ensure that your digital executor understands your wishes and is prepared to fulfill their responsibilities.
Conclusion
In an increasingly digital world, planning for the management of our digital assets after death is essential. By appointing a digital executor and creating a comprehensive digital estate plan, you can ensure that your digital legacy lives on in accordance with your wishes. Take the time to inventory your digital assets, document your preferences, and choose a trusted individual to serve as your digital executor. Your foresight and planning will provide peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.

How to set up Facebook & Apple Legacy Contacts
Simple Solution Organizing can assist you in setting this up.

Facebook:

Memorialized profiles
Memorialized profiles are a place for friends and family to gather and share memories after a person has passed away. Memorialized profiles have the following key features:

• The word Remembering will be shown next to the person's name on their profile.
• Depending on the privacy settings of the profile, friends can share memories on the memorialized timeline.
• Content the person shared (example: photos, posts) stays on Facebook and is visible on Facebook to the audience it was shared with.
• Memorialized profiles don't appear in suggestions for People You May Know, ads or birthday reminders.
• No one can log into the account of a memorialized profile.
• Memorialized profiles that don't have a legacy contact can't be changed.
• Pages with a sole admin whose profile was memorialized will be removed from Facebook if we receive a valid memorialization request.​

Apple:

To add a Legacy Contact on your iPhone:

• Go to settings
• Tap sign in & Security, tap Legacy Contact
• Tap Add Legacy Contact

This will give them access to your photos, messages, notes, files, apps you’ve downloaded, device backups and more.

Adele Gross
Chief Executive Organizer & Daily Money Manager
706-714-1314

Simple Solution Organizing LLC