Ricky Rash was a 15-year-old kid who committed suicide. His grieving parents wanted to understand what was in his mind before he died. Understandably, they wanted to see what he was saying and doing online. But legally, the online companies like Facebook, Yahoo, etc. could not allow any cooperation.
So, what happens to your online world when you die, and should somebody be allowed to shut down any online accounts you have? A professor at George Washington University has estimated the average adult has 20-25 online accounts.
Some of these accounts are, of course, just foolishness, but some could have financial significance, such as online banking and investment accounts. While a few states, including Virginia, have enacted laws to help bypass the privacy issues, who wants to hire a lawyer just to deal with online accounts, when it can be done quickly and simply by your friend or executor?
What should you or your spouse or your parents do? A retired financial planner has prepared a spreadsheet to capture that information for the benefit of your heirs or successors. I will be mailing a copy to my clients. If you would also like a copy, just email us at renee@baycapitaladvice.com (If you would like to follow his excellent blog on the overlapping subjects of estate planning and elder care, you can do so at http://parentcareplanning.wordpress.com)
Yes, Virginia, there is an after-life . . . digital and otherwise!
So, what happens to your online world when you die, and should somebody be allowed to shut down any online accounts you have? A professor at George Washington University has estimated the average adult has 20-25 online accounts.
Some of these accounts are, of course, just foolishness, but some could have financial significance, such as online banking and investment accounts. While a few states, including Virginia, have enacted laws to help bypass the privacy issues, who wants to hire a lawyer just to deal with online accounts, when it can be done quickly and simply by your friend or executor?
What should you or your spouse or your parents do? A retired financial planner has prepared a spreadsheet to capture that information for the benefit of your heirs or successors. I will be mailing a copy to my clients. If you would also like a copy, just email us at renee@baycapitaladvice.com (If you would like to follow his excellent blog on the overlapping subjects of estate planning and elder care, you can do so at http://parentcareplanning.wordpress.com)
Yes, Virginia, there is an after-life . . . digital and otherwise!
