Email. Online banking. Dropbox. Facebook. A log-on password for your personal computer. We all have ways of keeping track of the usernames and passwords that provide access to things that have personal and/or financial value. But access to those online accounts can become extremely complicated if you suddenly lose capacity or die. What will happen to all of those digital family photos stored on your password-protected computer? Would you want your family to have access to your email, Facebook, or Twitter account, even if only to close it permanently? Current legislation is extremely limited in addressing access rights to your accounts if you die or become disabled. Until clear laws are in place, it is important to consider your online presence and what you would, and specifically would not, want your loved ones to be able to access. The following articles might provide some guidance on how to address this developing issue.
New York Times – Bequeathing the Keys to Your Digital Afterlife