In today’s digital age, our online lives are just as significant as our offline lives. From cherished photos on Instagram to important emails on Gmail, our digital footprint is vast. But what happens to these digital assets after our death? This guide provides a clear and comprehensive checklist for managing social media and tech access after your death, ensuring a smooth transition for your loved ones.
Understanding The Issue
Accessing someone’s social media and tech accounts after their death can be challenging due to unknown accounts, password protections and next-of-kin limitations. Many platforms and devices have specific policies requiring proof of death and legal documentation before dealing with the account of a deceased person.
- Tech Hardware Devices Gaining access to computers, Android phones, iPhones and other tech hardware can be difficult without passwords. Given many passwords to online accounts are stored on these devices, access to these devices is critical
- Social Media Platforms Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X and others have protocols that often need a ‘grant of probate’ or legal authority from a deceased person’s estate to access their account
What can you do to prepare?
To ensure your loved ones can access your digital assets smoothly, consider these best practices:
- Facebook Appoint a legacy contact to manage your account after death. Alternatively, opt to have your account permanently deleted
- Instagram Specify whether you want your account memorialized or deleted by appointing a legacy contact
- TikTok Currently, there’s no direct option for legacy contacts. Ensure your executor has access to your password manager
- Twitter/X Decide if you’d like your account to be archived or deleted and provide necessary access to your executor
- Gmail Use Google’s Inactive Account Manager to decide what happens to your account and who gains access
- LinkedIn Appoint someone to manage or close your account by leaving clear instructions
- iPhone Set up Digital Legacy in your Apple ID settings to allow access through trusted contacts
- Samsung/Android Use Google’s Inactive Account Manager or Samsung’s similar service for account management posthumously
What can you do after a loved one dies?
When a loved one passes away, follow these steps to gain access to their digital accounts:
- Facebook Submit a request to memorialise or delete the account, providing proof of death and relationship
- Instagram Request account deletion or memorialisation with proof of death and relationship
- TikTok Contact customer service with appropriate documents for account closure
- Twitter/X Provide documentation proving your relationship and the death certificate
- Gmail Submit a request to access the account details with necessary documents through Google’s process
- LinkedIn Use the platform’s request form with required documentation
- iPhone Use the Digital Legacy feature or contact Apple Support with legal documentation
- Samsung/Android Follow Google’s or Samsung’s process for account recovery with proof of death and relationship
Checklist for Social Media and Tech
Before your death:
- Appoint legacy contacts for social media and tech accounts
- Use password managers to store and share access details with trusted individuals
- Set up Inactive Account Managers for email and other essential accounts
- Include digital assets in your will, specifying your wishes for each account
After the death of a loved one:
- Gather all necessary legal documentation (death certificate, grant of probate)
- Contact each platform with required documentation and follow their procedures
- Use password managers or any pre-arranged access details to manage hardware devices
- Seek professional advice if encountering difficulties with access
For personalised assistance, please send an email to enquiries@billwill.com.au and we can put you in touch with one of our estate planning partners.
Conclusion
Understanding and planning for the administration of your digital assets is crucial. By following this guide and checklists, you can ensure a smoother process for your loved ones and maintain control over your digital legacy after you’re gone. Remember, it’s always wise to seek professional advice tailored to your specific needs.
