Dear Friend,

So much of our world exists online, and yet when it comes to estate planning, many people completely overlook their digital assets. If you’re like most people, you’ve got email accounts, social media profiles, online banking, digital photos, cloud storage, and maybe even cryptocurrency. But what happens to all of these things when you’re no longer here? The truth is, without a plan in place, your digital legacy could be lost, mismanaged, or fall into the wrong hands.

Think about how much of your life is online:

  • Your Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts, filled with memories, messages, and photos.
  • Your online banking or investment accounts, holding valuable assets that need to be passed on.
  • Email accounts with important documents, personal information, or professional correspondence.
  • Cloud storage containing priceless family photos or vital business information.
  • Maybe even cryptocurrency wallets or digital investments that hold significant value.

Now imagine your loved ones trying to navigate all of that without a plan in place. It’s a mess waiting to happen. Without proper instructions and legal authority, your family may not have access to those accounts, or worse, they may not even know they exist. That’s where digital estate planning comes in.

Why Does Digital Estate Planning Matter?

When you pass away, your digital assets don’t just disappear. Many of them require action to be taken—whether it’s closing accounts, transferring ownership, or safeguarding sensitive information. If you don’t plan for your digital estate, it can create a host of problems for your loved ones. They might be unable to access funds, pay bills, or even retrieve cherished family photos. Your digital life could be locked away forever, inaccessible to the people who need it most.

Take social media accounts as an example. Did you know that without explicit instructions, your loved ones might not be able to access or manage these accounts? In some cases, your profile could remain active, becoming a painful reminder to your family every time they come across it. Or, even worse, your accounts could be hacked or misused.

What about online banking or investment accounts? If your family doesn’t have access to your digital financial accounts, they could miss out on important assets or have trouble managing your estate efficiently. Cryptocurrency wallets are a prime example—if your family doesn’t know how to access these digital wallets, those assets could be lost forever.

Including Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan

Here’s where Bascom Law can help. We can incorporate your digital assets into your estate plan, so that everything is managed smoothly.

When you include your digital assets in your estate plan, you’re not just protecting valuable financial accounts—you’re also preserving your digital legacy. Think about all the photos, videos, and personal memories you have stored online. These are the things your family will treasure for years to come. Without a plan in place, they could be lost or forgotten.

You can also include instructions on how you want your social media profiles to be handled. Do you want them memorialized, deleted, or transferred to a family member? These are decisions you should make now, rather than leaving them up to chance or putting that burden on your family.

Taking Action Now

At Bascom Law, we’re here to help you with every aspect of estate planning—including digital estate planning. This process might seem overwhelming, but with our guidance, you can make sure that your entire digital life is protected and passed on according to your wishes.  We’ll help you create a comprehensive digital estate plan that covers everything—from your passwords to your cryptocurrency wallets and everything in between.

Call us today at 770-285-5493 to schedule a consultation. Let’s sit down and talk about how we can make sure your digital life is as secure as the rest of your estate.

Sincerely and Thanks,

Mike

Mike Bascom
Bascom Law, PC
Estate Planning & Elder Law