Why You Most Likely Need a Digital Will

By Jim Miller for the Beacon

If you spend much time online, adding to your estate plan a separate digital will — which provides a list of your digital assets — would be extremely helpful to your loved ones when you die. It will also help protect your privacy.  

The term “digital assets” refers to personal information that is stored electronically on either a computer or an online “cloud server” account that belongs to an individual.  

Anyone who uses email, has PIN code protection on their cell phone, makes online purchases, or pays bills online owns digital assets. 

Digital assets generally require a username, a password or a PIN to access. Therefore, they can be difficult — and frequently impossible — to retrieve information from if someone becomes incapacitated or passes away without having supplied that information to a family member or a close friend in advance.  

Creating a digital will (also known as a digital estate plan) will help your loved ones access your electronic devices and online accounts more easily so they can manage your electronic affairs according to your wishes after you’re gone.  

This in turn will also protect your digital assets from hackers or fraud, which can happen to dormant accounts after you die. 

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