Most people have social media accounts, online bank accounts, profiles, personal digital files, personal digital conversations, and other such online assets. Some information in these assets are deeply personal and can cause problems like fraud, identity theft, and similar crimes, which is why it’s important to understand what happens to your digital assets after death. At Charles J. O’Shea Funeral Home, we recommend the following steps:

1. Identify Digital Assets

The first thing to do is to identify all digital assets carefully and determine which ones can cause the most damage. Here’s a list of assets to look into:

• Email Accounts (Personal and Professional)
• Social Media Profiles
• Bank Accounts
• Online Trading Accounts
• Smartphone Information
• Apple/Google Accounts
• Saved Information in Cloud
• College/School/Work Accounts
• Websites

Most people have a diverse online presence so it’s important to study all of your important assets, even if you’ve been anonymous on them.

2. Pre-Planning

Pre-planning and making end-of-life arrangements can help you manage all your digital assets. During this process, people can hire a trustee who will destroy all private email, data, close bank accounts, close social media accounts, remove personal information from online platforms, and publish information regarding a person’s demise on online platforms.

This ensures all online, long-distance friends or contacts are aware of a person’s demise. A trustee will systematically eliminate all assets unless a legal reason hinders them. They will also assign the assets to different people if needed.

3. What Happens After?

Your wishes are executed immediately after the funeral is done and a death certificate is obtained. The trustee will contact family members and inform them of your instructions before they carry them out.

If you want to know more about funeral services, don’t hesitate to contact us at Charles J. O’Shea Funeral Home. We’ll be happy to answer your questions.