If you have ever thought about making a Will, chances are that you have considered what you would like to happen to your home and belongings after your death.
Something which often gets overlooked, however, is what will happen to your digital assets.
Digital assets, as you might have guessed, refer to belongings which exist in a digital space, rather than as physical objects such as a house or car.
This includes cryptocurrency, digital artwork, e-books, loyalty points, digital music collections and photographs, social media, emails and other online accounts, to name just a few.
With a Which? survey finding that 77% of its members have digital assets of sentimental value and 35% have assets of financial value, it’s clearly something which needs to be considered when it comes to getting your affairs in order.
If you would like your loved ones to have access to these assets after your death then it’s important to make sure this is clearly outlined in your Will, otherwise they will be distributed according to intestacy rules. You may also wish to consider what happens to your social media accounts, with some platforms giving loved ones the opportunity to memorialise a page after someone has passed.
However, it may be that you would prefer to have these accounts deleted altogether and the same goes for other online accounts or emails, especially if there is any information stored there which you would prefer to keep private.
The process of leaving digital assets in your will is important but can be complicated.
For example, if instructions for how to get into your accounts and what to do with them aren’t stipulated, then your loved ones may find that they have to navigate each individual company’s policies to try and gain access, which can be both time consuming and difficult.
It is therefore important to discuss your options with a solicitor so that they can talk you through the process in depth.
Not only does this provide some clarity for loved ones carrying out your wishes but also means you have peace of mind that both your physical and digital assets are accounted for.