Most of us have a digit footprint on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and the like. We also have photographs, videos and other memories stored with Google, Apple and Meta.
Have you thought about what happens to all those images and memories when you die or if you lost capacity?
The answer is that they could all be lost forever without anyone to administer them.
In a 2021 report STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) found that a quarter of estate practitioners reported that their clients had experienced difficulties accessing or transferring digital assets on death or incapacity.
Also, in a recent STEP-commissioned YouGov poll of 2,000 people in the UK, 64% of respondents said that what happens to their sentimental digital possessions after they have gone is either important or very important to them, but 57% have made no plans at all for passing on their digital assets. Also, only 3% of respondents had used the digital legacy tools provided by Google, Apple and others.
What can you do?
Update your legacy settings on Google, Apple, Facebook and other platforms.
Each has a different requirement – to find how to update your legacy settings for Google, Facebook, Apple, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, go to How to set up your digital accounts so that your loved ones can access them if you’re not able to memories.step.org
These memories may not have a monetary value, but can be just as important to those who are left behind when you are gone or are unable to manage them yourself.
Don’t forget that you also need to make sure that you have an up-to-date Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney for your other assets.
To find out more about protecting your assets, contact a member of the team or call one of our offices:
BANBURY 01295 270999
BICESTER 01869 252161
RUGBY 01788 579579