Digital accounts: what happens after you die?

Google

As with Facebook, Google allows you to make provisions for what is to happen to your account upon your death, before the time comes. The settings can be accessed in the Google Account Help Centre.

Apple

Apple is a different kettle of fish. According to their terms and conditions, Apple will not transfer your account to any other person and any rights to your content terminate upon your death, unless Apple is provided with a Court Order saying otherwise.  If Apple receives a copy of a death certificate for a loved one, they may delete the account and all content within it.

So what can you do?

Leaving passwords written down in the care of others is not a surefire way of passing on your digital estate, not only because of the need to update passwords, but also because you may be breaching the terms and conditions of a service by sharing your password with another person. If the service provider finds out that another person is accessing your account, they could ban that person and remove the account for breaching their terms and conditions of use.

Your general wishes regarding what should happen with your digital identity can be captured by specific bequests in your Will. If you’d like to update your Will, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our friendly team.

*The legal information in this article is of a general nature only and not intended to be legal advice to rely upon