Preserving Your Digital Legacy: What Happens to Your Online Life?

When we help Manitoba families prepare their wills and powers of attorney, we often focus on the tangible assets – the house, the car, the bank accounts. But what about your digital footprint? Your photos stored in the cloud, your social media accounts, your cryptocurrency, or even your Netflix subscription?

Your digital legacy is more complex than you might think, and without proper planning, your loved ones could face significant challenges accessing or managing your online accounts after you’re gone.

The Hidden Complexities of Digital Assets

Consider this: when you die, your family can’t simply guess your passwords to access your accounts. Most major platforms have specific policies about deceased users, and many require court orders or extensive documentation before granting access to surviving family members.

Your Gmail account might contain important financial documents. Your Facebook profile could hold years of family memories. Your online banking needs to be properly transferred. Without the right information and legal authority, these digital pieces of your life could be lost forever.

What Your Family Needs to Know

Account Information: Create a secure list of your important online accounts, usernames, and passwords. This should include everything from banking and investment accounts to social media and photo storage services.

Digital Assets of Value: Don’t forget about cryptocurrency, digital art, online businesses, or royalties from digital content. These assets have real monetary value but can be nearly impossible to recover without proper access information.

Your Wishes: Do you want your social media profiles memorialized, deleted, or transferred to someone else? Different platforms have different options, but your family needs to know what you prefer.

The Legal Landscape in Manitoba

Manitoba’s laws around digital assets are still evolving. While your power of attorney documents can include digital asset management, not all online platforms recognize these traditional legal documents. Some require their own specific procedures, regardless of what your will or power of attorney says.

This is why it’s crucial to not only document your digital assets but also understand the specific policies of the platforms you use most frequently.

Practical Steps You Can Take Today

Start by making a list of your most important digital accounts and where your family might find value or important information. Store this information securely – either in a physical safe or using a reputable password manager that allows for emergency access.

Consider which accounts hold sentimental value versus practical importance. Your family will need quick access to banking and insurance accounts, but they’ll also want to preserve photos and messages that capture your memory.

Don’t Leave Your Family Guessing

Digital asset planning isn’t just about technology – it’s about making sure your family can properly settle your affairs and preserve the memories that matter most to them.

If you’re updating your will or power of attorney, this is the perfect time to address your digital legacy as well. We can help you understand how to properly document and protect both your traditional and digital assets.

Ready to ensure your complete legacy is protected? Give us a call at (204) 925-1900 – we’re here to help you plan for all aspects of your family’s future.