Digital Estate Planning and Your Photos- an often overlooked necessity these days.
Here are some basic steps
1. Write down where all your physical photos, videos, and memorabilia can be found. Be sure to include any identifying information and important details.
2. Write down instructions for your family on what you would like them to do with all of these physical and digital memories after you are gone.
3. Make a list of all the online places where you have stored photos, videos, and personal blogs (your stories). Record all of your online user names/passwords of sites where you keep photos and videos. Don’t forget social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.
Keep this list updated in a password-protected spreadsheet, put handwritten copies in your safety deposit box (make sure someone has access to the key), or use a password keeper app.
4. Assign a digital executor. Who do you want to execute your final wishes with your photographs? Do your photos need to be scanned and distributed to multiple people? Do you want your online accounts to be disabled or deleted when you die? Just like a traditional estate executor, a digital executor is a trusted individual who will make sure your wishes are carried out.
5. Be sure someone (your digital executor, most likely) knows the access code to unlock your digital devices (phone, tablet, computer) which will hold your most recent photos. Apple intentionally makes it difficult to access a phone when you don’t know the unlock code.
6. Keep all of this information in a safe location such as a locked file cabinet or safe (if written), in a password-protected file on your
computer, or in a hard copy held by your lawyer or trusted family friend
A little planning now will be a welcome gift to your family upon your death. What preparations have you made for the handling of your
photos when you are gone?
Need some help?
Just contact me at 770-312-6905 or urgetopurgephotos@gmail.com .
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