social media
Dealing With Social Media Accounts After Death

Social Media Accounts After Death

In our last post we discussed digital assets and how to plan for them.  This week let’s focus on a specific digital asset that has become a part of almost every client’s estate: social media accounts.  Below is a brief description of Facebook and Twitter’s policies for deceased member’s accounts.

Facebook – Allows only verified immediate family members to request the removal of an account through a valid request.  A valid request requires providing them with the name of the deceased person, the date of death, and proof of death like an obituary or death certificate.

Twitter – Asks for deceased person’s username, a copy of the death certificate, government issued ID of the person contacting Twitter, and a signed statement to Twitter, with the contact person’s name, email, current contact information, relationship to the deceased person’s estate, a deactivation request, and obituary.

So how can one prepare to simplify this process of Social Media Accounts After Death?  As we discussed before, here are some options:

1.  Leave a list with immediate family or your trustee or fiduciary with your username and password for all your accounts.

2.  Plan ahead by choosing a trustee, or fiduciary to administer the estate and include relevant language for digital assets within your estate planning documents.  Twitter’s policy requires a relationship to the deceased person’s estate.  This is normally a trustee or personal representative in Florida.  It’s possible that without this designation they may not deal with a beneficiary in case there are other beneficiaries.