After You’re Gone: Preparing for Your Digital Afterlife Care
It’s something most of us never think about—what happens to our digital presence when we’re gone? But in today’s world, where our lives are increasingly lived online, it’s something that needs to be taken seriously. Thankfully, there are steps you can take now to make sure your digital legacy is handled according to your wishes. Let’s take a look at how you can prepare for your digital afterlife.
Create A Plan Now For Your Afterlife Care
Taking the time now to prepare for your digital afterlife care is an important part of ensuring our legacy remains intact after you’re gone. Keep reading to learn how to create an organized plan for your digital afterlife care.
Gather All of Your Digital Accounts and Passwords
Start by taking inventory of all the online accounts you have created, from banking accounts to social media sites and everything in between. Make sure you write down any passwords associated with these accounts as well. Once this is done, store all the information safely and securely. If possible, choose a place that only one person will have access to so that no one else can gain access to your accounts without your permission. This could be a physical document kept in a secure location like a lock box or an encrypted file stored on a USB drive or a password-protected cloud storage service.
Update Your Will
Once you have created a plan detailing all of your digital accounts, you will need to update your will with this information so that it is legally binding and cannot be disputed by anyone else in the event of your death. This will ensure that all of your wishes regarding what happens with your digital accounts are respected even after you are gone. Be sure to consult an estate attorney if possible; they can help make sure everything is done correctly so there aren’t any problems in the future.
Choose an Executor for Your Digital Estate
The next step is to name someone as the executor of your digital estate—the person who will be responsible for managing or closing out all of your online accounts once you pass away. Ideally, this should be someone who knows both you and the technology involved (like a tech-savvy relative) and is organized enough to handle the task with care and attention to detail. Once you’ve made your decision, make sure they’re aware of their role so that they aren’t caught off guard if it needs to be activated one day.
Leave Instructions For Your Executor
Your executor will need direction when it comes time for them to manage or close out your online accounts, so leave behind detailed instructions on what each account should do after you’ve gone (e.g., delete account vs close account). Be sure that this document is kept up-to-date as new online services become available; if anything changes to existing ones (new passwords/usernames), make sure those changes are noted too.
By gathering all relevant information securely into one place and appointing an executor who understands both technology and the importance of carrying out our last wishes accurately, we can ensure that our digital presence is handled properly when the time comes. Doing this now will save those left behind valuable time and energy when dealing with our affairs later on, and make it easier for them during what will already be a difficult period for them regardless.
Other Final Arrangements
In addition to your digital legacy, there are a few more preparations to make before you die to make sure your afterlife care is handled according to your wishes, while also taking some of the burdens off of your loved one’s shoulders.
Write Your Own Obituary
The only person who knows the complete story of your life is you! Writing your own obituary is a way of celebrating your life and writing one last message to your family, friends, and the world. By writing your own obituary, you can include any details about your life that you see fit, share your life philosophy, and leave messages of love and memories to your loved ones.
Final Disposition
Did you know you can make arrangements for your final disposition before you pass? Paying for your chosen outcome helps to ensure that your wishes are carried out to the letter and eases the burden on your loved ones. You can arrange payment in advance for a funeral, burial, or cremation.
With just a small amount of effort today, we can rest easy knowing that our loved ones won’t face any additional difficulties in managing our affairs down the line because we took care of them beforehand. Maine Cremation Care serves families throughout Maine and is happy to answer any questions you may have about preparing for your digital afterlife care. Contact us today about our cremation services.
