We all have digital assets. Our emails, social networking accounts, blogs, online photo album and data stored on our personal computer.
Yes, all these can be and have to passed on to your heir. It is something no many people understand and so it creates a lot of problems for their lawyers.
A writer's manuscript in his computer or a photo journalists online photo album or your financial record on a file in your computer. All this is very important to you as well as your heirs. It is thus necessary to make provisions to pass it on to someone through a digital will.
Different companies have different policies with regards to passing on digital information. Yahoo deletes the person's account. Google gives conditional access to family members. You just have to provide a proof of authority under the local law to certify that you are the lawful representative of the deceased and also provide his/her death certificate. It takes around 30 days for the entire process.
Pavan Duggal, a Supreme Court lawyer who specializes in Cyber Law says," In April this year, a Delhi businessman's digital will was India's first in this regard. Ever since, six more people have approached me to discuss their digital estate and consequently, make their wills."
First of all you have to create a list of all the digital assets that you have. Secondly, you have to get your digital signature authenticated. It is then just a matter of a thousand rupees or so to get your digital will ready.
Some helpful websites:
- www.youdeparted.com
- www.datainherit.com
- www.deadmansswitch.net
- www.deathswitch.com
- www.entrustet.com
- www.estateplusplus.com
- www.ifidie.org
- www.legacylocker.com
- www.mywebwill.com
I hope this information is useful. It is something not many people know of. Spread the word.
Some quotes and the list of websites are taken from the newspaper Time of India, Ahmedabad Edition, Page 11.
Cheers
A
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