Legacy Contacts: What are they and why are they important?
Overview
In today’s digital world, it is important to consider designating a legacy contact for your most vital online accounts. Many apps and websites offer you the ability to do so- although it might take a bit of research to determine how.
A legacy contact is the most secure way to ensure that a spouse, family member or trusted friend can have access to your personal information and digital files in the event of your death.
Most people today store extremely meaningful information in the digital space- think about that camera reel on your phone, or your long contacts list, or your file hosting account with all of your personal documents and files.
What are some examples of important apps to have a legacy contact in place? Lets take for example your iCloud account, which holds text messages, notes, apps, photos and a lot of other information. Or perhaps your Gmail email address, Dropbox account and maybe your Password Manager, which can assist your loved ones with getting into your other programs and accessing vital information essential to understanding your estate.
At leafplanner, our Concierge team establishes each of our client’s desired legacy contacts at the time of their onboarding, but on some platforms, clients must manually enter their own legacy contact.
If a website or app you use does not currently offer the ability to list a legacy contact, consider leaving a document for your trusted family or friends and provide information on how to access any of your accounts with vital information in the event of your incapacitation or death, so that they can elect to close or memorialize your account on your behalf.
Resources
We have identified for you below some key resources for understanding the importance of legacy contacts, and how to add them to some of the most common websites you might be using.
- What is a legacy contact?
- Before You Die, Secure Your Digital Life
- Naming a legacy contact could be the most important move you make this year
- How to setup Legacy Contacts for your online accounts
- How to arrange for your digital legacy
- Managing Online Accounts: Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Apple
- How to add a Legacy Contact (Apple)
- How to setup Google Inactive Account Manager
- How to add, change or remove my legacy contact on Facebook?
- Adding a ‘family organizer’ to your 1Password Account
- LastPass Emergency Access
- Add a trusted contact to your Dropbox Vault
- How to Protect your Social Media Accounts after You’re Gone
- Instagram request to Memorialize a Deceased Person’s Account
- Deceased Linkedin Member
