What to include when making a will?
Include your digital assets in your will for clarity and to lessen uncertainty for loved ones.
The Law Society has recommended people to include ‘digital assets’ such as emails and photos in their wills.
It is no secret that our digital presence has accelerated in recent years for many of us. We often bank, pay bills and mortgages, shop and network online, not to mention remote online working for many during the pandemic. We store photos and videos virtually. But what happen to all this digital material and who can claim ownership or access?
The Law Society research polls recently revealed that three quarters of people will not know what happens to their online presence after they die.
93% of those who have a will have not included any digital assets whilst only a quarter of the 1,000 respondents knew what will happen to their digital assets after they die. Confusion also continued with only 7% saying they fully understand what will happen.
When making a will, we recommend you consider ownership and access to digital materials. The Law Society president David Greene said: ‘Technology is a huge part of modern life and our digital assets include everything from photos stored online to online banking and email accounts.
You can read more about this developing issue at The Law Society Gazette, accessible through this link: Law Gazette - Law Society states to include emails and photos in your will