Make Provisions for Online Accounts when You Die

On Facebook, there are three people on my friends list who are deceased. I know they are deceased, and two of them are being managed by family members, as memorial pages for their loved ones. The third one, nobody knows how to get into the account. When messages are sent out to all your friends, these deceased friend pages receive the messages too.

Can you imagine after your husband, wife or child dies, that you get an email saying, "Thomas wants to add (deceased's name) as a friend...." Or maybe someone want to send prayer requests, pokes, email message, game invites, etc, but they don't know the account is inactive or that the account owner is deceased.

So what happens to online accounts when someone dieas?

Make Online Account Plans for Death

Somewhere in the real world (not the virtual one), you should keep a list of your online accounts. Your password, username and associated email should be included. Storing this information on your computer might prove futile, since someone is going to need your login on the computer to even get to it. Print out the list, keep the information either somewhere handy or somewhere you know a loved will one find it should the unthinkable happen and you die.

Secure Account Information before Death for After Death

It's morbid to think about dying, but it does happen, and sometimes, it happens unexpectedly and quickly. Don't assume you will always have time to prepare for your death.

Remember, you don't want to leave your online account information laying around where anyone can stumble over it, so finding a secure place is important. However, the secure place should be some place that friends or family members who are planning for the funeral arrangements and death notifications also can easily find the information.

A bank lockbox, a safe, on a secure and locked up CD/DVD with the information in data, or kept in your car's glovebox are all possible locations for safely storing your account information and passwords. You also need to remember to update the information regularly in the event you must change your password or you delete or add an account. Try to update this information at least monthly, just in case.

Online Storage Services for Online Wills

There are online services that allow you to log your social networking and online account information and then declare in an 'online will' what information is released to family members and what information is deleted upon your death. You designate what information is necessary in order to access the information and to whom the information is released.

Social Networking isn't Just Virtual Friendships

There are many people these days who will say that some of their online friends are closer to them than their real-life friends. As such, having friend just disappear with no trace, to go 'radio silent', is troubling, upsetting and confusing. There should be some sort of plan you have with your loved ones on how to notify your online contacts, via social networking sites, email or other membership-based sites or applications where others might have become accustomed to your presence.

It's Not Morbid to be Prepared

It feels morbid to think about dying and death and preparing yourself for dying, but it really isn't. In fact, it's life affirming and responsible, and it's an act of kindness you are doing for your family or friends who have to pick up the pieces after you're gone. Imaging how painful it will be for loved ones to get reminded by Myspace or Facebook via a cold and impersonal email that your birthday is coming up, just weeks after they have grieved your passing.

Just like planning for your future, planning for your eventual death is a loving and caring thing to do for your friends and family members who are left behind. Keeping track of your online life is a new virtual existence requirement for estate and will planning services. Include your online information with your last will and testament, keep a record of current website membership, passwords, usernames and information, and be sure your family knows where to find it.

Again, it is the loving and caring thing to do. Consider making a secured list of usernames and important online information for your loved ones today.