Estate Planning - Digital Assets

When meeting with a lawyer to discuss estate planning, most often the client will consider the dispositions of his/her real property, personal possessions, business interests, and other investments. Proper consideration also needs to be given to the extent and nature of the client's digital assets.

Almost everyone has a digital presence, but every individual's digital presence may vary significantly in scope and in economic value. Most people today have an email address and account. A client should consider whether there are any emails he or she wishes to share with a beneficiary, whether an important financial document or an email of particular emotional significance, and direct the estate trustee to dispose of any such emails according to particular instructions.