Taking passwords to the grave

I came across an interesting discussion last week on News.com. The story is basically about the problems caused when someone has died and the relatives can’t find financial records and personal contacts that may be saved on a computer or online email account. Check out the podcast.

This results in relatives having difficulty to make sure wishes for the deceased are being fulfilled. They also have difficulty figuring out how to contact friends of the deceased.

Email providers like AOL and Google require specific documentation to satisfy requirements before the company will release access to a deceased person’s account. But those companies are cautious about releasing information until they are thoroughly satisfied.

No matter how old you are, it is advisable for you to think about who you want to have access to your information after you die. Make sure that preference is specified in your will and that the person you want to manage your estate has your password. Also, print a hard copy of your digital address book once in a awhile and leave a copy with your will.

-Roland

Roland Reinhart is an interactive marketing professional. His observations can be found at Chaos365.com and AdMadMan.com.

©2006 Roland Reinhart. All Rights Reserved.