{"id":4685,"date":"2018-08-17T17:02:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-17T17:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.riaabarkergillette.com\/uk\/?p=4685"},"modified":"2024-11-19T19:38:17","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T19:38:17","slug":"tracking-your-digital-worth-for-the-next-generation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.riaabarkergillette.com\/uk\/tracking-your-digital-worth-for-the-next-generation\/","title":{"rendered":"Tracking your digital worth for the next generation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In research undertaken by accountants PWC, the value of our digital assets was estimated at \u00a325bn, yet in a YouGov poll<\/a> over half of those surveyed admitted nobody would be able to access such assets after their deaths, as they had not made any arrangements to deal with what would happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, finding out how to protect confidential information and pass on digital assets is becoming increasingly important – whether when making a will and appointing executors, or considering attorneys to act during a period of ill health or other incapacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital assets include all content, accounts and files created and stored in a digital form, whether online, in the cloud, or on a computer or smartphone. These assets may have great financial or sentimental value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obvious examples of assets with a tangible financial value would be bank, building society or other types of investment accounts, but could also include gambling accounts, cryptocurrency accounts and internet payment accounts like PayPal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media accounts, personal photographs and other personal records and correspondence may only have sentimental value, but in between, there may be some that have a potential value, such as domain names, blogs, or affiliate accounts that generate advertising revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Yougov research highlighted a common problem associated with digital assets is that it is not always clear who owns digital content after death. Often the reason for this is that users found the detailed terms & conditions too difficult to understand or so long-winded that they did not read them. Some digital assets may be only a licence to use services, such as online music and media supplied through Apple\u2019s iTunes. This sort of licence is personal to the individual and cannot be transferred to another person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProtecting digital assets by making sure your executors know exactly what you own is becoming increasingly important, so you need to make sure it\u2019s on the list when it comes to making or updating your will.\u201d private client solicitor James McMullan explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPhysical assets are relatively easy to identify, but if you don\u2019t provide any record of assets held online, it\u2019s quite possible they would be overlooked. The other problem is where access is blocked, which may be because executors don\u2019t have the log on information or because they don\u2019t have authority to access the account.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some accounts will not allow access by a third party, even if they are authorised to do so by the account holder, and in this case, it would be unlawful if executors access the account using the account holder\u2019s log-in information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This restriction may also be a problem for attorneys acting under a power of attorney, whether for a specific purpose or, more generally, under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for financial affairs. An LPA, which allows an individual to appoint one or more people to act as their ‘attorneys’ to help in the management of their affairs, is common among older people or those suffering from long-term illness. However, they are increasingly put in place by younger people who may need to enable partners or others to act on their behalf while they are away, for example, when travelling for business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protecting your digital assets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n