Careful Estate Planning an Imperative in Digital Age
Mar 2, 2012
Brandon, FL (Law Firm Newswire) March 1, 2012 – Estate planners are noticing that their clients are becoming more technologically savvy and that means careful planning to ensure the online assets are as secure as what is in a safe.
Brandon estate planning lawyer Reginald Osenton reminds his clients to keep all of their passwords for their digital accounts in a safe place that his firm can find when the time comes.
“There is so much information stored not just on our clients’ computers but also in the cloud under our clients’ names,” Osenton said. “It is critical that we work closely and frequently with our clients so that we know exactly what their digital world looks like so that we can take proper take care of it when they pass.”
Careful estate planning means a thorough understanding of what each client has on their computer that can be considered an asset or a liability.
“Many clients do not think about the information that they have stored as being part of their estate, but it truly is,” Osenton said. “There may be things on a computer that could leave the estate liable if the family gives the machine away and it is found by the wrong entity. There are photos and intellectual property that should be considered assets of the estate.”
Osenton said it is important to hire an attorney with experience in estate planning in a digital world because they are going to know the right questions to ask and the right places to look to protect the estate.
“It is important to do frequent check ups with an estate planner to update the plan to include any new accounts or passwords that will be seen as valuable to the estate,” he said.
To learn more or to contact a Brandon estate planning attorney or to contact a Brandon lawyer, visit http://www.brandonlawoffice.com.
Osenton Law Office, PA
500 Lithia Pinecrest Road
Brandon, Florida 33511
Call: (813) 654-5777
