Option Added To Designate Facebook Heir, by Gerry W. Beyer, Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog
Facebook is now offering additional options to treatment of an account after the user dies in addition to memorialization. As of today, Facebook users in the U.S. can designate a ‘legacy contact,’ which includes choosing a Facebook friend to take over the account in a limited capacity after the user dies.
The legacy contact is given the ability to download posts and photos, respond to new friend requests, and post memorial posts to the page. However, the legacy contact cannot delete anything from the account or view private messages. Users can also choose an alternative option to have the account deleted after their death. If neither option is opted for, the default of freezing the account through memorialization will occur.
See Geoffrey A. Fowler, Facebook Heir? Time to Choose Who Manages Your Account When You Die, The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 12, 2015.
Special thanks to Eric G. Reis (Thompson & Knight LLP) for bringing this article to my attention.
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