Save the Baby Pics! Don’t Forget to Create Legacy Contacts
Photo and video storage services like Google and iCloud have announced in the last few years that they will begin terminating inactive accounts. How could this impact you and your family? Well, if you are like me (a mom), you are the person in your family responsible for making sure that your family’s memories are stored somewhere safe for your loved ones with the idea they will be accessible to your kids. Depending on the account type, if something happens to you and you have not accessed your account within a certain period (1 or 2 years depending on which storage service you use), your memories could disappear forever.
In order to make sure that your photos and videos are preserved you could always resort to good ole printing. You could also take a more modern approach and save the pictures to a USB or thumb drive. However, both of those methods require that the physical items are not lost or destroyed. Both of those methods are typically also subject to smaller storage limitations than storage services so you would have to pick only a limited amount of your favorite pictures and videos to save.
In the event that you want your family members to have access to all of the memories you have saved for them, you could simply create “Legacy Contacts”. Legacy Contacts are underused mainly because many people don't know much about them. However, I would highly recommend this method because it is very easy, takes only a few minutes, and all you need is your phone (which you are probably holding right about now).
“A Google legacy contact is someone you designate to manage your Google account after you pass away or become incapacitated.” They can access your data and download information.
To create a Legacy Contact for your Google account, follow the steps below:
1. Log in to your Google account.
2. Search Inactive Account Manager.
3. Decide when Google should consider your Google Account inactive which will trigger them to notify the contacts you designate. You can pick between 3 to 18 months.
4. Choose who you want to notify and what you want to share with them. Google allows you to choose up to 10 people to give access to. You can also set up a AutoReply that will be sent after your account becomes inactive.
5. Save your choices.
Apple Support says “Starting in iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, and macOS 12.1, you can add a Legacy Contact for your Apple Account. Adding a Legacy Contact is the easiest, most secure way to give someone you trust access to the data stored in your Apple Account after your death. The data may include photos, messages, notes, files, apps you’ve downloaded, device backups, and more. Certain information, like movies, music, books, or subscriptions you purchased with your Apple Account, and data stored in your Keychain — like payment information, passwords, and passkeys — can’t be accessed by your Legacy Contact.”
To create a Legacy Contact for your Apple account, follow the steps below which are provided by Apple on their support page.
“On your iPhone, or iPad
1. Go to Settings, then tap [your name].
2. Tap Sign-In & Security, then tap Legacy Contact.
3. Tap Add Legacy Contact. You might be asked to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.”
Your phone will then prompt you to print an access key for your Legacy Contact which they will need along with a copy of your death certificate to access your account.
You can give your contact the access key immediately if you want them to have access now or add it to your estate planning documents.
You will then receive an e-mail confirmation that your Legacy Contact has been added to your account.
Side note: do not forget to remove Legacy Contacts if you no longer want that person to have access.
At Brett Legal, we work with our clients to ensure their family’s legacy (including their digital legacy) is protected whether through Probate or Estate Planning matters such as Wills or Trusts. Silvia Brett is an attorney and Florida Supreme Court Circuit Civil Certified Mediator located in St. Petersburg, FL, who handles Estate Planning and Probate matters throughout the state of Florida. If you or your family is in need of a Probate or Estate Planning attorney, do not hesitate to contact us.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. The content may not reflect the most current legal developments, and it is not guaranteed to be complete or up-to-date. The information on this blog should not be taken as legal advice for any specific case or situation. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any content included in this blog without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction. The author expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this blog. If you have any questions about your legal rights or obligations, you should consult an attorney.
