It’s important to consider how to handle our online presence, particularly our Google accounts, in our estate planning. These accounts contain sensitive information and data that need to be managed appropriately after our passing.
To begin with, it’s a good idea to create a list of all your Google accounts and the passwords required to access them. This information should be kept in a secure location that your loved ones can access, such as a safe deposit box or in a password management service, where a trusted person can access it if they should need to.
In addition, you may want to consider appointing a digital executor to manage your Google accounts after your passing. This person should be someone you trust and who is tech-savvy enough to handle the management and distribution of your digital assets.
It’s also important to review the terms of service agreements for your Google accounts. Some companies have strict policies about who can access the contents of your accounts after your passing. By understanding these policies, you can take steps to ensure that your wishes are carried out.
Lastly, you may want to consider using Google’s Inactive Account Manager. This tool allows you to specify what should happen to your Google accounts after a certain period of inactivity. For example, you can choose to have your data deleted or have it sent to a trusted contact. This tool is particularly useful for estate planning, as it enables you to specify what should happen to your Google accounts in the event of your passing or prolonged absence.
With Inactive Account Manager, you can choose to have your data deleted after a specified period of inactivity, or you can have it sent to a trusted contact. The tool also allows you to set up an auto-reply message to let your contacts know that you are no longer using your account.
To set up Inactive Account Manager, you will need to go to the Google Account settings page and click on “Data & Personalization”. From there, you can scroll down to the “Download, delete, or make a plan for your data” section and click on “Make a plan for your account”.
You will then be asked to select a timeout period, which is the length of time that you need to be inactive before Inactive Account Manager is activated. You can choose from a range of options, from 3 months to 18 months. Once you have selected a timeout period, you can then specify what should happen to your data after the timeout period is reached.
Overall, Google’s Inactive Account Manager is a powerful tool that can help you manage your Google accounts in a way that reflects your wishes. By setting up this tool as part of your estate planning, you can help ensure that your digital assets are managed according to your preferences and that your loved ones are able to access the information they need in the event of your passing.
