Back to News

Are Your Social Media Accounts in Trusted Hands if You Die or Become Incapacitated?

Published on

November 29, 2017

All of us increasingly rely on online accounts and electronic devices. Many of us own assets that exist only in electronic book entry form or are stored on an electronic device, including social media accounts, photographs and online bank accounts.

What happens if I can’t access my accounts because I’m incapacitated or if I die?

Many states have enacted laws to provide automatic authority to an agent under a power of attorney, or a personal representative under a will, to access and manage these electronic assets.

As of now, Pennsylvania has not enacted a statute to solve this dilemma.

Pennsylvania residents should make sure that their powers of attorney, wills and trusts contain language to authorize an agent under a power of attorney or a personal representative under a will to gain power over and access to this digital information.

The lawyers in Barley Snyder’s Personal Planning Group would be happy to review your existing documents to make sure that someone has access to your electronic footprint if you are unable to access this information for any reason. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions on how to start this process.


Related News

View More News
Press Release
June 23, 2025

Barley Snyder Attorney Julia Parrish Appointed to Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Legislative Review Committee

For Immediate Release York, Pa. – We pleased to announce that attorney Julia M. Parrish has been appointed to the Legislat...

Learn More
News Alert
June 19, 2025

Clarifying Misconceptions in the Will vs. Revocable Living Trust Debate

There’s a growing perception that a Revocable Living Trust is a more advantageous estate planning tool compared to the trad...

Learn More
News Alert
June 10, 2025

Navigating the Pitfalls of Transfer on Death (TOD) Designations in Pennsylvania Estate Planning

A transfer on death (TOD) designation (also sometimes referred to as payable on death) is a designation that can be added to ...

Learn More

Get in Touch

Our attorneys, paralegals and staff look forward to hearing from you. Please reach out to let us know how we can help.

Get In Touch
RECOGNIZED IN
Super Lawyers
Best Law Firms US News
Best Lawyers