[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

Can I say first off that I should have clarified at the beginning of my post that I was aiming it as a discussion for all (and not at you! ooops ...)

Re the clause in the Will identifying what is to become of eproperty, forum memberships, web accounts (including say ebook store accounts etc etc) then yes, I do think that appropriate. The clause could state that these accounts be closed for example, and that access to close them be gained via the passwords that had been left as part of the Will.

Indeed! But many people, including myself, are ill informed as to what happens to your non tangible assets, and many do not have a will.
Many of us make assumptions based on who knows what that it will all work out.
Ideally a notice that you are now dead should be sent to all credit institutions before your obituary is printed.

Not sure how common it is now but I have known of people continuing to collect pensions etc. from the deceased for years even when the death is properly reported. Pretty sure the Canadian Government is getting a bit of a handle on it, but not at all sure it is not still happening.

And oh yep, my mother who still has all her faculties also (in her words) 'can't be bothered' with much these days, particularly with 'red tape'. So yes, it's left to me even now when she's alive to handle all her administrative etc events.

My mother can't be bothered either and she is 90% in her right mind. Her choice of course, but it has severely limited her options for an enjoyable life.

I agree with you re giving away property, real/digital, while a person is still capable of doing so, but that doesn't always happen, eg sudden death (say via car accident) of a person in their 30's (or whatever youngish age).

My grandmother died in her 90's and she gave a lot away as her years progressed, and basically everything upon her death was 'thrown out' in one way or another eg charity bins etc. But she didn't have a digital footprint, whereas it would be unusual for an under sixty year old person today not to. (And over sixty years it's not too uncommon to have a digital footprint either.)

So, yes I think it's a matter of importance to leave instructions as to how to delete and otherwise get rid (as in distribute or destroy) digital property. I know that my greater family has had some 'interesting' fall outs due to the distribution of Wills, and even the currency of a Will, as in which was the most current version and who potentially caused a Will to be rewritten in their favour and how competent was the deceased at the time of re-writing etc. (Ahh yes, families .... )

Eek indeed. Heaven forbid that any of us end up in the position that we are browbeaten or worse for our assets. I know more than person who slowly starved to death because on pension day their fairly well to do grandchildren showed up on pension day and weaseled money out of them. Hateful but true.

Sorry for the diatribe.

Back on topic:
I really can't get too excited about someone illegally obtaining my reading material after I die.

Leaving instructions for deletion is like a waving red flag before a bull. Someone will likely be curious and make a copy before wiping. Just saying.

Only way to be almost legally and morally blameless is to only keep only the original copy. Wipe all others yourself after reading. Not saying I do this because I don't. But I should and maybe I will start. But if I do lend my ebooks I lend them on a reader with DRM.

Just curious. Do you have a lot of people wanting your eBooks when you pass on?

Helen