My Dad contracted COVID-19 and died suddenly. He wisely prepared his estate plan a few years ago and named me as his Executor. I am almost finished marshaling his real and personal property but I can’t access some family photos he posted on his Instagram account since I don’t have the password. I would also like to retrieve his blog posts which consist of witty essays and commentary about when he grew up. What should I do?

There is a strong likelihood that you will not be successful. Your Dad did not own the Instagram or blog platforms. He had a license to use them until he passed away. At that point, Instagram and the blog platform, the custodians of these electronic records, took control of your Dad’s accounts. You, as his executor, could only access your Dad’s “digital assets” if he gave you permission to do so. Instagram, YouTube, online bank accounts, and Twitter are examples of digital assets. While some other platforms such as Google and Facebook offer options such as the Inactive Manager or Legacy Contact, these options are specific to those particular platforms. This is why it is so important to choose someone who will control your digital assets after you die. Joan C.Lenihan, Attorney at Law, will ensure that this is part of your estate plan.