Estate Planning and Emails
Today, I want to share with you my thoughts on “emails”.
How many of us receive 100 junk emails a day? We are all guilty by going online and entering our email address begin shopping online with companies such as Amazon, Best Buy and Costco to name a few. We receive our confirmations when we purchase an item and eventually, we discard that email.
There will come a time when you or a loved one will be forced to sit down to try and decipher what important information is in that email account.
I would love to offer a suggestion when it comes to emails. When I was handling the estate for my parents and other family members, I knew I could not use my email address when corresponding to the insurance company, attorneys, CPA’s etc. So, I created an email address for the “Estate” ONLY.
For example, perhaps the head of the household’s name is John Lee Smith. Create an email address such as jlsmithestate@gmail.com, or jlsmithestate@yahoo.com. I think you understand the concept. This email address is NOT to be used when you are buying a new TV from Best Buy. This email address is strictly for the utility companies, Homeowner’s Insurance companies, Auto Insurance, Attorneys, etc.
Having a separate email address for your estate planning can be a smart and practical strategy for several important reasons. A separate email for estate planning creates a more secure, organized, and streamlined approach to managing your assets, communications, and legal documents. It helps ensure that sensitive information is protected and that your wishes are easily accessible when needed. Estate planning often involves multiple documents, legal forms, and important communications with attorneys, financial advisors, and family members. A dedicated email address can centralize all of these materials in one place, making it easier to organize, track, and review relevant correspondence.
Estate planning documents and sensitive financial information require a higher level of security. By having a separate email for estate planning, you can limit access to these details and reduce the risk of them being mixed up with other personal or less-sensitive emails. You can also take extra security precautions, such as enabling two-factor authentication, to protect this account more effectively. Having a distinct email address for your estate planning ensures that personal emails and matters unrelated to your estate planning are kept separate. This makes it easier to avoid confusion and to find important information when needed. It also keeps your estate planning efforts focused and organized.
Upon your passing, an estate executor or administrator may need access to your estate planning-related communications and digital files. By having a separate email address, you can make it clear to your executor where to find important details, such as the location of your will, powers of attorney, trust documents, and any other related instructions. Whoever you choose as an executor, start by inviting them to sit down with you once a month to review your estate, but do it together.
Estate planning often involves sensitive data like bank accounts, passwords, and social security numbers. Keeping this information isolated in a separate email can help reduce the risk of identity theft. It also ensures that your estate planning emails are not lost in a flood of unrelated personal or work-related messages. Over time, your estate planning documents and wishes may change (for example, updating beneficiaries, adding or removing assets, etc.). A separate email account can serve as a dedicated space for these updates, making it easier for you to manage and track any changes to your estate plan.
If you're working with an estate attorney or other professionals, having a dedicated email helps streamline your communication. It ensures that important emails from legal professionals or financial planners don't get lost or buried in your regular inbox. By having an email address specifically for estate planning, you can feel more confident that everything is organized and secure. It allows you to know that if something were to happen, your executor or other designated individuals will know exactly where to find important information.
Start today by creating an email address for your estate. Please note that an email account is considered digital property. Laws vary from state to state. Please consult an attorney to understand the laws within your state.