Facebook alone has hundreds of millions of users. Chances are in some way you have an online presences.  But what happens to your personal information when you die?  News 13's Jennifer Lynch takes a look at if you should consider a digital death plan.
   
Most likely you log on and live at least some of your life online.

Nicole Brea, Auburn, says, "Pintrest."

Alex Harkin, South Berwick, says, "Facebook and Twitter."

While we can connect anytime of the day, and often we do, what happens to your Facebook page, all your photos on flicker, or your on-line bank account when you die?

Harkin says, "I have never actually worried about that. Don't really care to be honest."

Breau says, "I had a few friends pass away and their families kept their sites up so people could put memories of them up."

Nicole Breau is talking about Facebook and she's right according to Facebook's Term of Service that is one option.  The other option is to remove it altogether.  But they will not provide login information for the account to anyone else.

Rich Brooks, President, Flyte New Media, says, "Every website policy is going to be different because every website treats things differently."

Which can lead to a lot of confusion for families who are left behind.  Rich Brooks runs Flyte New Media in Portland and his business is the internet. 

Brooks says, "Maybe what we should do is create if not a digital will but at least some documentation so that someone can go in after we pass on to get into the accounts to either close it down or whatever we ask."

A digital will is an option but exactly what the laws are governing your digital assets are not clear or even in existence. We contacted lawyers, law firms, and law schools in Maine and no one had any answers for us. Only saying the law hasn't caught up with technology but it's a great question. However, some states are trying. Five states, Oklahoma, Idaho, Indiana, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, currently have some sort of laws dealing who has the right to your digital assets when you die. But they vary greatly and some families have had to get court orders to get access.

Brooks says, "This is the storytelling of our day.  This is how we pass on. There used to be an oral tradition, then a written tradition, now a digital tradition and it's no more silly or less important that any history has ever been.  There's just more of it."

There also might be information on-line that no one but you knows about.  You might or might not want to pass that down. It just may be something you want to think about.  Breau says after thinking about it she'll have a discussion with her family.  It may be a difficult one but one that might be needed to save your personal and private history.
Online profiles after you die