U.S News and World Report Quotes Wendy Goffe on Importance of Digital Estate Planning

Stoel Rives attorney Wendy Goffe was quoted in U.S. News and World Report in an article titled “Passwords and Powers of Attorney: Your Digital Estate Planning Options.” The article discusses estate planning and online services that can consolidate a person’s information for estate planning purposes or for family use in the event of an emergency. It also explores why it is important for people to look after their digital legacies—from making available passwords for online accounts, to the disposition of e-books, photos or other copyrighted material.

The article addresses seven factors that a person should consider in end-of-life planning: which legal documents should be prepared; who will have password access to the person’s online accounts and how; what will be the future of a business if the person owned one; what are the person’s end-of-life wishes; what are the funeral plans; what will be the disposition of assets; and what are day-to-day details that heirs may need after the person’s death.

 Goffe advocates using online services that can act as a repository of all the information, including digital, a person wants his family to find when he dies or to share with them now. "I consider [digital estate planning] in this day and age traditional estate planning," she said. "Your digital life is a big part of your life. For some people, that's the biggest part of your life."