Facebook has over 1.65 billion monthly active users and is, by far, the most actively used social media platform worldwide. What most people don’t know is that your Facebook profile, as well as many other forms of digital assets, become part of your estate after you pass. So, what happens to your Facebook profile after you’re no longer here?
Facebook actually as one of the most common-sense policies for dealing with profiles of deceased individuals. There are essentially two options:
1. Appoint a Legacy Contact
Facebook allows users to appoint someone on their Friends list to act as their Legacy Contact – and that person will be allowed to pin a post on your Timeline after your death, like a funeral announcement or a formal message from the family.
The contact is not allowed to actually take control of your profile or read your private messages, but they’ll be able to respond to new friend requests, update your cover and profile photos, and archive your Facebook posts and photos so they’re never lost.
So, how do you appoint a Legacy Contact? Go to Settings, Security, and click on Legacy Contact. You’ll be able to select one of your existing Facebook friends. You can also craft a pre-written message to the Legacy Contact (you can edit it, don’t worry) that gives them some guidance.
2. Memorialize or Terminate the Account, or Just Leave It
Prior to Facebook implementing the Legacy Contact policy in 2015, profiles could only be “memorialized,” deleted or left unchanged after someone reported the death. Memorializing a profile freezes the account, which takes it out of search results and public notifications like birthdays, and can be viewed only by the user’s friends.
Your family essentially just contacts Facebook, notifies them that you have passed and provides them with a copy of the death certificate, and chooses what should happen to the account. Facebook does the rest. This option is more restrictive and does not allow your profile to really live on, in the same sense that it can with the Legacy Contact.
Facebook profiles often act as memorials for people who have passed, but the more important aspect of preserving something like a Facebook account is the ability to archive posts and photos, things that your family will be able to go back to in times of grief.
While they’re not exactly tangible, digital assets are just as important as physical assets when it comes to estate planning. Make sure your affairs are in order and your digital assets are accounted for. Go to Facebook today and appoint a Legacy Contact.
Author Bio
Paul Yokabitus
Founder & Estate Planning Lawyer
Paul Yokabitus is the founder of Cary Estate Planning, where he helps North Carolina families protect what matters most through wills, trusts, probate, and special needs planning. Known for his “planning, not paperwork” approach, Paul turns complex legal concepts into clear, practical strategies so clients feel informed and confident at every step. He has been recognized as a Business North Carolina Legal Elite attorney and a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and was named to the Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. A graduate of Campbell University School of Law, Paul lives in the Triangle with his wife, Alix, and their two sons.
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Paul and his team at Cary Estate Planning are fully committed to creating a personalized experience to develop thorough and comprehensive estate plans. They value their clients and go above and beyond to make sure that no details are missed. I would highly recommend Paul to anyone looking to create an estate plan.
I was referred to Paul by my Real Estate Attorney and I could not say enough about how exceptional the client service has been from everyone I spoke to. The communication is prompt and I feel like they really took the time to answer all my questions and set things up exactly as I wanted, but also recommended things to make it easier on my family down the line.
After attending one of Paul’s estate planning seminars, my husband and I knew we wanted Paul to assist us with our estate planning. His honest, professional approach to this necessary part of life put us at ease with the process. We will continue to recommend Paul and Cary Estate Planning.
We had a great experience working with Paul Yokabitus and the team at Cary Estate Planning to set up our Will and Estate Plan. The process was clear and easy, and in the age of COVID, our signing session was very well done, easy, and safe.
The Cary Estate Planning team will make sure that you have the information you need to be confident in your estate planning decisions. I learned so much from videos, a one-on-one in-person consultation, the website, emails, and a newsletter mailed the old fashioned way. The fee is very reasonable given the importance of estate planning. No matter the size or number of your assets, don’t procrastinate like I did!
Paul is a masterful attorney. He’s very good at taking your intentions and defining that into a durable Trust and Will. Best of all he is as simple and plain-spoken as you like. Or as fast as intellectual as you may be. It’s all about your your speed and your desired outcomes. Would strongly recommend this firm.
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