Including passwords in a will?

Question

Hi folks. Rather a morbid query here. Can anyone tell me if it's possible to have release of passwords for internet accounts included in a will?

Well, I guess including such a request in a will is possible, but would it be granted? I use a number of internet services and would like a certain individual to have access to those accounts if I die. If my will contains such a request would it be respected by the websites in question?

I'm not talking about things like internet banking, just subscription websites. I'm presuming there is no legal authority to 'order' such a request, since the sites in question are all US-based and I'm a UK citizen, but is there any precedent for this? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Presumably you have to name an executor to action your will for you. Perhaps you can put the passwords in an envelope and ask the executor to give that to the individual but to be frank, are you setting someone else up to pay the bills on the subscription sites?

And thinking about it, when my Dad died, although I'd "helped" him run his internet accounts, as executor I couldn't take those internet accounts over. I was very careful not to access them after he died as I thought I could be held up by the institutions involved for fraud. I had to write to them to let them know he'd died, and could gain the contents of the accounts, after probate had been granted.

Answer 2

No, your will has nothing to do with the protocols of a web based business. But on the bright side the executor of your final will may be given these items to be held for you until the time of your demise and then deliver them to the intended party.
The easiest solution is to leave them (and any other pertinant info) in a safe deposit box and then mention it in your final will that you desire the intended recipient to recieve the contents of said box as their portion of your estate.

Answer 3

All you have to do is leave a letter with your solicitor detailing what you have to advise the said person - if the solicitor wishes she / he may charge you a nominal fee for doing this.