A recent Apple feature allows you to pass on your Apple digital information to a family member or friend upon your death. Apple Digital Legacy simplifies access to your personal information. 

The feature is easy to access and set up. In “Settings”, click on your name, then “Password & Security”, then “Legacy Contact”. You will be prompted to add a Legacy Contact. You will then be prompted to print or send to the contact a “Legacy Key”. Up to 5 Legacy Contacts can be appointed. 

The contact will need your Legacy Key and a copy of your death certificate to access your information. Once access is granted, it is granted for a limited time only. After that, the information is permanently deleted by Apple. 

Once given access, your Legacy Contact will be able to access everything on your iCloud account, such as notes, photos, mail, calendar, contacts, call history, health data and more. However, the Legacy Contact will NOT be able to access licenced media, such as music and movies, payment information or Keychain information such as passwords. 

If no Digital Contact is named, access can still be obtained. However, a court order will likely be required. 

For more information, see Apple’s Legacy Contact information page. 

This easy-to-use, simple feature should be considered as a part of your estate planning. 

What is not clear at this point is the interplay between a Legacy Contact and an estate trustee. If the Legacy Contact is not an estate trustee, does the Legacy Contact have to turn the information over to the estate trustee? Does the appointment of a Legacy Contact give the Legacy Contact the right to own the information, or does the Legacy Contact simply hold the information in trust for the estate? 

Thanks for reading. 

Paul Trudelle