BOSTON, BRAINTREE AND QUINCY, MA…
Facebook has served as a catalyst for school and family reunions; hook-ups and break-ups. With its newest creation, a legacy function, the social media site has, in a small way, entered the arena of estate planning. Or has it?
The new function enables users to name a person as their legacy for when they pass on. The Facebook legacy is empowered to essentially manage the deceased’s account. This can include such things as: writing a post to display at the top of the memorialized Timeline (for example, to announce a memorial service or share a special message); responding to new friend requests from family members and friends who were not yet connected on Facebook; and updating the profile picture and cover photo. The legacy also has the power to take down somebody’s Facebook page after they die.
“By now, we have all known somebody who has a Facebook page or is on some other social media site and has passed away. Facebook’s approach is proactive in that it enables people to essentially nominate a personal representative to manage for their Facebook page to a trusted family member or friend,” said Elissa Burton, an attorney at Baker, Braverman, & Barbadoro, P.C.
While running somebody’s Facebook site may not sound like estate planning, it does present significant responsibility to the legacy. Particularly when you consider that many Facebook users have been posting notes, images and videos to the site for five to 10 years.
“The legacy contact function raises some potentially intriguing scenarios for those who have created a will and/or have done some estate planning,” said Burton. “Does the designated legacy contact have superior authority over the decedent’s Facebook page than a personal representative named in the decedent’s will? It’s an interesting question.”
Burton adds, ““It is important for individuals to be aware that designating a legacy contact for your Facebook page does not equate to nominating a personal representative for your estate and is not a substitute for proper estate planning.”
Social media policies and issues are one topic Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C. attorneys cover in their Lunch ‘n Learn speaker sessions. Other small business topics they cover include: Legal Do’s and Don’ts for Start-ups; Family Business: Passing it on to the Next Generation; How to Avoid Employee Wrongful Termination Claims; Protecting Intellectual Property; Common Mistakes When Naming a Business; Does My Business Need an Attorney (the answer will surprise you); Sole Proprietor? LLC? C-Corp? How to Choose; Complex Business Litigation; Personal Injury Law; Real Estate Litigation; and more.
To arrange for a Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C. attorney for a Lunch ‘n Learn session or to speak at your upcoming event, you can contact Paul Barbadoro at 781-848-9610 or by e-mail at BBBinfo@bbb-lawfirm.com with the word “Speaker” in the subject line.
About the Firm
Founded in 1995, Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro P.C. is a full-service law firm located in Quincy committed to providing every client with personal attention and superior legal service at reasonable rates.
The firm’s attorneys provide legal advice and counsel to individuals, businesses and families throughout Quincy, Braintree, the South Shore and metro Boston areas. Led by five partners with a combined 100+ years of experience, Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro’s 15 attorneys practice in the following areas: complex business litigation, personal injury law, real estate litigation, tax, trust and estate planning, real estate, zoning and land use, corporate law, finance, criminal defense, immigration law, election law, and divorce and family law. Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro also offers a Speaker’s Bureau on topics of tax, estate planning, small business law and corporate law.
Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C. is headquartered at 300 Crown Colony Drive, Suite 500 in Quincy, MA. For more information, contact 781-848-9610 or visit their website at http://www.bbb-lawfirm.com.
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