It's not just physical property that people need to make plans for if they pass away-these days virtual property is also a concern.
Many people log into their Facebook, Twitter and e-mail accounts on a daily basis without even thinking about what might happen to those accounts if they were to pass away.
But experts say it's not a bad idea for a person to talk with loved ones about what they want to happen with their online property after death.
"You need to be aware if you're going to have public things like that, you should have somebody that has access to those sorts of things so they can see that all of that gets closed and wrapped up," said Marietta attorney William Adams.
Adams said he hasn't touched on the topic much with his clients, because when it comes to estate planning, things like disposition of property, life insurance and support of children are the focus.
"It's probably something that would make sense for everybody to discuss, not necessarily with a lawyer, but someone they can trust," he said. "It never hurts to have a letter of instruction beyond what's in the will, which is a legal document written in a specific style and manner."
Fact Box
Tips for securing online property after death
Create an offline backup of important things such as photographs.
Create an inventory of your online accounts and property, share your passwords with someone you trust and tell them where you've put them and how you've stored them.
Provide a simple list with the names and ways to access your electronic data and what your specific wishes are to avoid estate problems.
Estate planning documents should authorize someone to handle your digital belongings. When choosing a fiduciary, consider whether the person you choose as power of attorney, executor or trustee understands how to manage digital property.
Source: Columbus attorney Thomas Taneff.
Jessie Hamilton, 21, of Parkersburg, said she recently saw a page on Facebook that belonged to someone who had passed away. She said it's "a little awkward" when that happens.
"You're gone - I don't think it needs to be up," she said. "I think if people need to mourn, rather than go to Facebook, they should do it the traditional way and go to the grave."
Hamilton noted she probably would give one of her loved ones her Facebook password so they could shut it down if something were to happen to her.
Vienna resident Dawn Peterson, 21, said she would also consider giving one of her loved ones her password, but she'd "probably tell them to do what they want with it."
"I've seen where people continue to post on it and I don't like that," she noted.
Peterson said she has also seen instances where someone has passed away and their parent posted information on that person's Facebook page about funeral services so their friends would have the information.
Parkersburg resident Adam Null, 21, said he isn't too concerned about what happens to his Facebook page.
"At least everyone would remember me when they saw my Facebook," he said.
Adams pointed out that information posted to the Internet can be "incredibly damaging," and people should remember that the things they type - such as rude comments towards those they may be arguing with - may be the last things they type.
"If you have a heart attack, that may be the last thing your child ever hears from you," he said.
Pictures are another thing to consider, according to Columbus attorney Thomas Taneff. He recommends in a news release that people have an offline backup of photographs.
Little Hocking resident Kari Smith said it's not something she has thought much about but thinks it would be a good idea, especially considering she often posts pictures of her 6-year-old daughter to Facebook.
"I take a lot with my phone now and load them onto Facebook," said Smith, 30. "I would probably back them up on a CD. That way they can have them if they want to do anything with them or look at them."
