How do I remove the Facebook page of a deceased loved one?

At the passing of a loved one, removing their Facebook page is last thing on the minds of their family members. But after the passage of some time, the family members usually want their loved one’s Facebook page taken down. Sometimes it is because it is painful to see the page, other times people simply want to protect the information on the page, and most often the family feels enough time has passed and the page is no longer necessary. As an estate planning attorney, people often ask me how to take down a Facebook page of a deceased loved one.

There are a couple of options regarding pages of deceased Facebook users. First, you can request to have the page turned into a memorial page. The other option is to remove the page completely.

OPTION 1 - Memorial Page
Under this scenario, Facebook will remove sensitive information and will only allow confirmed friends to access the Facebook profile. The profile will also no longer appear in the Suggestions section of the Home page. Friends and family will be allowed to leave posts in remembrance. If you want to report a profile to be memorialized, please click here.

OPTION 2 - Remove the Page
The second option is the complete removal of the Facebook page. Facebook with process certain special requests for verified immediate family members, including requests to remove a loved one’s account. This request will completely remove the profile and all associated content from Facebook, so no one can view it. Along with information about the account, the documentation that I generally send to Facebook on behalf of clients includes: a) a death certificate and b) Letters of Personal Representative.

In my experience, this request is much more common than the memorial page option. If you would like to request that Facebook remove your loved one’s account, click here.

I advise people to include in the packet of documents stored with their original estate plan, passwords to social media accounts, email addresses and passwords on credit cards. If that information is readily available to the family, it eliminates the need to request these changes through Facebook or any of the other social media sites and generally makes the process much easier.

Courts Are Not Successfully Monitoring Guardians

Interesting article on some recent court decisions dealing with guardianships

Court Appointed Guardian Pleads Guilty to Theft

An article in the Omaha World Herald on October 4th, 2010, a court-appointed guardian plead guilty. Dinah Turrentin-Sims plead guilty to two counts of theft and two counts of abuse of vulnerable adults. The 59-year old faces up to 50 years in prison when she is sentenced in December.

My clients and those of you that have seen my seminars know this problem is easy to avoid with proper planning. This stuff really happens it is not just an example in my seminar.

If and when the link is no longer active, please email me at bboyum@boyumlaw.com and I will send you a copy of the article.

Rationale for Estate Tax

While I don't necessarily agree with the rationale proposed in this article for an estate tax on the wealthy, it does do a good job of laying the rationale used by the democrats in Congress. Albeit, with a slanted view.

OMB Watch Article

It is debatable whether or not the reasons used to pass the first estate tax in 1916 are still in place. Similar arguments were used to implement income tax during the Gilded Age in American history.

If you are interested in this area, there is an excellent book called The Great Tax Wars - The Fierce Battles Over Money and Power That Transformed the Nation; by Steven R. Weisman.

"The Boss" wins again

With every passing of a wealthy individual this year, the lapse in the federal estate tax is in the news again. The most recent example being George Steinbrenner. With an estimated estate of $1.1 billion, Mr. Steinbrenner does not top the list of billions taking advantage of the lack of estate tax, he does achieve one last victory for himself and his family.

To view Steinbrenner heirs save millions click here

Mr. Dan Duncan passed away in March of this year with an estimated estate of $9.0 billion. The Houston, TX native is listed on Forbes list of wealthiest people at number 74.

For more information on Dan Duncan click here