In the digital age, our world is constantly changing. New technologies seem to appear every day. While new technologies often help people become more organized and efficient, it can cause problems for family members when a loved one dies. It is for that reason that detailed estate planning is essential for those living in Connecticut and beyond.

In the past, financial information was gathered by waiting for the bills to come through the mail, or looking through filed paperwork. However, nowadays most people store their financial information online. When a loved one dies, family members may not be aware of certain accounts or may not know the information to access the accounts.

For instance, a photographer has begun planning her estate, and for good reason. Nearly all of her work is digitally stored. She has now made sure that someone has access to her files, so that her work can be published and licensed in the future.

In addition to money, improper estate planning can cause families to lose valuable items, such as artwork, photographs and manuscripts that have been digitally stored.

Another thing to consider is accounts for social networking sites. Individuals should outline whether the accounts should remain open or not. In either case, people need to leave behind the necessary account information.

So much of people's lives remains on the Internet or in stored digital files, but that is why it is more important than ever to begin planning an estate.

People should first determine what digital accounts they have. Then, they should create a list of the relevant account names and passwords. Last, a person should pass along that information to someone who can administer the estate after they have died.

Source: The Seattle Times, "Digital estate planning often forgotten," Patrick Marshall, Jan. 13, 2012