Page 14 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 28, 2024 Say nir Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Do You Need a Digital Will? Dear Savvy Senior, My wife and I had our estate plan – including a will, power of attorney and advance directive – drawn up about 10 years ago but have recently read that our plan should include a digital will too. What can you tell us about this? Almost 80 Dear Almost, If you or your wife spend much time online, adding a separate digital will document to your estate plan that provides a list of your digital assets would be extremely helpful to your loved ones when you die, not to mention it will help protect your privacy. Here’s what you should know. Do You Have Digital Asset? The term “digital assets” refers to personal information that is stored electronically on either a computer or an online cloud server account that belongs to an individual. Anyone who uses email, has a PIN code protected cell phone, makes online purchases, or pays bills online has digital assets. Digital assets generally require a username, a password, or a PIN to access and can be diffi cult if not impossible to retrieve if someone is incapacitated or passes away. Creating a digital will (also known as a digital estate plan) will help your loved ones access your electronic devices and online accounts more easily so they can manage your electronic affairs, according to your wishes, after you’re gone. This in turn will also protect your digital assets from hackers or fraud, which can happen to dormant accounts after you die. How to Write a Digital Will Your fi rst step in creating a digital will is to make an inventory list of your digital assets, which includes everything from hardware to email accounts. Here are a few categories to help kickstart your list: • Electronic devices (computer, smartphone, tablet, external hard drive). • Digital fi les (for photos, videos or documents) • Financial accounts (like bank and brokerage accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency). • Bill paying accounts (utilities, mortgage accounts) • Social media accounts (like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn). • Email accounts (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.). • Cloud-storage accounts (like Google Cloud, iCloud, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive) • Movie or music streaming services (like Netfl ix, Hulu, Spotify, Apple Music) • Online purchasing accounts (like Venmo or PayPal) • Subscription services (magazines, newspapers, Amazon Prime, etc.). • Reward programs (travel, stores, etc.). • Membership organizations (AARP, AAA, etc.). When making your list, you’ll need to include usernames, passwords, PINS, account numbers or security questions for accessing each account. And provide instructions on how you want your assets managed after your death. For example: Do you want certain accounts closed, archived or transferred? Do you want specifi c fi les or photos to be deleted or shared with loved ones? Do you want your social media profi les memorialized or deleted? Be clear and specific about your wishes. You’ll also need to appoint a digital executor that you trust to execute your wishes after you die. From a legal perspective, you should know that most states have enacted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), which legally recognizes digital estates. This law gives your personal representative or executor legally protected access to your online accounts. Once your digital will is written, store it with your other estate plan documents either in a fi reproof safe or fi le cabinet at home, on your computer hard drive, with your estate planning attorney or online at a reputable digital estate planning service like Everplans.com or Clocr.com. But make sure your executor knows where it is and has access to it. Also remember to keep your digital will be updated regularly when you create any new digital accounts or change passwords. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Women’s Chorus. (Photo: Danielle Fauteux Jacques) A pollinaire Theatre Company, in collaboration with Teatro Chelsea and the City of Chelsea, presents Aeschylus’s “The Suppliant Women” in a version by David Greig with music by John Browne. This free bilingual adaptation – featuring haunting music and dynamic choreography – is designed to engage English-speaking and Spanish-speaking audiences alike. “If we help, we invite trouble. If we don’t, we bring shame.” Fifty women board a boat in North Africa. They flee across the Mediterranean, leaving everything behind. They are escaping forced marriage in their home and seeking asylum in Greece. Written 2,500 years ago, “The Suppliant Women” is one of the world’s oldest surviving plays. It’s about the plight of refugees, moral and human rights and democracy. It tells a story that echoes down the ages to fi nd striking and poignant resonance today. Part play, part ritual, part theatrical archaeology, “The Suppliant Women” explores fundamental questions of humanity: Who are we, where do we belong and, if all goes wrong, who will take us in? “The Suppliant Women” features a cast of 50 helmed by Paola Ferrer (“Hamlet,” “Don’t Eat the Mangos,” “Dance Nation,” etc.) as Danaos, Brooks Reeves (“Hamlet,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” “The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart,” etc.) as The King, and Chorus Leaders Parker Jennings (“Touching the Void,” “Lunch Bunch”), with Pearl Scott and Elainy Mata making Women’s Chorus leaders Parker Jennings, Pearl Scott and Elainy Mata. (Photo: Danielle Fauteux Jacques) their Apollinaire debuts. This play is unusual in that the traditional Chorus plays the main role, expressing themselves through song and movement. The singers are accompanied by the aulos – an ancient double-barreled oboe that accompanied the original productions of Greek dramas. There are only about 250 people in the world who play aulos, and we are lucky to have found one of them: Aneesh Kashalikar. The score is also arranged for a large array of percussion instruments played by local percussionists Laura Jordan and Stephen Guerra. David Reiffel, a Norton Award winner for New Rep’s “Man of La Mancha” and Speakeasy’s “Shakespeare in Love,” is the Music Director. “The Suppliant Women” is Apollinaire’s fourth production of a David Greig play, directly following its spring production of “Touching the Void,” and “The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart” in 2019 (Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Ensemble) and “Midsummer” in 2015. Greig is a multi-awardwinning playwright and the Artistic Director of the Royal Lyceum Edinburgh. The evening begins at 6:00 with live music, performances, and craft brews at the popup BearMoose Beer Garden in PORT Park. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and to enjoy a picnic dinner via take-out or delivery from Chelsea’s exciting culinary delights. Dining information will be available on: apollinairetheatre.com. Performances are free! They are on Fridays and Saturdays from August 2-17 at 7:30 p.m. PORT Park is at 99 Marginal St. in Chelsea. There is free onsite parking. In case of rain: 617-887-2336 to check status. The run time is about 90105 minutes. More info/directions/parking info: www.apollinairetheatre.com Director: Danielle Fauteux Jacques. Music Director: David Reiff el. Choreographer: Audrey Johnson. Pre-Show Directors: Charleen Andujar, Brooks Reeves. nior ior Apollinaire Theatre Company presents Aeschylus’s ‘The Suppliant Women’
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