What would happen to your domain names if you died?

[diablo]

Not the cheeriest of thoughts I know, but what would happen to your domain names if you died?

 

[Sam]

Well if you had nothing in place it's a simple answer they would expire and drop...

 

[Skinner]

This has come up a few times in the past, most notably when Matt W passed away.

 

[diablo]

This has come up a few times in the past, most notably when Matt W passed away.

Yes, but it's something that few of us think about unless nudged to put a plan in place.

I thought it would be an idea to have a thread that gave people ideas of getting everything organised before the worst happened.

 

[ian]

My situation is quite complexed by the very nature of running businesses, multiple banks, property etc, so apart from the obvious will, I've just had to put detailed information in a basic document that gives instructions to my o/h on what to do. Quite honestly, I'd hope it isn't needed just for the fact that I'd not wish having to sort it out on anyone, least of all a grieving widow!

 

[chrisduggan]

Make a list of all usernames and passwords to all your online identities, registrars, hosting etc. May be relevant to online banking or any other such online profiles. encrypt this data and share it with your most trusted family member or executor.

A similar discussion came up once about iTunes media.

quite a few online articles on this subject.

what-happens-to-your-digital-assets-when-you-die

 

[Skinner]

I was thinking a while ago, it maybe good if a group of trusted members formed a committee of sorts (so people could be replaced as they leave or move on) where our loved ones could be left simple details of contact these people.

 

[diablo]

I was thinking a while ago, it maybe good if a group of trusted members formed a committee of sorts (so people could be replaced as they leave or move on) where our loved ones could be left simple details of contact these people.

I think this is a great idea. I have already said to my family if anything happens to me that there are a lot of very good people on Acorn with the ability and honesty to help.

 

[diablo]

Make a list of all usernames and passwords to all your online identities, registrars, hosting etc. May be relevant to online banking or any other such online profiles. encrypt this data and share it with your most trusted family member or executor.

Great advice.

I found this:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/encrypt-decrypt-folder-file#1TC=windows-7

How would someone unencrypt it though? Is there a key or something.

For OpenOffice (which I use):
Protecting Content in OpenOffice
All documents that are saved in OpenDocument format can be saved with a password. Documents that are saved with a password cannot be opened without the password. The content is secured so that it cannot be read with an external editor. This applies to content, graphics and OLE objects.
Turning on protection
Choose File - Save As and mark the Save with password check box. Save the document.
Turning off protection
Open the document, entering the correct password. Choose File - Save As and clear the Save with password check box.

 

[Retired_Member39]

If if die my domains will be auctioned off to pay for Michelle Keegan to squat on my corpse prior to being cremated.

 

[Murray]

This is something I've actually thought about.

You never know when your time will be up, accidents happen.

I've given a piece of paper with my nominet login details to my brother should anything happen so he can transfer the domains into his name.

If if die my domains will be auctioned off to pay for Michelle Keegan to squat on my corpse prior to being cremated.

"Oh god why" I said out loud to this lol.

 

[diablo]

If if die my domains will be auctioned off to pay for Michelle Keegan to squat on my corpse prior to being cremated.

Why post nonsense like that?

 

[namealot]

If if die my domains will be auctioned off to pay for Michelle Keegan to squat on my corpse prior to being cremated.

Why post nonsense like that?

Yes why wait till your dead sell them now and have here do it whilst your alive ?

 

[Retired_Member39]

On a serious note. Maybe there is someone in your family who could take control of your domain portfolio in the worst case scenario. Also you could write up a small guide on how to manage your domains such as how to renew domains. You could make up a list of your 20 most valuable domains emphasising these domains must always have 4/5+ years until expiry and you could provide a minimum offer next to those domains. Not to mention you could yourself take out 5-10 year registration on say your 20 most valuable domains if you haven't already done this. This may give you more peace of mind that whoever you leave your domains to will have more time to benefit from your domains.

Maybe also provide a resource list of where the person who takes control of your domains can learn about domains to maximise the profits of domains you own so your family can benefit from your legacy as much as possible. Hopefully that was a bit more constructive than my last comment .

 

[WealdDomains]

If you've got a simple will that doesn't itemise stuff but just leaves everything to 'x', and your domain names are middle-of-the-road ones rather than stunners, it may be worth doing something simple for starters such as keeping a sheet of paper with the will (or the copy your loved ones will find at home) saying something like the following (this is a personal suggestion and I'm not qualified to give advice) :

"I have lots of internet domain names - the names of websites. They aren't worth a fortune but collectively they could be worth a few thousand pounds. I 'own' them by registering them, and I have to renew this registration (typically every year, sometimes less frequently) or I lose them.

As soon as you read this, please try to put a stop on any of them expiring and being lost to my estate. After that, over time you will need to decide what to do with, including selling the ones that are worth something.

I recommend you do three things immediately :

- contact the support team at an organisation called Nominet : they run the system for internet domain names ending .uk - as of 2014, you can find their phone number and other details at their website www.nominet.org.uk

- [if you use someone such as Heart] contact the support team at the company I use to register the domain names (not just .uk names but others such as those ending .com too) - as of early 2014, I use a company called [Heart Internet] and their website is [www.heartinternet.co.uk]

- see whether an online community called Acorn Domains is still running - as of 2014, it's a great community of people in the UK who own domain names who I'm sure will be willing to help and the website is www.acorndomains.co.uk

With all this, be a bit cautious. You may need to spend some money to renew domain names that are about to expire and there may be people who genuinely and kindly offer to help. Also, there may be fraudsters trying to get hold of the names or make money. Be cautious about putting too much information online, about paying money and about transferring the names to other people. Don't tell people our passwords. Ask general questions openly on somewhere like Acorn Domains and see what the consensus is. Don't expect a fortune but hopefully it will add something worthwhile to the value of what I leave behind. Good luck."

So, that's probably not perfect but it's a first stab at something helpful to be read by someone who knows nothing about domaining.

 

[lee]

"A few thousand pounds"

- Say £5k, for arguments sake.

Is it really worth anyone's time pissing about for £5k? - They have just lost a loved one and are besides themselves with grief, and you want them to fanny around with paperwork and logging onto websites to then try and do what you (not you personally WealdDomains !) have been doing for years, namely trying to bang a load of names out to get a few quid.

We all will have life insurance, so for the anything that they cant get £20k+ for in one quick bulk deal, I say its not worth burdening your family with.

 

[Systreg]

We all will have life insurance

I don't have any life insurance, I don't know anyone out of the people I've known who has life insurance either.

 

[devilsrefugee]

"A few thousand pounds"

- Say £5k, for arguments sake.

Is it really worth anyone's time pissing about for £5k? - They have just lost a loved one and are besides themselves with grief, and you want them to fanny around with paperwork and logging onto websites to then try and do what you (not you personally WealdDomains !) have been doing for years, namely trying to bang a load of names out to get a few quid.

We all will have life insurance, so for the anything that they cant get £20k+ for in one quick bulk deal, I say its not worth burdening your family with.

Surely, it should be their choice? Its better they have that choice because how do you know the situation doesnt change and suddenly one becomes worth 10/20k+? Maybe they would like to do it, for any number of reasons.

"Its better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it" I say.

Besides, I work hard on my projects so they do provide for my family one way or another.

Also, £5k may not seem much to you, but to many people it would be a tidy sum of money or pay off any debts etc.

-snip-

Thanks for that. Got the ball rolling for me, appreciate it

 

[Murray]

- Say £5k, for arguments sake.

I suppose you mean if they maybe 100 domains worth xx, xxx each, rather than one premium worth 5k on it's own?

Because yes for them having to learn whats worth what & flog 100 domains to get £5,000 I guess would be quite an effort to reward ratio.

 

[lee]

I suppose you mean if they maybe 100 domains worth xx, xxx each, rather than one premium worth 5k on it's own?

Because yes for them having to learn whats worth what & flog 100 domains to get £5,000 I guess would be quite an effort to reward ratio.

Yes that is correct. 100 domains, lots of hassle, perhaps money coming in in dribs and drabs. Seems like a lot of trouble to give someone for very little reward.

£100,000 life insurance for circa £20 a month, let the domains go is my opinion.