Facebook's New "Legacy Contact"

Facebook just announced a new setting that will give every user to the option to appoint a “legacy contact” for their Facebook account after they die.   In the past, when a Facebook user passed away, the account would be closed or “memorialized.” Facebook also now allows users to set their account up so that it is permanently deleted should they die.

A “legacy contact” is someone you choose to look after your account after it has been memorialized. Once your account is memorialized, your legacy contact will be able to:

• Update the deceased’s user’s profile picture and cover photo
• Write a special post that will be pinned to the top of his or her timeline (ex: a memorial service announcement or final message on behalf of the deceased user)
• Respond to new friend requests
• The option to download an archive of the photos, posts, wall posts, event’s and profile info the deceased had already shared on the site

The legacy contact will not be able to:

• Log into the deceased’s user’s account
• View or download the deceased’s past messages.
• Change photos, postings or other items shared on the decedent’s timeline
• Remove friends of the deceased user

Instructions for how to add, change, or remove a legacy contact are available here: https://www.facebook.com/help/1070665206293088. Your legacy contact must be an existing Facebook friend of yours.

After a Facebook user dies, if a legacy contact has been appointed, first the deceased user’s account should be memorialized. A family member or friend can submit the request to memorialize the decedent’s account using the following link: https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/651319028315841. After the decedent’s account is memorialized, Facebook will notify the legacy contact. Although the legacy contact cannot log into the deceased user’s account, the legacy contact can go to the deceased user’s memorialized profile and click on the “manage” link in the bottom right of the cover photo, and have the option to complete any of the steps and actions we listed above.

If you would prefer to permanently delete your Facebook account should you die, directions are available here: https://www.facebook.com/help/103897939701143.