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Online Assets 'In Limbo' Warning

According to a recent survey by the Co-Op, more than 94 per cent of all adults in the UK have an online account, yet only a quarter have put in place any mechanism for them to be dealt with after they die.

With the average online asset value exceeding £250, the total value of assets involved is estimated to exceed £17 billion.

If you have online accounts, even if only for books and films, for example, it is sensible to make sure your loved ones are aware of them and can access them after your death. Where the contents have value, this should be made clear, as well as to whom the online assets will belong. If this information is not passed on, the assets will fall into the 'residue' of your estate.