Facebook provides options you can select for what you want done with your Facebook account when you die.

A Legacy Contact is a person you choose to manage your profile after you pass away. This person can post a memorial message, respond to friend requests, and manage tribute posts. They can also download a copy of your Facebook data.

How to add a legacy contact

1. Go to your Facebook profile and navigate to Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
2. Select Accounts Center, then Personal details, then Account ownership and control.
3. Choose Memorialization settings and select your profile.
4. Select Memorialize account, then Next.
5. Search for and select the friend you want as your legacy contact.
6. You can choose whether to give them permission to download your data.
7. Click Save and then Send to notify your friend.

What legacy contacts can do:

• Pin a memorial message to the top of your profile.
• Respond to new friend requests.
• Change your profile and cover photos.
• Manage tribute posts.
• Request account removal.
• Download a copy of your Facebook data.

What legacy contacts cannot do:

• Access your private messages in Facebook Messenger.
• Delete posts, photos, or friends.
• Log into your account.

Be sure to leave instructions to your heirs on what you want them to do after your death.

See the article “Planning Your Digital Afterlife: What Happens to Your Digital Information When You Die?” for ideas on planning what to do with your photos, social media accounts, financial accounts, Church records, and other digital files after you die.