Well, like anything "cloud-related," I think you need to do your due diligence.
Your question seems to be rather timely, as the cloud is increasingly used in estate planning circles.
That noted, always look before you leap, so to speak.
Not surprisingly, this was the subject of a recent article in U.S. News and World Report titled “Passwords and Powers of Attorney: Your Digital Estate Planning Options.”
The article observes that websites are now available to help you store digital copies of your estate planning documents, and even make some end-of-life decisions and funeral plans online.
Obviously, these services can be wonderful and extremely beneficial to you and your loved ones.
If your loved ones can access your estate planning cloud vault, then they would have immediate access to your key health care wishes, funeral arrangement and legal documents to take care of business.
In my 30-plus years of estate planning experience, the loss of a loved one is tough enough without compounding the grief with estate planning "administrivia" hassles.
One of the biggest initial hassles is locating the governing legal documents.
All that aside, not to rely on the websites alone for legal document storage.
Often an original copy of the document is necessary, not a digital copy. For example, it is much more difficult to get a copy of a will admitted to probate than it is to get the original will admitted.
So, what action should you take?
Bottom line: If you elect to use cloud-based storage, do not stop there.
You still need to safely store and secure your original documents and ... make sure that they can be found after you pass away.
Just my 2-cents.
Remember: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When making your financial, tax and estate plans, do not go it alone. Be sure to engage competent professional counsel.
Reference: U.S. News and World Report (December 3, 2015) “Passwords and Powers of Attorney: Your Digital Estate Planning Options,”
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