Proposed bill gives family access to social media, email accounts after death

DETROIT – A new proposed bill in the Michigan House would create a statewide policy addressing what happens to a person's social media and email accounts if they pass away.

The bill states that email and social media accounts would be considered a person's assets, giving family members access to the accounts in the event of a person's death.

"As social media and email accounts continue to grow in use and popularity it is prudent that we create a process of how to deal with these accounts in the unfortunate event of a person's passing," said Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant. "This legislation simply seeks to clarify a procedure for this type of situation, overcoming obstacles families may face when trying to simply deactivate a deceased person's Facebook or delete their emails."

Read the full bill here.