You can control what happens to your car when you die. You can direct what happens to your house when you head to the great beyond. You can even say what happens to your beloved pets when you leave this life.

Yet, in Ohio, you have relatively little say in what happens to your accounts with Apple, Facebook, Google and Yahoo when you pass away.

That’s why we’re grateful to state Rep. Bob Cupp, R-Allen County, for co-sponsoring a bill to establish what happens with your “digital assets” when you die. …

A similar measure passed in 21 other states, so Ohio has a good framework from which to start.

It’s pretty frightening how little control you have otherwise.

According to research by the Ohio State Bar Association, different providers have different standards.

“Apple appears, by far, the most restrictive of the providers, noting in its iCloud Terms of Service that ‘any rights to your Apple ID or Content within your Account terminate upon your death,’” Lori L. Kuchmay reported to the OSBA.

The OSBA also found Facebook wouldn’t let family members log into your account, but it would honor their request to remove the page or turn it into a memorial page. Yahoo won’t allow access to the account, but it could help you close or delete it for privacy concerns. …

We’re hopeful the Ohio House and Senate will take the appropriate action to consider and pass this legislation, simplifying the process.

The Lima News