What Happens to Your Online Business When You Die or Can't Work?

What happens to your Instagram account, your domain name, your email list, your Shopify store, your YouTube channel, and your podcast when you die—or when you're too sick or injured to run them?A few weeks ago I covered what happens to your trademarks and patents. Today is the part nobody in the legal world is talking about enough: the digital infrastructure of your business. Why short-term disability is actually harder to plan for than death. Why your power of attorney probably isn't solving the problem you think it is. And seven specific things you can do right now.I walk through every major category: social media accounts, creator monetization platforms, domain names, email lists, online stores, and podcasts—what the platforms actually allow (and don't), and the legal framework that governs all of it.Timestamps: (00:00) The hospital scenario: not dead, just incapacitated for three weeks(02:44) Why the legal system hasn't caught up (RUFADAA explained)(06:03) The four problems: terms of service, access, continuity, authority(11:22) SOCIAL MEDIA: (11:31) YouTube, (12:48) Instagram/Facebook, (13:59) TikTok, LinkedIn, BlueSky, X, and Mastodon.(15:19) CREATOR MONETIZATION: (16:03) Patreon, Substack,(17:31) Buy Me a Coffee and Ko-fi,(18:12) OnlyFans, (19:37) Medium,(20:10) Twitch,(22:22) Discord,(24:05) WhatsApp and Telegram, Reddit, Snapchat, and Pinterest.(25:59) DOMAIN NAMES AND WEBSITES: the expiration problem(28:09) EMAIL LISTS: actually your most transferable asset(29:22) ONLINE STORES: Shopify, Etsy, Amazon seller accounts(32:17) PODCAST and revenue accounts(24:30) Why disability is actually harder than death(26:00) Seven things to do right now(31:00) What's coming: the deeper resource(32:00) Download the Digital Graveyard Prevention KitWant that Digital Graveyard Prevention Kit I mentioned? Click here.Avoid the legal horrors, and keep rocking your IP.💀🎸🎙️ PODCAST: Avoid the Legal Horrors with Julie King: Patent, Trademark, and Business Strategy. Helping entrepreneurs, creators, and small business owners understand and use IP law as a business tool, without the jargon. 📅 Ready to protect your brand and business? Book a consultation at kingpatentlaw.com⁠. I serve intellectual property clients nationwide and business and estate planning clients in Illinois.📚 Full transcript and more resources at ⁠⁠kingpatentlaw.com/blog⁠ 📱@kingpatentlaw on social media platforms (NOT X)Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only, is not legal advice, and does not form an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, consult with a licensed attorney. Contains attorney advertisement material. Julie King | King Patent Law, PLLC | 301 N Neil St Ste 400, Champaign IL 61820. Phone and email available at kingpatentlaw.com