Linden Lab Official:Death and other worries outside Second Life

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This article addresses some frequently-asked questions about Second Life relating to death in real life and similar concerns.

How do I bequeath my Second Life account and its assets if I die in real life?

In your will, you must include the legal (real-life) name of the person who you want to inherit your Second Life account and assets, in the event of your death. This is referenced in Section 3.1 of our Terms of Service (updated 2010-10-06), specifically:

You must establish an Account with Linden Lab to use the Service, except for those portions of the Websites which Linden Lab allows users to access without registration. You may establish one or more additional Accounts, provided that your existing Account is in good standing and you are otherwise in full compliance with this Agreement. You may not transfer or assign your Account and its contractual rights, licenses and obligations, to any third party without the prior written consent of Linden Lab.

The Second Life support team requires the death certificate and, may require other additional testamentary letters or orders, where required by law. Additional verification of any party's identity, including the deceased, may also be required.

In general, the support team requires:

• Testamentary letter or other appropriate order
• Copy of the death certificate
• Copy of the will
• Copy of a government-issue ID sufficient to identify you

If the will is not being probated, or is not before a court or official authority, then we may only require copies of:

• Death certificate
• Will
• Government-issue ID sufficient to identify you

If I die in real life, will you let my Second Life friends know, perhaps by informing my friends list?

Maybe. Linden Lab can only act on instructions that are part of a legally-recognized document such as a valid will. You would have to specify in your will that you want this action performed, and we would need a copy of the will and whatever other verifying documents we deem necessary.

Can I get account information on someone I am worried about?

I'm worried about my Second Life friend, who hasn't been inworld for a very long time, or has expressed suicidal ideas, or some other alarming behavior. Can you check on them for me? Can you give me their account information so that I can check on them?

We're sorry, but no; that would violate the terms of our Privacy Policy. However, here are some links you or your friend might find useful:

• Befrienders maintains an extensive list of suicide-prevention hotlines organized by country.
• Befrienders is itself a worldwide volunteer-based organization that, in its own words, works to "provide help to those in need of emotional support, in order to reduce the number of people who die by suicide, and enable people to explore their feelings in an anonymous, confidential and non-judgmental environment."