A former client of mine died around a year ago. I didn't notice until about a year later after Googling his name..The most ethical and respectful approach is to contact the client’s family or their estate and inform them about the situation. Explain that you own the domain name and have been hosting the website for free, and offer to help them decide what to do with it.We were hosting his website for free but we also own the domain name. His website is semi-popular and he keeps getting leads.
I don’t have contact with anyone in his family or who knows him. Though i’m sure I can find them
I don’t think his mom would know what to do with the website, should we just offer to sell it and send her the proceeds?
Alternatively, I could just do nothing and let the site die. Suggestions?
Edit: We haven’t billed this client in 3 years but continued hosting his site for free after. Though, I should check if any of other clients have died and are still being billed…
Some suggestions for the family include:
- Transfer ownership: They could take over the website and decide whether to keep it running, sell it, or let it expire.
- Resell the domain/leads: You could help them sell the domain and leads to a competitor in the area, potentially generating some income.
- Keep the website and add a note about the business closing: This would allow them to maintain the website while informing visitors that the business is no longer operational.
It’s important to be transparent and respectful of the situation. Providing the family with clear options and offering your assistance will ensure that the website is handled appropriately and that the client’s legacy is treated with care.