Attorney David Frees explores how and why you might want to give the gift of a custom domain name to your children and/or grandchildren.
Want to buy your child or grandchild something that may never go out of style, might be vitally important to them in business as they grow up, and is becoming harder and harder to get?
Want to do something for a loved one that not only shows that you care but that might be useful for their entire life?
Want to know the three letters that matter and that might make you a hero to your kids and grandchildren?
The three letters are URL.
URL – That is the web address for a web site that they might use now or in the future for personal or business use. Do you have your name as a domain? Do you own www.insertyournameshere.com for your children and/or grandchildren?
If not, just click on that link and you can find out if your name, your child’s name, and/or a grandchild’s name is still available and if it is you can reserve it and own it for less than $10.00 per year. We have made an arrangement with one of the major web registrars through www.succcessfulurls.com for clients to get a radically reduced cost for registering their names as urls. But, there are many other web sites that also offer this service.
And, it is easy to transfer the web name to your child or grandchild, and easy to set up a simple web site (the kids can do it) so that they can even own the email address theirname@theirname.com for example, John@johnsmith.com rather than john127@aol.com.
Now it is becoming harder and harder to find common names that haven’t been taken. But, it is nice and in some professions (think web designer) to have your own name as your url.
But, while it is becoming harder and harder for children and grandchildren to own their own names many of your children and grandchildren might want that ability. So, if their name is taken how can you still give this gift? well, there are a few tricks.
If johnsmith.com is taken, try www.thejohnsmith.com “www.theoriginaljohnsmith.com” or “therealjohnsmith.com.” You can also try a url using the middle initial such as www.johnpsmith.com or using the full middle name. To experiment, and to reserve a domain name for your child or grandchild, click this link.
So, here’s to hoping that you can find one that works. And, even if you have a new baby, or new grandchild, consider reserving that url. It is inexpensive, fun and may be a really nice present.
Have a great holiday season.
David M. Frees III
David Frees advises clients on estate planning maters related to copyrights,
technology, business succession planning, real estate and other assets which
require careful estate planning. For a consultation, call 610-933-8069.
