## Digital-asset estate planning in California When you die or become incapacitated, who can access your email, photos, social media, crypto wallets, online businesses, and other digital assets? Without planning, the answer is often **nobody** — federal law + service-provider terms of service block access. ## What are digital assets **Common digital assets:** **Personal:** - Email accounts (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) - Social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn) - Cloud storage (Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive) - Photos + videos (often only digital) - Music + video libraries (iTunes, etc.) - E-books (Kindle library) - Subscriptions **Financial:** - Online bank accounts - Investment accounts - Cryptocurrency wallets / exchanges - PayPal / Venmo / Cash App - Online payment processors (Stripe, Square) - Reward programs / points - Online businesses (Amazon FBA, Shopify, etc.) **Business:** - Domain names - Websites + hosting - E-commerce stores - Online courses / IP - Customer databases - Software licenses - Cloud-stored business records - Email marketing accounts **Creative + IP:** - Online published works - YouTube channels - Twitch / streaming accounts - Podcast feeds + content - Patreon / Substack / OnlyFans - Affiliate accounts - Influencer accounts ## The legal challenges **Federal law obstacle — Stored Communications Act (SCA):** - Federal law (1986) - Prohibits providers from disclosing electronic communications - Requires user consent for disclosure - Default = blocked - Even families can't access without authority **Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA):** - Federal criminal law - "Unauthorized access" prohibited - Family using deceased person's password = potentially illegal - Even with good intentions **Terms of Service:** - Most providers prohibit account sharing - Many terminate on death - Non-transferable license terms - Provider has total discretion ## RUFADAA — the solution **Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act:** - Adopted by ~48 states + DC - ${s.name} likely adopted - Provides legal framework - Hierarchy of authorization **Three-tier hierarchy (highest authority wins):** **1. Online Tool (highest):** - Provider's specific tool (Facebook Legacy Contact, Google Inactive Account Manager) - Most specific to user's actual wishes - Overrides terms of service - Often free + simple **2. Estate planning documents (middle):** - Will, trust, POA, etc. - Specific provisions for digital assets - Authorizes fiduciary - Must be specific (not just "all assets") **3. Terms of Service (lowest):** - Provider's default terms - Often most restrictive - Used only if user didn't override **Without #1 or #2, providers can deny access citing #3.** ## Online Tools — the easiest path **Major providers offer:** **Google Inactive Account Manager:** - Designate trusted contacts - Notification after inactivity period - Optional automatic deletion - Optional access to specified data - FREE + comprehensive **Facebook Legacy Contact:** - Designate person to manage memorialized profile - Cannot read messages - Limited authority - Or set account for permanent deletion **Apple Digital Legacy:** - Designate Legacy Contacts - Access to most iCloud data after death - Important for many users **Microsoft / Outlook:** - Limited tools - Custodian process available **Recommendation:** Set up online tools for major accounts NOW. ## Estate planning provisions **Will / trust language:** - Specific authority for digital assets - List categories or specific assets - Designate digital fiduciary - Reference RUFADAA - Override terms of service **Power of attorney:** - Critical for incapacity - Specific digital-asset authority - Recent + specific - Cooperative with online tools **Healthcare directive:** - Sometimes overlap with digital-asset issues - Healthcare-related accounts ## Cryptocurrency — special challenges **Crypto presents unique issues:** - **Pseudo-anonymous** — hard to find without info - **Self-custodied wallets** — no third-party recovery - **Lost private keys = lost forever** - **Exchanges** — easier (custodial) - **Hardware wallets** — physical access + PIN **Crypto-specific planning:** - Detailed inventory - Secure key storage - Multi-signature wallets - Trusted contacts - Crypto-aware fiduciary - Time-locked access - Possible escrow services **Estimated billions in crypto lost** to inadequate planning. ## Practical steps **1. Inventory your digital assets:** - List all accounts - Categorize by importance - Note value (financial, sentimental) - Note access requirements **2. Set up online tools:** - Major providers (Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft) - Specify wishes - Designate trusted contacts **3. Update estate documents:** - Specific digital-asset provisions - Reference RUFADAA - Designate digital fiduciary - Authorize broad access **4. Secure password storage:** - Password manager (LastPass, 1Password, Bitwarden) - Master password documented + secured - Trusted contact has emergency access - Emergency access setup in password manager **5. Letter of instruction (NOT IN WILL):** - Detailed instructions - Account list - Wishes for each account - NOT in will (changes too quickly) - Stored securely + accessibly **6. Update regularly:** - New accounts - Closed accounts - Changed circumstances - Annual review ## Specific account considerations **Email — critical:** - Often gateway to other accounts - Password resets sent here - Family communication archive - Business correspondence - Often most important asset **Social media — emotional:** - Photos + memories - Tributes + memorials - Family wants memorialization - Identity theft protection **Photos + videos:** - Often only digital copies - iCloud, Google Photos - Important to family - Backup options + sharing **Online businesses:** - Significant value - Continuity essential - Designated successor - Specific business plan **Subscription services:** - Cancel after death - Avoid continuing charges - Document authorization **Online financial:** - Bank, brokerage, crypto - Already covered by financial POA / will - But access requires credentials - Coordinate with traditional planning ## Common digital-asset issues - **Lost photos** — no access to deceased's iCloud - **Crypto unrecoverable** — keys not preserved - **Email locked** — family can't access communications - **Business interruption** — successor can't access systems - **Ongoing charges** — subscriptions continuing - **Identity theft** — accounts compromised - **Misuse of online presence** — fraud, scams - **Lost intellectual property** — content disappeared - **Family disputes** — over digital property ## Provider-specific procedures **Apple iCloud:** - Legacy Contact preferred - Death certificate process for non-LC accounts - iPhone / iPad Activation Lock issues **Google:** - Inactive Account Manager preferred - Court order for non-IAM accounts - Limited family access process **Facebook:** - Legacy Contact for memorialization - Limited family access without - Photo download possible **Microsoft:** - Limited tools - Custodian process via court **Crypto exchanges:** - Death certificate + estate documents - KYC issues - Specific procedures vary ## What you should do If you have significant digital assets in California: set up online tools NOW (Google IAM, Apple Legacy, Facebook Legacy Contact). Update will / trust / POA with specific digital-asset provisions. Use a password manager with emergency access. Keep an inventory of digital assets. Most California estate-planning attorneys can update existing plans for $500-$1,500. For substantial digital assets, work with a digital-asset-aware planner. --- *This guide is general information about federal + California law as of mid-2026 and is not legal advice. Digital-asset law is evolving. Talk to a licensed California estate-planning attorney about your specific situation.*