A model act is not a universal account-access rule

RUFADAA stands for the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act. It is a model for rules about fiduciaries and digital assets; the enacted law in the relevant jurisdiction determines the applicable requirements. Avoid treating a national adoption count as legal advice for a particular account.

Correction: this guide previously listed California as an exception. California Probate Code section 870 expressly names its framework RUFADAA. This revision removes that inaccurate exception list. For another state, check the current official statute and qualified local advice.

Coordinate online directions and legal documents

Tell your adviser about any provider legacy tools, inactivity settings or deletion preferences you have configured. Ask how those directions interact with your will, trust, power of attorney and the provider’s terms. Do not assume every platform setting has the same legal effect or grants access to every kind of content.

Distinguish account records from communication content and identify whether third-party information is involved. A provider may require evidence of authority and other documents before responding. The ability to receive a technical access link does not establish that its recipient may operate or dispose of an account.

Prepare an inventory for the discussion

List the provider, account identifier, asset or record type, intended representative and any existing online direction. Include the location of authoritative documents and a current contact for help. Keep passwords, wallet recovery words and second-factor codes out of a general inventory circulated for review.

Ask your adviser which documents should be prepared or amended and who should act if the first person is unavailable. Review after moving jurisdiction, replacing a representative or changing a significant account. Keep the date and source of the advice in your own records so later readers can distinguish it from an old article.

Use a checklist to find gaps, not certify compliance

A software checklist can help collect information, but it cannot verify RUFADAA compliance or replace an adviser’s review. Practise the practical handoff with harmless material and preserve an independent copy of the instructions.

ZeroLatch can deliver a scoped inventory and instructions after a missed check-in and safety period. It does not transfer assets, establish legal authority or confirm death. Simple permits authorised service-managed key recovery; Private requires a separate password or ZeroLatch recovery phrase. Neither option replaces an independent backup or a real recipient rehearsal. Start with harmless information and read the security model and backup checklist.