Start with the current statute

Digital-asset access can involve succession law, privacy rules, provider terms and court procedure. A national summary or a list of states that adopted a model act is not enough to decide what an executor may do. Ask a qualified local adviser to identify the current provisions and the documents needed for each important account.

Correction: an earlier version of this guide incorrectly said California had not adopted RUFADAA. California Probate Code section 870 expressly names its framework the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act. We have removed the unsupported three-state exception list and generic drafting requirements.

Give your adviser the right questions

Ask whether an online direction, will, trust or power of attorney governs the requested access. Identify the kind of information involved: account existence, communication content, business records and assets can raise different questions. Ask what a custodian may require and whether any third-party privacy obligations apply.

For California, Louisiana, Massachusetts or another jurisdiction, use the current official legislative source and a professional familiar with local practice. Do not assume the provider’s headquarters alone determines the law for your entire estate, or that a phrase copied from a template creates an effective appointment.

Keep the inventory separate from access secrets

Prepare a list of providers, account identifiers, ownership records and existing legacy settings. Record who should receive or administer each item and where authoritative documents are stored. Avoid putting passwords, wallet recovery words and authentication codes into a general legal inventory.

Ask how the practical handoff should fit the legal documents. A technical helper may need instructions while an executor retains responsibility for decisions. A supported provider process may be preferable to sharing a personal login. Keep a separate backup and an alternate contact in case the usual adviser is unavailable.

A software checklist is not a compliance certificate

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.

Use the checklist to identify missing records and questions, then have the appropriate person review them. Revisit the arrangement after moving jurisdiction, changing a provider or updating the intended recipient. Record the source and date of any legal guidance rather than assuming a published article remains current indefinitely.