Cryptocurrency and Your Estate Plan: Don’t Let Your Digital Wealth Disappear
For many Californians, cryptocurrency has become another part of their investment portfolio. Whether you own Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another digital asset, one thing is certain: if your estate plan doesn't account for it, your family could face significant challenges after your death. Unlike traditional bank or brokerage accounts, cryptocurrency accounts often have no central authority to restore access if passwords, recovery phrases, or private keys are lost. In many cases, access to the cryptocurrency means ownership. Without proper planning, your digital assets could become permanently inaccessible. Why Cryptocurrency Is Different Your executor can usually locate your bank accounts, investment accounts, ... Read More
Digital Assets and Estate Planning
When people establish their estate plan, they often think about their physical assets. However, there’s no doubt we do more and more online each day. Therefore, it’s equally important to consider digital assets. With the emergence of new technology, there are more opportunities being created for people to possess digital assets. If not properly planned for, you or your loved ones may have no control over your digital assets after you pass away. What is a Digital Asset in Estate Planning? California Probate Code §871(h) defines digital assets as electronic records in which an individual has a right or interest. ... Read More
