Inherited iPad Useless Due to Apple’s Security Rules

Following their mother’s death, five sons discovered they did not know the Apple ID and password to her iPad.

Apple first asked them to provide written consent for the device to be unlocked, which was of course impossible.  Apple then asked for proof they could have the iPad.  Despite providing Apple with a copy of their mother’s death certificate, a solicitor’s letter, and copy of their mother’s will indicating she wanted her estate split between her five boys, Apple is still asking for a court order to prove their mother was the owner of the iPad as well as her iTunes account.  Hiring a solicitor to go about getting a court order would of course cost more than the iPad itself.  Says son Josh Grant, “It’s a bit cold of them not to treat things on a case-by-case basis.”

See Natalie Donovan & Kevin Core, Apple Security Rules Leave Inherited iPad Useless, Say Sons, BBC, March 5, 2014.

Special thanks to Alexander Good (2014 J.D. Candidate, Texas Tech University School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.