Some resolution has come to a case I covered recently as Apple has allowed a widow in Canada access to an account she shared with her husband. The widow has gone to Apple with a copy of the will, death certificate, and other documentation but the electronics giant refused her access until she obtained a court order. This request rightfully caused much controversy with the widow and the media when it went public and Apple responding by granting her access with the ample proof that she already provided. However, not every denial of access can be resolved in the same way so it is imperative that measures are taken to allow family and executors access to digital accounts. Some sites allow the preferences to be changed that allow access to certain parties upon death or incapacitation but that is not a universal courtesy that is offered by all companies. Ultimately, the best method is to record the usernames, passwords, security questions, and any other relevant information and storing it in a secure location that can also be accessed by an executor, spouse, or other necessary individuals when the time comes.
See James Rogers, Widow wins battle with Apple over deceased husband’s password, Fox News, January 20, 2016.
