California Assembly Passes Bill to Protect Digital Assets

In today’s age of widespread social media and communication, California lawmakers are trying to address what happens to one’s digital life when they die. 

Yesterday, the state assembly approved a bill that would give guidelines for judges to follow before they could order electronic providers to turn over electronic information to the executor or administrator of an estate.  The bill, AB691, attempts to strike a balance between privacy and allowing estate administrators access digital accounts to resolve estate issues.  The bill will now go to the Senate for approval.

See Associated Press, Social Media Protected After Death Under California Bill, News 3, May 11, 2015.

Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.