Digital assets are increasingly significant components of estates — yet many families don't know which assets are recoverable, which are lost, and what process applies to each. This guide gives you a clear, honest map of what can and cannot be recovered from a deceased person's digital accounts.
What Is and Isn't Recoverable
PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App Balances
Cash balances in payment apps are estate assets and fully recoverable with executor documentation. Contact each platform's estate team with a death certificate and Letters Testamentary. Timeline: 4-6 weeks. Do not delay — unclaimed balances eventually transfer to state unclaimed property funds.
Exchange-Held Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency held on Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, Robinhood, and other centralized exchanges can be recovered through the exchange's estate claim process. Requires Letters Testamentary and death certificate. Timeline: 4-12 weeks.
Investment Account Holdings (Robinhood, Fidelity, Schwab)
Stocks, ETFs, and other securities held in investment accounts pass through the estate and can be transferred or liquidated with proper executor documentation. Timeline: 4-8 weeks.
Amazon Gift Card Balances
Amazon gift card balances are estate assets. Contact Amazon's bereavement team with Letters Testamentary to request transfer or check. Requires executor documentation. Timeline: 2-4 weeks.
Subscription Refunds
Pro-rated refunds from Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime, Adobe, and many other subscription services are available when cancellation is requested through bereavement channels. Not all platforms offer this, but many do. Timeline: 1-3 weeks per platform.
iCloud Photos and Google Photos
If the deceased's phone or computer is accessible and logged into their account, photos can be downloaded directly. Through formal processes without device access, this is significantly more difficult and limited.
Self-Custody Cryptocurrency Without Seed Phrase
Cryptocurrency in self-custody wallets (Ledger, Trezor, MetaMask) is permanently inaccessible without the seed phrase or private key. No court order, legal process, or technical service can recover it. This is an absolute technical limitation of blockchain technology.
Purchased Digital Licenses (iTunes, Kindle, App Store)
Music, movies, books, and apps purchased through Apple, Amazon, or Google are licensed, not owned. They cannot be transferred to another account. This is an industry-wide limitation, not unique to any platform.
Accounts With No Known Credentials or Trail
Accounts the family has no knowledge of that left no email or financial trace cannot be identified or accessed by anyone. This is a limitation of the discovery process, not of legal authority.
Locked Devices Without Known Passcode
Apple will not unlock iPhones for family members regardless of documentation. Access to locked devices requires knowing the passcode. This cannot be bypassed through any legitimate service.
The Recovery Priority Order
When beginning digital asset recovery, address in this order:
- Financial app balances — PayPal, Venmo, Cash App (real money, time-sensitive)
- Investment accounts — stocks and securities (significant value, time-sensitive options positions)
- Cryptocurrency exchanges — exchange-held crypto
- Amazon and shopping account balances — gift cards and store credit
- Subscription refunds — while cancelling each service
- Photos and files — while device access is still available
Documenting Recovered Assets
All recovered digital assets must be documented for estate administration. Keep records of every asset identified, its value at date of death, and the recovery process used. Your estate attorney will need this information for probate and tax purposes. Vera Legacy's packages include an asset inventory template for this purpose.
Need help identifying and recovering digital assets?
Vera Legacy identifies every digital account and prepares all recovery documentation — complete package in 48 hours. Concierge package covers investment accounts and cryptocurrency.
See Packages →What Happens to Unclaimed Digital Assets
Digital balances in payment apps and financial accounts that go unaddressed are eventually subject to state unclaimed property laws — typically after 3-5 years of inactivity. The platform transfers the balance to the state unclaimed property fund. While funds can technically be reclaimed from state unclaimed property, the process adds significant complexity. Acting promptly avoids this entirely.