What Happens to Online Accounts and Subscriptions After Death in Utah?

Nearly every person now manages part of their life online. Bank accounts, investment platforms, OTT subscriptions, and social media profiles all contain information that can carry real value, both financial and personal. When your loved one passes away, those digital accounts remain active until someone takes legal action.

Utah law recognizes this reality and provides a process for managing digital assets after the death of someone you love. You can access, close, or transfer these online accounts, but you must follow specific legal steps to do so correctly. 

Handling digital property has now become an essential part of estate planning in Utah. It helps prevent confusion, protects privacy, and preserves your loved one’s online legacy. 

This article explains how Utah law addresses digital assets, how you can plan, and what actions to take when your loved one passes away.

What Are Digital Assets?

Digital assets refer to any electronic record stored on a computer, phone, or online service. These include:

• Emails and messages
• Photos and videos stored in the cloud
• Social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
• Online subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime)
• Financial accounts managed online (PayPal, Venmo, cryptocurrency wallets)
• Documents stored on platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox

Each account may have its own rules for what happens after death, depending on the service provider’s terms and applicable digital asset law.

Utah’s Legal Framework for Digital Assets

Utah has adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA). This law outlines how executors, trustees, or other authorized individuals can manage digital assets after the death of someone you love.  

Under RUFADAA, your loved one’s personal representative has the right to access certain digital content if permission was given by the deceased. Without explicit consent, the law limits access to protect privacy.

In simple terms:

• Service providers control access unless the account holder authorizes access in their will or an online tool (like Google’s Inactive Account Manager).
• Executors can request disclosure of digital records under digital asset custody laws.
• Even if you’re a family member, you cannot automatically access private emails, messages, or files without consent or court permission.

This law gives you a structured legal path to handle digital asset inheritance laws responsibly and securely.

Digital Asset Planning in Estate Documents

Adding digital assets to an estate plan helps you prevent confusion and loss. A person should list all their online accounts and specify who can manage them after death.

Key steps include:

• Create a digital asset inventory: Record usernames, account types, and access information. Keep this list secure.
• Assign a digital executor: A digital executor (allowed in Utah) manages online accounts using authority given through a will or power of attorney.
• Use online tools: Some companies allow users to pre-authorize access after death, such as Facebook’s “Legacy Contact” or Google’s “Inactive Account Manager.”
• Document access instructions: Include account-specific instructions in your estate planning documents under guidance from a seasoned lawyer familiar with digital assets law.

Proper legal documentation makes the transition smoother and avoids disputes that may arise in accordance with Utah’s digital financial assets laws.

How Utah Courts Handle Access Requests

If your loved one dies without providing digital access instructions, as a representative, you may need court approval. You can petition the probate court to access specific accounts.

The court reviews:

• Evidence that the requester is the executor or administrator.
• Whether the deceased expressed any privacy preferences.
• Whether the requested access falls within digital asset inheritance laws under RUFADAA.

Once approved, the court order allows access only to information necessary for managing the estate, such as financial statements or asset transfer data.

Why Digital Asset Planning Matters More in 2026

As of 2025, approximately 72% of adults in the U.S. stored important records or finances online. Many families face financial strain because of unpaid subscriptions or inaccessible accounts left active after a loved one’s passing. 

Utah’s digital asset law helps you protect both emotional memories and financial information from being lost. But without including these digital assets in your estate planning, your digital wallets, photos, and emails may remain locked indefinitely.

Common Issues Families Face

Despite awareness and newer regulations, many families face challenges after a death, especially because each online platform applies different rules. 

• Social Media Accounts: Platforms allow memorialization or deletion, but require proof of death.
• Email Accounts: Access needs legal authorization. Without it, providers may deny all your requests.
• Subscriptions and Auto-Pay Accounts: These may continue charging fees unless canceled by someone with access.
• Cryptocurrency Wallets: Without private keys, recovery becomes impossible even with legal documents.

Speaking with a skilled estate planning lawyer, who is also well-versed in digital asset custody laws can help you prevent long-term complications. 

Protect Digital Assets After Death in Utah

While you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible, even if you decide to start estate planning as young parents, there are a few steps you can take first. 

You should: 

• Decide to include digital assets in your will, even if you want to write it on your own. Be sure to clarify who handles your online accounts and how.
• Keep copies of account lists in encrypted or physical form.
• Review your online account access instructions annually.
• Work with a law firm that understands digital asset inheritance laws.

Protect Your Digital Legacy Now

Digital assets have become a part of everyday life. From online accounts and cryptocurrencies to cloud-based records, these assets carry real value and deserve legal attention. With the digital asset law, you can protect your online accounts, but only if you make it a part of your overall estate planning. 

At Henriksen & Henriksen, our seasoned attorneys understand how to manage digital assets within a comprehensive estate plan. We help you organize and protect everything that matters, both online and offline. Contact us today to secure your digital legacy.

FAQs

1. What happens to social media accounts after someone dies in Utah?

Social media providers have their own rules. As a family member or executor, you can request closure or memorialization under platform guidelines.

2. How can someone protect digital assets after death?

Include digital assets in your will, appoint a digital executor, and use account-specific tools. Make sure your requests follow Utah’s digital asset inheritance laws.

3. Are digital subscriptions part of an estate?

Yes, subscriptions, streaming accounts, and automatic payments all fall under personal assets. Executors can cancel or transfer them.

4. What is RUFADAA, and why does it matter?

RUFADAA allows representatives to handle digital assets after death if authorized. Utah adopted this act to guide online access and privacy.

5. Can legal heirs access the email or cloud files of the deceased?

Only with prior consent or a court order under digital asset custody laws. Providers require lawful requests or documentation.

6. Should digital assets be listed in a will or a separate document?

They should be referenced in your will and detailed in a separate, secure document. This makes estate processing faster and compliant with the digital financial assets law.