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Financial and Business Digital Accounts
Focused answers for people handling the first days, paperwork, and follow-up steps after a death in California.
Start checklistSurviving spouse, financial predators, and digital estate
What is a digital asset for estate purposes?Any electronically stored asset with value: cryptocurrency, online bank accounts, PayPal or Venmo balances, investment accounts accessed online, monetized YouTube or social media channels, domain names, online stores (Etsy, Amazon seller accounts), digital art (NFTs), e-books or digital products sold online, loyalty…What happens to PayPal and Venmo accounts after death?PayPal allows family members to claim the balance in a deceased person's account. Contact PayPal's resolution center with a death certificate and documentation of your authority over the estate. Venmo requires a similar process through their support team. Balances belong to the…What happens to cryptocurrency after death?Cryptocurrency held in a wallet is accessible only through the private key or seed phrase — without it, the cryptocurrency is permanently inaccessible. There is no recovery process. If the deceased left the private key or seed phrase in a will, safe…What if I find cryptocurrency but don't have the keys?You may be able to access a custodial wallet (like Coinbase or Kraken) through their estate process — these platforms hold the keys on your behalf. Contact the platform with a death certificate and proof of authority. Self-custody wallets (where the deceased…What happens to an Amazon seller account after death?Amazon seller accounts cannot be transferred — they are non-transferable per Amazon's terms of service. The estate should notify Amazon, wind down any active orders, collect any pending payments, and close the account. A monetized Amazon business has value — consult a…What about Etsy, eBay, or other marketplace seller accounts?Similar to Amazon — most marketplace accounts are personal and non-transferable. Notify the platform, manage pending orders, collect any balance, and close the account. If the deceased had significant inventory, that inventory is a physical estate asset that can be sold separately.What happens to domain names after death?Domain names are property and can be transferred. They are typically registered through a domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.). Contact the registrar with a death certificate and proof of authority to transfer the domain. Domain names that expire unclaimed are released back…What about their online store or website with revenue?A revenue-generating website is an estate asset with potential significant value. Do not shut it down immediately — continuing operations preserves value while the estate is settled. The estate can continue to operate it, or sell it through a website brokerage like…What happens to Patreon, Substack, or other creator subscription accounts?These accounts generate recurring revenue and have subscriber relationships. Notify subscribers promptly — they will appreciate honesty over unexplained silence. Collect any pending payouts. Most platforms allow account access with estate documentation. The subscriber list and content archive have potential value —…What about airline miles, hotel points, and loyalty rewards?Many loyalty programs allow transfer to a beneficiary or surviving family member, but most require a formal request with a death certificate. Some programs have expiration policies that accelerate after death. Act promptly. American Airlines, Delta, United, Marriott, and others each have…