Overview
- German rulings in 2018 and 2020 make digital data inheritable, a 2024 appeals court allowed heirs to keep using social‑media accounts, and a 2024 statute (§4 TDDDG) obliges providers to cooperate.
- Experts advise compiling a password list, issuing a digital power of attorney that expressly applies beyond death, and naming instructions in a will, with secure storage in an encrypted password manager or at a notary.
- Major platforms offer built‑in legacy options such as Meta’s memorialization and legacy contacts, Google’s Inactive Account Manager, and Apple’s Legacy Contact, with requests typically requiring a death certificate.
- Without clear access details, heirs can miss bank, securities, or crypto assets and may see subscriptions continue, especially since Germany lacks a central register for dormant accounts.
- Preparedness remains low, with surveys indicating roughly one third of internet users have arranged their digital estate.