What's happening
This bill allows a decedent's fiduciary to manage or close the decedent's social media and email accounts unless prohibited by will or court order.
Why it matters
Addresses digital legacy issues. by explicitly granting fiduciaries legal authority to manage or close a decedent’s digital accounts, which previously may have been unclear or left to the discretion of tech companies.
Balances privacy and intent. by allowing this authority unless the decedent’s will or a court order specifically prohibits it, respecting the wishes of the deceased where documented.
Eases estate administration. by giving fiduciaries the ability to access important information, settle digital assets, or protect the decedent’s privacy, potentially preventing identity theft or misuse of unattended accounts.
Responds to modern realities. of online life, recognizing that social media and email accounts are significant parts of personal and financial affairs that may need management after death.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Executors Access Online Accounts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
7 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Executors Access Digital Accounts
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor David Carlucci
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3308
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, M. G. MILLER, LUPARDO, COLTON, GALEF, CRESPO, ZEBROWSKI, MONTESANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. HIKIND, McDONOUGH, McKEVITT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the estates, powers and trusts law, in relation to authorizing the fiduciary of a decedent to take control of certain web site accounts of the decedent
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of section 11-1.1 of the estates, powers and trusts law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 23 to read as follows:
(23) Unless expressly prohibited by the will or court order, to take control of, conduct, continue or terminate any account of the decedent on any social networking web site, microblogging or short message service web site or email service web site.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01835-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.