Sponsored by:
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
“Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act”; authorizes executor, agent, guardian, or trustee, under certain circumstances, to manage electronic records of decedent, principal, incapacitated person, or trust creator.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning access by fiduciaries to digital assets and supplementing Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Short Title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act.”
2. Definitions. As used in this act:
“Account” means an arrangement under a terms-of-service in which a custodian carries, maintains, processes, receives, or stores a digital asset of the user or provides goods or services to the user.
“Agent” means an attorney-in-fact granted authority under a durable or nondurable power of attorney.
“Carries” means engages in the transmission of an electronic communication.
“Catalogue of electronic communications” means information that identifies each person with which a user has had an electronic communication, the time and date of the communication, and the electronic address of the person.
“Content of an electronic communication” means information concerning the substance or meaning of the communication which:
(a) has been sent or received by a user;
(b) is in electronic storage by a custodian providing an electronic communication service to the public or is carried or maintained by a custodian providing a remote computing service to the public; and
(c) is not readily accessible to the public.
“Court” means the Probate Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court. For the purposes of this act, “court” includes the Surrogate’s Court acting within the scope of its authority pursuant to statute or the Rules of Court.
“Custodian” means a person that carries, maintains, processes, receives, or stores a digital asset of a user.
“Designated recipient” means a person chosen by a user using an online tool to administer digital assets of the user.
“Digital asset” means an electronic record in which an individual has a right or interest. The term does not include an underlying asset or liability unless the asset or liability is itself an electronic record.
“Electronic” means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.
“Electronic communication” has the meaning set forth in 18 U.S.C. s.2510(12).
“Electronic-communication service” means a custodian that provides to a user the ability to send or receive an electronic communication.
“Fiduciary” means an original, additional, or successor personal
representative, guardian, agent, or trustee.
“Guardian” means a person appointed by the court to make decisions regarding the property of an incapacitated adult, including a person appointed in accordance with N.J.S.3B:12-1 et seq. or its equivalent in a state other than New Jersey.
“Incapacitated person” means an incapacitated individual, as defined in N.J.S.3B:1-2, for whom a guardian has been appointed.
“Information” means data, text, images, videos, sounds, codes, computer programs, software, databases, or the like.
“Online tool” means an electronic service provided by a custodian that allows the user, in an agreement distinct from the terms-of-service agreement between the custodian and user, to provide directions for disclosure or nondisclosure of digital assets to a third person.
“Person” means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or other legal entity.
“Personal representative” means an executor, administrator, special administrator, or person that performs substantially the same function under the law of this State other than this act.
“Power of attorney” means a written instrument by which an individual known as the principal authorizes another individual or individuals or a qualified bank within the meaning of section 28 of P.L.1948, c.67 (C.17:9A-28) known as the attorney-in-fact to perform specified acts on behalf of the principal as the principal's agent.
“Principal” means an individual, at least 18 years of age, who, in a power of attorney, authorizes an agent to act.
“Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
“Remote-computing service” means a custodian that provides to a user computer processing services or the storage of digital assets by means of an electronic communications system, as defined in 18 U.S.C. s.2510(14).
“Terms-of-service agreement” means an agreement that controls the relationship between an account holder and a custodian.
“Trustee” means a fiduciary with legal title to property pursuant to an agreement or declaration that creates a beneficial interest in another. “Trustee” includes an original, additional, or successor trustee, whether or not appointed or confirmed by court.
“User” means a person that has an account with a custodian.
“Will” means the last will and testament of a testator or testatrix and includes any codicil and any testamentary instrument that merely appoints an executor, revokes or revises another will, nominates a guardian, or expressly excludes or limits the right of a person or class to succeed to property of the decedent passing by intestate succession.
3. User’s Residence in State; Inapplicability of Act to Employers’ Digital Assets.
a. This act applies to a custodian if the user resides in this State or resided in this State at the time of the user’s death.
b. This act does not apply to a digital asset of an employer used by an employee in the ordinary course of the employer’s business.
4. User Direction for Disclosure of Digital Assets.
a. A user may use an online tool to direct the custodian to disclose or not to disclose to a designated recipient some or all of the user’s digital assets, including the content of electronic communications. If the online tool allows the user to modify or delete a direction at all times, a direction regarding disclosure using an online tool overrides a contrary direction by the user in a will, trust, power of attorney, or other record.
b. If a user has not used an online tool to give direction under subsection a. of this section or if the custodian has not provided an online tool, the user may allow or prohibit in a will, trust, power of attorney, or other record, disclosure to a fiduciary of some or all of the user’s digital assets, including the content of electronic communications sent or received by the user.
c. A user’s direction under subsection a. or b. of this section overrides a contrary provision in a terms-of-service agreement that does not require the user to act affirmatively and distinctly from the user’s assent to the terms of service.
5. Terms-of-Service Agreement.
a. This act does not change or impair a right of a custodian or a user under a terms-of-service agreement to access and use digital assets of the user.
b. This act does not give a fiduciary or designated recipient any new or expanded rights other than those held by the user for whom, or for whose estate, the fiduciary or designated recipient acts or represents.
c. A fiduciary’s or designated recipient’s access to digital assets may be modified or eliminated by a user, by federal law, or by a terms-of-service agreement if the user has not provided direction under section 4 of this act.
6. Procedure for Disclosing Digital Assets.
a. When disclosing digital assets of a user under this act, the custodian shall either:
(1) grant a fiduciary or designated recipient full access to the user’s account;
(2) grant a fiduciary or designated recipient partial access to the user’s account sufficient to perform the tasks with which the fiduciary or designated recipient is charged; or
(3) provide a fiduciary or designated recipient a copy in a record
of any digital asset that, on the date the custodian received the request for disclosure, the user could have accessed if the user were alive and had full capacity and access to the account.
b. A custodian may assess a reasonable administrative charge for the cost of disclosing digital assets under this act.
c. A custodian need not disclose under this act a digital asset deleted by a user.
d. If a user directs or a fiduciary requests a custodian to disclose under this act some, but not all, of the user’s digital assets, the custodian need not disclose the assets if segregation of the assets would impose an undue burden on the custodian. If the custodian believes the direction or request imposes an undue burden, the custodian or fiduciary may seek an order from the court to disclose:
(1) a subset limited by date of the user’s digital assets;
(2) all of the user’s digital assets to the fiduciary or designated recipient;
(3) none of the user’s digital assets; or
(4) all of the user’s digital assets to the court for review in camera.
7. Disclosure of Content of Electronic Communications of Deceased User.
If a deceased user consented or a court directs disclosure of the contents of electronic communications of the user, the custodian shall disclose to the personal representative of the estate of the user the content of an electronic communication sent or received by the user if the representative gives the custodian:
a. a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;
b. a copy of the death certificate of the user;
c. a certificate evidencing the appointment of the representative or a small-estate affidavit;
d. unless the user provided direction using an online tool, a copy of the user’s will, trust, power of attorney, or other record evidencing the user’s consent to disclosure of the content of electronic communications; and
e. if requested by the custodian, any of the following:
(1) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the user’s account;
(2) evidence linking the account to the user; or
(3) a finding by the court of any of the following:
(a) the user had a specific account with the custodian, identifiable by the information specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection;
(b) disclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user would not violate 18 U.S.C. s.2701 et seq., Unlawful Access to Stored Communications; 47 U.S.C. s.222, Privacy of
Customer Information; or other applicable law;
(c) unless the user provided direction using an online tool, the user consented to disclosure of the content of electronic communications; or
(d) disclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user is reasonably necessary for administration of the estate.
8. Disclosure of Other Digital Assets of Deceased User.
Unless the user prohibited disclosure of digital assets or the court directs otherwise, a custodian shall disclose to the personal representative of the estate of a deceased user a catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by the user and digital assets, other than the content of electronic communications, of the user, if the representative gives the custodian:
a. a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;
b. a copy of the death certificate of the user;
c. a certificate evidencing the appointment of the representative or a small-estate affidavit; and
d. if requested by the custodian, any of the following:
(1) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the user’s account;
(2) evidence linking the account to the user;
(3) an affidavit stating that disclosure of the user’s digital assets is reasonably necessary for administration of the estate; or
(4) a finding by the court of either of the following:
(a) the user had a specific account with the custodian, identifiable by the information specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or
(b) disclosure of the user’s digital assets is reasonably necessary for administration of the estate.
9. Disclosure of Content of Electronic Communications of Principal.
To the extent a power of attorney expressly grants an agent authority over the content of electronic communications sent or received by the principal and unless directed otherwise by the principal or the court, a custodian shall disclose to the agent the content if the agent gives the custodian:
a. a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;
b. an original or copy of the power of attorney expressly granting the agent authority over the content of electronic communications of the principal;
c. a certification by the agent, under penalty of perjury, that the power of attorney is in effect; and
d. if requested by the custodian:
(1) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the principal’s account; or
(2) evidence linking the account to the principal.
10. Disclosure of Other Digital Assets of Principal.
Unless otherwise ordered by the court, directed by the principal, or provided by a power of attorney, a custodian shall disclose to an agent with specific authority over digital assets or general authority to act on behalf of a principal a catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by the principal and digital assets, other than the content of electronic communications, of the principal if the agent gives the custodian:
a. a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;
b. an original or a copy of the power of attorney that gives the agent specific authority over digital assets or general authority to act on behalf of the principal;
c. a certification by the agent, under penalty of perjury, that the power of attorney is in effect; and
d. if requested by the custodian:
(1) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the principal’s account; or
(2) evidence linking the account to the principal.
11. Disclosure of Digital Assets Held in Trust When Trustee is Original User.
Unless otherwise ordered by the court or provided in a trust, a custodian shall disclose to a trustee that is an original user of an account any digital asset of the account held in trust, including a catalogue of electronic communications of the trustee and the content of electronic communications.
12. Disclosure of Contents of Electronic Communications Held in Trust When Trustee Not Original User.
Unless otherwise ordered by the court, directed by the user, or provided in a trust, a custodian shall disclose to a trustee that is not an original user of an account the content of an electronic communication sent or received by an original or successor user and carried, maintained, processed, received, or stored by the custodian in the account of the trust if the trustee gives the custodian:
a. a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;
b. a certified copy of the trust instrument or a certification of the trust under N.J.S.3B:31-81 that includes consent to disclosure of the content of electronic communications to the trustee;
c. a certification by the trustee, under penalty of perjury, that the trust exists and the trustee is a currently acting trustee of the trust; and
d. if requested by the custodian:
(1) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the trust’s account; or
(2) evidence linking the account to the trust.
13. Disclosure of Other Digital Assets Held in Trust When Trustee Not Original User.
Unless otherwise ordered by the court, directed by the user, or provided in a trust, a custodian shall disclose, to a trustee that is not an original user of an account, a catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by an original or successor user and stored, carried, or maintained by the custodian in an account of the trust and any digital assets, other than the content of electronic communications, in which the trust has a right or interest if the trustee gives the custodian:
a. a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;
b. a certified copy of the trust instrument or a certification of the trust under N.J.S.3B:31-81;
c. a certification by the trustee, under penalty of perjury, that the trust exists and the trustee is a currently acting trustee of the trust; and
d. if requested by the custodian:
(1) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the trust’s account; or
(2) evidence linking the account to the trust.
14. Disclosure of Digital Assets to Guardian of Incapacitated Person.
a. After an opportunity for a hearing under N.J.S.3B:12-1 et seq., the court may grant a guardian access to the digital assets of an incapacitated person.
b. Unless otherwise ordered by the court or directed by the user, a custodian shall disclose to a guardian the catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by the incapacitated person and any digital assets, other than the content of electronic communications, in which the incapacitated person has a right or interest if the guardian gives the custodian:
(1) a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;
(2) a copy of the court order that gives the guardian authority over the digital assets of the incapacitated person; and
(3) if requested by the custodian:
(a) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the account of the incapacitated person; or
(b) evidence linking the account to the incapacitated person.
c. A guardian with general authority to manage the assets of an incapacitated person may request a custodian of the digital assets of the incapacitated person to suspend or terminate an account of the incapacitated person for good cause. A request made under this section shall be accompanied by a copy of the court order giving the guardian authority over the incapacitated person’s property.
15. Fiduciary Duty and Authority.
a. The legal duties imposed on a fiduciary charged with managing tangible property apply to the management of digital assets, including:
(1) the duty of care;
(2) the duty of loyalty; and
(3) the duty of confidentiality.
b. A fiduciary’s authority with respect to a digital asset of a user:
(1) except as otherwise provided in section 4 of this act, is subject to the applicable terms of service;
(2) is subject to other applicable law, including copyright law;
(3) is limited by the scope of the fiduciary’s duties; and
(4) may not be used to impersonate the user.
c. A fiduciary with authority over the property of a decedent, incapacitated person, principal, or settlor has the right to access any digital asset in which the decedent, incapacitated person, principal, or settlor had a right or interest and that is not held by a custodian or subject to a terms-of-service agreement.
d. A fiduciary acting within the scope of the fiduciary’s duties is an authorized user of the property of the decedent, incapacitated person, principal, or settlor for the purpose of applicable computer-fraud and unauthorized-computer-access laws, including but not limited to the provisions of P.L.1984, c.184 (C.2C:20-23 et seq.) and N.J.S.2C:20-2.
e. A fiduciary with authority over the tangible, personal property of a decedent, incapacitated person, principal, or settlor:
(1) has the right to access the property and any digital asset stored in it; and
(2) is an authorized user for the purpose of computer-fraud and unauthorized-computer-access laws, including but not limited to the provisions of P.L.1984, c.184 (C.2C:20-23 et seq.) and N.J.S.2C:20-2.
f. A custodian may disclose information in an account to a fiduciary of the user when the information is required to terminate an account used to access digital assets licensed to the user.
g. A fiduciary of a user may request a custodian to terminate the user’s account. A request for termination must be in writing, in either physical or electronic form, and accompanied by:
(1) if the user is deceased, a copy of the death certificate of the user;
(2) a copy of the letters testamentary or letters of administration, court order, power of attorney, or trust giving the fiduciary authority over the account; and
(3) if requested by the custodian:
(a) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the user’s account;
(b) evidence linking the account to the user; or
(c) a finding by the court that the user had a specific account with the custodian, identifiable by the information specified in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph.
16. Custodian Compliance and Immunity.
a. Not later than 60 days after receipt of the information required under sections 7 through 15 of this act, a custodian shall comply with a request under this act from a fiduciary or designated recipient to disclose digital assets or terminate an account. If the custodian fails to comply, the fiduciary or designated recipient may apply to the court for an order directing compliance.
b. An order under subsection a. of this section directing compliance must contain a finding that compliance is not in violation of 18 U.S.C. s.2702.
c. A custodian may notify the user that a request for disclosure or to terminate an account was made under this act.
d. A custodian may deny a request under this act from a fiduciary or designated recipient for disclosure of digital assets or to terminate an account if the custodian is aware of any lawful access to the account following the receipt of the fiduciary’s request.
e. This act does not limit a custodian’s ability to obtain or require a fiduciary or designated recipient requesting disclosure or termination under this act to obtain a court order which:
(1) specifies that an account belongs to the incapacitated person or principal;
(2) specifies that there is sufficient consent from the incapacitated person or principal to support the requested disclosure; and
(3) contains a finding required by law other than this act.
f. A custodian and its officers, employees, and agents are immune from liability for an act or omission done in good faith in compliance with this act.
17. Uniformity of Application and Construction.
In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
18. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.
This act modifies, limits, or supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. s.7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. s.7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in s.103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. s.7003(b).
19. Effective date and applicability.
This act shall take effect on the 90th day following enactment and shall apply to:
a. a fiduciary acting under a will or power of attorney executed before, on, or after the effective date of this act;
b. a personal representative acting for a decedent who died before, on, or after the effective date of this act;
c. a guardianship, whether the guardian was appointed before, on, or after the effective date of this act; and
d. a trustee acting under a trust created before, on, or after the effective date of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill would enact the “Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act” (UFADAA). The act was promulgated by the Uniform Law Commission in 2014 and revised by the commission in 2015.
Overview of the Bill:
Under the UFADAA, the traditional power of a fiduciary to manage a person’s tangible property when that person dies or loses the ability to manage his own property would be extended to allow the fiduciary to manage digital assets. The act defines the term “digital assets” to mean a person’s digital property and electronic communications. The term does not include an underlying asset or liability unless the asset or liability is itself an electronic record.
The UFADAA allows fiduciaries to manage digital property, such as computer files, web domains, and virtual currency, but restricts a fiduciary’s access to electronic communications such as email, text messages, and social media accounts unless the original user consented in a will, trust, power of attorney, or other record.
The act encompasses four types of fiduciaries: (1) executors or administrators of deceased persons’ estates; (2) court-appointed guardians of incapacitated persons; (3) agents appointed under powers of attorney; and (4) trustees.
The act would not apply to digital assets of an employer used by an employee during the ordinary course of business.
The act distinguishes between a “catalogue of electronic communications” (information that identifies each person with which a user has had an electronic communication, and the time and date of that communication) and the “content of an electronic communication” (information concerning the substance or meaning of the communication). The act provides that generally a fiduciary would have access to a catalogue of the user’s communications, but not the content, unless the user consented to the disclosure of the content.
Under the act, a “custodian” is a person or entity that carries, maintains, processes, receives, or stores digital assets. The act provides that if a custodian provides an “online tool,” separate from the general terms of service, that allows the user to name another person to have access to the user’s digital assets or to direct the custodian to delete the user’s digital assets, the user’s online instructions would be enforceable.
If the custodian does not provide an online tool or if the user declines to use the online tool provided, the user may give directions for the disposition of digital assets in a will, trust, power of attorney, or other written record.
If the user has not provided any direction, either online or in an estate plan, the terms of service for the user’s account would determine whether a fiduciary may access the user’s digital assets. If the terms of service do not address fiduciary access, the default rules of the UFADAA would apply.
Under the UFADAA, fiduciaries for digital assets would be subject to the same fiduciary duties that normally apply to tangible assets. Thus, for example, an executor would not be authorized to publish the decedent’s confidential communications or impersonate the decedent by sending email from the decedent’s account. A fiduciary’s management of digital assets may also be limited by other law. For example, a fiduciary may not copy or distribute digital files in violation of copyright law, and may not exceed the user’s authority under the account’s terms of service.
In order to gain access to digital assets, a fiduciary would be required to send a request to the custodian, accompanied by a copy of the document granting fiduciary authority, such as a letter of appointment, court order, or certification of trust.
Under the bill, custodians of digital assets would be
immune from any liability for an act or omission done in good faith in
compliance with the act.
Specific Sections of the Bill:
Section 1: Designates the bill as the “Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act.”
Section 2: Sets out definitions of terms. Among other definitions, this section of the bill defines the term “court” to mean the Probate Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court, and including the Surrogate’s Court acting within the scope of its authority.
Section 3: Provides that the act applies to a custodian if the user resides in this State or resided in this State at the time of the user’s death, and provides that the act does not apply to a digital asset of an employer used by an employee in the ordinary course of the employer’s business.
Section 4: Sets out procedures concerning the use of an online tool to designate disclosure or non-disclosure of the user’s digital assets. Section 5: Establishes that the terms-of-service agreement governing an online account applies to fiduciaries as well as users, and clarifies that a fiduciary or designated recipient would not have any new or expanded rights other than those held by the user.
Section 6: Gives the custodians of digital assets some discretion in determining disclosure of digital assets to fiduciaries. This section provides that a custodian may, for example, comply with a request for access by allowing the fiduciary to reset the password and access the user’s account. Under the act, a custodian may also comply without giving access to a user’s account by simply giving a copy of all the user’s digital assets to the fiduciary. This section also allows the custodian to assess a reasonable administrative charge for the cost of disclosing digital assets.
Section 6 provides that the custodian shall either: (1) grant a fiduciary or designated recipient full access to the account; (2) grant a fiduciary or designated recipient partial access; or (3) provide a fiduciary or designated recipient a copy in a record of any digital asset that the user could have accessed on the date the custodian received the request if the user were alive and had full capacity. Thus, the custodian would have discretion as to which method of disclosure to use, but would not have discretion to refuse disclosure.
Sections 7-14: Establishes the rights of personal representatives of an estate, guardians, agents acting pursuant to a power of attorney, and trustees. Each of the fiduciaries is subject to different rules for the content of communications protected under federal privacy laws and for other types of digital assets.
Section 15: Provides that the legal duties imposed on a fiduciary charged with managing tangible property apply to the management of digital assets, including the duty of care, the duty of loyalty, and the duty of confidentiality. Section 15 also provides that, except as otherwise provided in section 4 of the act concerning online tools, a fiduciary’s authority with respect to a digital asset is subject to the applicable terms of service, is subject to other applicable law, including copyright law, and may not be used to impersonate the user. This section also authorizes a fiduciary to request a custodian to terminate the use’s account and sets out the documentation that must accompany such a request, such as a copy of the death certificate, court order, power of attorney, or trust.
Section 16: Requires the custodian to comply with a request from a fiduciary within 60 days after receipt. If the custodian fails to comply, the fiduciary or designated recipient may apply to the court for an order directing compliance. (A “designated recipient” is a person chosen by the user, using an online tool, to administer the user’s digital assets.) Section 16 also allows a custodian to deny a request from a fiduciary or designated recipient for disclosure of digital assets or to terminate an account if the custodian is aware of any lawful access to the account following the receipt of the fiduciary’s request. This provision is intended to protect joint owners of the account.
Section 17: Provides that in applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
Section 18: Provides that the act modifies, limits, or supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. section 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede Section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. section 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in section 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. section 7003(b).
Section 19: Provides that the act will take effect on the 90th day following enactment and would apply retroactively: the act would encompass a fiduciary acting under a will or power of attorney executed before, on, or after the effective date of the act; a personal representative acting for a decedent who died before, on, or after the effective date; a guardianship, whether the guardian was appointed before, on, or after the effective date; and a trustee acting under a trust created before, on, or after the effective date.