Digital Assets & Online Accounts After Death in Tenerife

Inheritance isn’t just about property, cars and bank accounts anymore.

These days it often includes:

• Online banking
• Email accounts
• Cloud storage
• Social media profiles
• Cryptocurrency

And this is where things can slow down quickly if nobody planned ahead.

Spanish inheritance law recognises digital assets as rights or assets. That means they must be handled properly during the legal process.

Digital Accounts Are Not Automatically Accessible

Many heirs assume they can simply log in and deal with everything.

In most cases, they can’t.

Privacy laws prevent companies from granting access without formal documentation. Service providers will usually require:

• Death certificate
• Inheritance deed
• Proof of identity

Even then, each company has its own policy and procedures.

Some are straightforward.
Some take weeks.

It’s rarely instant.

Cryptocurrency and Digital Wallets

Crypto works very differently from traditional assets.

Access is only possible if:

• The private keys are available
• The deceased left clear written instructions
• The exchange platform can legally verify the account

No private keys usually means no access. There’s no bank to call and no reset option.

If cryptocurrency forms part of the estate, advance planning makes all the difference.

Social Media Accounts

Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram allow accounts to be:

• Deleted
• Memorialised

This normally requires submitting a death certificate and proof of relationship.

Access is controlled. You can’t simply take over the account without authority.

Why Planning Matters

Digital inheritance is one of the most overlooked areas of estate planning.

A secure record of important digital accounts, access instructions and key information can save heirs significant stress and delay.

Modern estates are no longer just physical.

Sometimes the most valuable assets aren’t visible at all.