{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/64.2-121.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/64.2-121.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/64.2-121.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/64.2-121.html"}],"law_id":73213,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73213,"structure_id":14246,"section_number":"64.2-121","catch_line":"Disclosure of content of electronic communications of deceased user","history":"2017, cc. 33, 80.","full_text":"If a deceased user consented to 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 electronic communications sent or received by the user if the representative gives the custodian:\n\n1\n\nA written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;2\n\nA certified copy of the death certificate of the user;3\n\nA certified copy of the letter of appointment of the representative or a small-estate affidavit or court order;4\n\nUnless 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; and5\n\nIf requested by the custodian:\n\t\t\ta. A number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the user’s account;\n\t\t\tb. Evidence linking the account to the user; or\n\t\t\tc. A finding by the court that (i) the user had a specific account with the custodian, identifiable by the information specified in subdivision a; (ii) disclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user would not violate 18 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq., 47 U.S.C. § 222, or other applicable law; (iii) unless the user provided direction using an online tool, the user consented to disclosure of the content of electronic communications; or (iv) disclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user is reasonably necessary for administration of the estate.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":263557,"text":"If a deceased user consented to 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 electronic communications sent or received by the user if the representative gives the custodian:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":263558,"text":"A written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":263559,"text":"A certified copy of the death certificate of the user;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":263560,"text":"A certified copy of the letter of appointment of the representative or a small-estate affidavit or court order;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":263561,"text":"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","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":263562,"text":"If requested by the custodian:\n\t\t\ta. A number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the user’s account;\n\t\t\tb. Evidence linking the account to the user; or\n\t\t\tc. A finding by the court that (i) the user had a specific account with the custodian, identifiable by the information specified in subdivision a; (ii) disclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user would not violate 18 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq., 47 U.S.C. § 222, or other applicable law; (iii) unless the user provided direction using an online tool, the user consented to disclosure of the content of electronic communications; or (iv) disclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user is reasonably necessary for administration of the estate.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14246,"edition_id":1,"name":"Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act","identifier":"3.1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13832,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 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disclosing digital assets","url":"\/64.2-120\/","token":"64.2\/I\/1\/3.1\/64.2-120","metadata":false},{"id":73213,"structure_id":14246,"section_number":"64.2-121","catch_line":"Disclosure of content of electronic communications of deceased user","url":"\/64.2-121\/","token":"64.2\/I\/1\/3.1\/64.2-121","metadata":false},{"id":66625,"structure_id":14246,"section_number":"64.2-122","catch_line":"Disclosure of other digital assets of deceased user","url":"\/64.2-122\/","token":"64.2\/I\/1\/3.1\/64.2-122","metadata":false},{"id":62585,"structure_id":14246,"section_number":"64.2-123","catch_line":"Disclosure of content of electronic communications of principal","url":"\/64.2-123\/","token":"64.2\/I\/1\/3.1\/64.2-123","metadata":false},{"id":62528,"structure_id":14246,"section_number":"64.2-124","catch_line":"Disclosure of other digital assets of 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This law was first created in 2017. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 33<\/a> and 80<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":84998,"section_number":"64.2-130","catch_line":"Custodian compliance and immunity","order_by":null,"url":"\/64.2-130\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":272863,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73213,"identifier":"64.2-121","token":"64.2\/I\/1\/3.1\/64.2-121","url":"\/64.2-121\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/64.2-121\/","token":"64.2\/I\/1\/3.1\/64.2-121","dublin_core":{"Title":"Disclosure of content of electronic communications of deceased user","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 64.2-121","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

If a deceased user<\/span> consented to or a court<\/span> directs disclosure of the contents of electronic communications<\/span> of the user<\/span>, the custodian<\/span> shall disclose to the personal representative<\/span> of the estate of the user<\/span> the content of electronic communications<\/span> sent or received by the user<\/span> if the representative gives the custodian<\/span>:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> A written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> A certified copy of the death certificate of the user<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> A certified copy of the letter of appointment of the representative or a small-estate affidavit<\/span> or court order<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Unless the user<\/span> provided direction using an online tool<\/span>, a copy of the user<\/span>’s will<\/span>, trust, power of attorney<\/span>, or other record<\/span> evidencing the user<\/span>’s consent to disclosure of the content of electronic communications<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> If requested by the custodian<\/span>:\n\t\t\ta. A number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account<\/span> identifier assigned by the custodian<\/span> to identify the user<\/span>’s account<\/span>;\n\t\t\tb. Evidence<\/span> linking the account<\/span> to the user<\/span>; or\n\t\t\tc. A finding<\/span> by the court that (i) the user<\/span> had a specific account<\/span> with the custodian<\/span>, identifiable by the information<\/span> specified in subdivision a; (ii) disclosure of the content of electronic communications<\/span> of the user<\/span> would not violate 18 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq., 47 U.S.C. § 222, or other applicable law<\/span>; (iii) unless the user<\/span> provided direction using an online tool<\/span>, the user<\/span> consented to disclosure of the content of electronic communications<\/span>; or (iv) disclosure of the content of electronic communications<\/span> of the user<\/span> is reasonably necessary for administration of the estate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDISCLOSURE OF CONTENT OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS OF DECEASED USER (\u00a7\n64.2-121)\n\nIf a deceased user consented to or a court directs disclosure of the contents of\nelectronic communications of the user, the custodian shall disclose to the\npersonal representative of the estate of the user the content of electronic\ncommunications sent or received by the user if the representative gives the\ncustodian:\n\n1. A written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;\n\n2. A certified copy of the death certificate of the user;\n\n3. A certified copy of the letter of appointment of the representative or a\nsmall-estate affidavit or court order;\n\n4. Unless the user provided direction using an online tool, a copy of the\nuser’s will, trust, power of attorney, or other record evidencing the\nuser’s consent to disclosure of the content of electronic communications;\nand\n\n5. If requested by the custodian:\n\t\t\ta. A number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account\nidentifier assigned by the custodian to identify the user’s account;\n\t\t\tb. Evidence linking the account to the user; or\n\t\t\tc. A finding by the court that (i) the user had a specific account with the\ncustodian, identifiable by the information specified in subdivision a; (ii)\ndisclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user would not\nviolate 18 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq., 47 U.S.C. § 222, or other applicable\nlaw; (iii) unless the user provided direction using an online tool, the user\nconsented to disclosure of the content of electronic communications; or (iv)\ndisclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user is reasonably\nnecessary for administration of the estate.\n\nHISTORY: 2017, cc. 33, 80.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}