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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73384</law_id><section_number>64.2-129</section_number><catch_line>Fiduciary duty and authority</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>64.2-130</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="64.2">Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">General Provisions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Definitions and General Provisions</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3.1">Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The legal duties imposed on a <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> charged with managing tangible property apply to the management of <span class="dictionary">digital assets</span>, including: <a id="paragraph-264070" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The duty of care; <a id="paragraph-264071" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The duty of loyalty; and <a id="paragraph-264072" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The duty of confidentiality. <a id="paragraph-264073" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span>&#x2019;s or <span class="dictionary">designated recipient</span>&#x2019;s authority with respect to a <span class="dictionary">digital asset</span> of a <span class="dictionary">user</span>: <a id="paragraph-264074" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Except as otherwise provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="User direction for disclosure of digital assets" href="/64.2-118/">64.2-118</a>, is subject to the applicable <span class="dictionary">terms-of-service agreement</span>; <a id="paragraph-264075" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Is subject to other applicable <span class="dictionary">law</span>, including copyright <span class="dictionary">law</span>; <a id="paragraph-264076" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> In the case of a <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span>, is limited by the scope of the <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span>&#x2019;s duties; and <a id="paragraph-264077" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> May not be used to impersonate the <span class="dictionary">user</span>. <a id="paragraph-264078" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> with authority over the property of a decedent, <span class="dictionary">protected person</span>, <span class="dictionary">principal</span>, or settlor has the right to access any <span class="dictionary">digital asset</span> in which the decedent, <span class="dictionary">protected person</span>, <span class="dictionary">principal</span>, or settlor had a right or interest and that is not held by a <span class="dictionary">custodian</span> or subject to a <span class="dictionary">terms-of-service agreement</span>. <a id="paragraph-264079" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> acting within the scope of the <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span>&#x2019;s duties is an authorized <span class="dictionary">user</span> of the property of the decedent, <span class="dictionary">protected person</span>, <span class="dictionary">principal</span>, or settlor for the purpose of applicable computer-<span class="dictionary">fraud</span> and unauthorized computer-access <span class="dictionary">laws</span>, including Article 7.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title" href="/18.2-152.1/">18.2-152.1</a> et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2. <a id="paragraph-264080" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> with authority over the tangible personal property of a decedent, <span class="dictionary">protected person</span>, <span class="dictionary">principal</span>, or settlor: <a id="paragraph-264081" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Has the right to access the property and any <span class="dictionary">digital asset</span> stored in it; and <a id="paragraph-264082" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#E1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Is an authorized <span class="dictionary">user</span> for the purposes of computer-<span class="dictionary">fraud</span> and unauthorized computer-access <span class="dictionary">laws</span>, including Article 7.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title" href="/18.2-152.1/">18.2-152.1</a> et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2. <a id="paragraph-264083" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#E2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> A <span class="dictionary">custodian</span> may disclose <span class="dictionary">information</span> in an <span class="dictionary">account</span> to a <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> of the <span class="dictionary">user</span> when the <span class="dictionary">information</span> is required to terminate an <span class="dictionary">account</span> used to access <span class="dictionary">digital assets</span> licensed to the <span class="dictionary">user</span>. <a id="paragraph-264084" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> A <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> of a <span class="dictionary">user</span> may request a <span class="dictionary">custodian</span> to terminate the <span class="dictionary">user</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">account</span>. A request for termination shall be in writing, in either physical or <span class="dictionary">electronic</span> form, and accompanied by: <a id="paragraph-264085" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">user</span> is deceased, a certified copy of the death certificate of the <span class="dictionary">user</span>; <a id="paragraph-264086" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#G1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A certified copy of the letter of appointment of the representative or a small-estate <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> or <span class="dictionary">court order</span>, <span class="dictionary">court order</span>, <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span>, or trust giving the <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> authority over the <span class="dictionary">account</span>; and <a id="paragraph-264087" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#G2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If requested by the <span class="dictionary">custodian</span>:
				a. A number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or <span class="dictionary">account</span> identifier assigned by the <span class="dictionary">custodian</span> to identify the <span class="dictionary">user</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">account</span>;
				b. <span class="dictionary">Evidence</span> linking the <span class="dictionary">account</span> to the <span class="dictionary">user</span>; or
				c. A <span class="dictionary">finding</span> by the court that the <span class="dictionary">user</span> had a specific <span class="dictionary">account</span> with the <span class="dictionary">custodian</span>, identifiable by the <span class="dictionary">information</span> specified in subdivision a. <a id="paragraph-264088" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-129/#G3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2017, cc. 33, 80.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
