Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Blog
With the emergence of cryptocurrency, many questions have arisen, including the impact of cryptocurrency on everyday life and the economy. However, whether someone has a small amount of Bitcoin or millions in cryptocurrency assets, many individuals do not consider how cryptocurrency assets should be incorporated into an estate plan. Incorporating cryptocurrency into an estate plan allows assets to be protected and ensures these digital goods are passed along after a person has died. Below are common questions and explanations about cryptocurrency and its role in the estate planning process.
What is Cryptocurrency?
Although the word “cryptocurrency” is used often, not many people know what cryptocurrency actually is. Cryptocurrency is a digital currency based on a network distributed across computers, and it is nearly impossible to counterfeit. Cryptocurrencies are decentralized, meaning they operate outside the control of governments. Bitcoin is the most well-known of the cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrency is accessed through a private key, which is usually a password that only the owner of the cryptocurrency knows. Without knowing the private key, an individual cannot access, buy, or sell the money. Alternatively, some brokerage houses allow investors to purchase cryptocurrency through their existing accounts.
How Can I Incorporate Cryptocurrency into My Estate Plan?
Because cryptocurrency is digital, it is essential for individuals to include instructions in their estate plan on how to access these assets. Otherwise, if the person dies, the funds may be lost forever—or it may take years to regain access. Estate planning attorneys recommend including a list of all cryptocurrency assets an individual has, along with detailed information about the cryptocurrency’s private key and login information. This will allow beneficiaries to access digital assets and ensure they are not lost forever.
Additionally, should Texans include crypto assets in their estate plan, it is important to detail who they want to receive it. The cryptocurrency can also be distributed to multiple beneficiaries, depending on the individual’s preferences. For beneficiaries who do not know what cryptocurrency is—and therefore how they will access these funds—the estate’s executor can help. In many situations, the beneficiary can either receive the cryptocurrency as is or have it liquidated and distributed as traditional currency. This allows the individual to give these digital assets to whoever they would like—regardless of the beneficiary’s technological capabilities.
Because cryptocurrency is an emerging—and popular—technology, it can sometimes be difficult to understand its implications. Because of this, individuals who would like to incorporate their cryptocurrency assets into their estate plan should contact an experienced attorney.
Contact a Houston Estate Planning Attorney
If you or your loved ones want to incorporate cryptocurrency into your estate plan, contact the Houston estate planning attorneys at McCulloch & Miller, PLLC. While emerging technology can be confusing, our attorneys will be able to advise you on how these new assets can be included in an estate plan. Additionally, if you do not have an estate plan in place, we can help you with this too. To schedule a no-risk consultation and to speak with one of our attorneys today, give us a call at 713-333-8900.