When a family member dies unexpectedly it brings legal obstacles you may not be prepared for. One such obstacle is obtaining access to the deceased person’s Apple account. People store many things in their Apple accounts including important documents, photos, memories, and more. Access to these documents as well as other Apple devices which may have an activation lock on them can be important for the family of the deceased.
Apple prides itself on protecting the privacy of their customers and has one of the strictest policies regarding obtaining access to another’s Apple account and/or devices. Where a family member needs to obtain access to a deceased person’s Apple account and/or devices they will need to obtain a court order specifying the name and Apple ID of the deceased person, the name of the next of kin requesting access, that the decedent was the user of all accounts associated with that Apple ID, that the requestor is the decedent’s legal personal representative or another with lawful consent, and that Apple is ordered by the Court to assist in the provision of access to the decedent’s accounts. To obtain this order in the State of Minnesota it is likely that the family or next of kin of the decedent must begin a probate action. Dudley and Smith, P.A. has experienced probate attorneys who will work diligently to assist you in a difficult time.
The law is continually evolving and Dudley and Smith, P.A.’s blog posts should not be relied upon as legal advice, nor construed as a form of attorney-client relationship. Postings are for informational purposes and are not solicitations, legal advice, or tax advice. A viewer of Dudley and Smith, P.A.’s blog should not rely upon any information in the blog without seeking legal counsel.
This post was created by Amber Stavig, a litigation attorney at Dudley and Smith, P.A. If you have questions, please contact Amber Stavig at 651-291-1717 or astavig@dudleyandsmith.com. Dudley and Smith, P.A. is a full-service law firm with offices in Mendota Heights, Blaine, Bloomington, Burnsville, Chanhassen, White Bear Lake, and Woodbury.