Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00978
A user's laptop was confiscated as part of a divorce proceeding in December 2021.
SurvivesCase description
A user's laptop was confiscated as part of a divorce proceeding in December 2021. The estranged spouse's attorney obtained a court order for access to the device. The device contained a wallet. The user was given 72 hours to remove the wallet, which they did. The remaining wallet file on the returned device was then wiped.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Device loss |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2021 |
| Country | Unknown |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
Forum post
Evidence link
Related cases involving device loss
This archive documents observed custody survivability failures. It does not attempt to document all Bitcoin losses or security incidents.
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Framework references
Where Bitcoin Custody Intersects Legal and Fiduciary Authority
Where custody creates gaps in estate planning, fiduciary duty, and professional responsibility.
Professional Scope Boundary Matrix
What each professional or product covers, what they do not, and where gaps form between them.
The Independent Assessment Layer in Bitcoin Custody
How independent diagnostic layers emerge when multiple parties depend on shared infrastructure.