Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00856
The solicitor's office had relocated during COVID lockdowns and had not updated their
SurvivesCase description
An estate attorney documented an August 2020 case in which the deceased had created an elaborate multi-step access system for their Bitcoin involving a safe, an encrypted USB drive, and a final decryption key stored in a solicitor's file. The solicitor's office had relocated during COVID lockdowns and had not updated their contact information. Locating the file took four months.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner death |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2020 |
| Country | Unknown |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
Forum post
Related cases involving owner death
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.