Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00859
The family discovered they held Bitcoin on multiple platforms and in multiple wallets.
SurvivesCase description
An October 2020 case describes an elderly Bitcoin holder who was diagnosed with advanced dementia and placed in full-time care. The family discovered they held Bitcoin on multiple platforms and in multiple wallets. No lasting power of attorney covering digital assets had been established. Obtaining retrospective legal authority over the accounts required a protracted court application.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner incapacity |
| 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 incapacity
68 cases involve owner incapacity
572 cases involve mobile or software wallet
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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.