Archive · 15 Jan 2026
Passwords Pose New Threat to Inheritance in India
In India, many families have one person who manages all the digital finances like bank accounts, investments, and bills.
If this person dies without sharing the passwords and access details, the family can be locked out of these accounts for a long time.
This can happen because the family doesn't know where the money is or how to access it.
To fix this, experts suggest creating a list of all accounts, a plan for sharing passwords, using one email for all financial matters, and keeping a record of how money flows between accounts.
This is important because most of a person's wealth is behind passwords, and without access, it can be lost after death.
Indian families often have one person managing all digital finances, creating a risk if that person dies without sharing access.
Families can be locked out of accounts for months or years due to lack of password and account information.
Experts recommend creating a digital asset register, a digital access plan, using a unified email, and mapping money flow.
Most wealth is behind passwords, and without access, it can be lost after death.
This issue is a bigger part of succession planning than traditional wills and legal disputes.
- Who
- Indian families managing digital finances through a single person
- What
- Challenges in accessing digital financial accounts after the person's death
- When
- Upon the death of the person managing the accounts
- Where
- India
- Why
- Lack of shared digital access information and planning
- Primary Issue
- Digital access to financial accounts after death
- Common Scenario
- One family member manages all digital finances
- Consequence
- Families locked out of accounts for months or years
- Solution Components
- Digital asset register, access plan, unified email, money flow map
- Expert
- Vijaykumar Puri, partner at VPRP & Co LLP
- Views
- Personal views of the expert