Bill Text: NJ A4666 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: "Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act"; authorizes access by executor, agent, guardian, or trustee to digital property and electronic communications of decedent, principal, incapacitated person, or trust creator.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-06-29 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [A4666 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A4666-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
"Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act"; authorizes access by executor, agent, guardian, or trustee to digital property and electronic communications of decedent, principal, incapacitated person, or trust creator.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning access by fiduciaries to digital assets and supplementing Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Short Title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act."
2. Definitions. As used in this act:
"Account holder" means a person that has entered into a terms of service agreement with a custodian of digital assets or a fiduciary for the person.
"Agent" means an attorney in fact granted authority under a durable or nondurable power of attorney.
"Carries" means engages in the transmission of electronic communications.
"Catalogue of electronic communications" means information that identifies each person with which an account holder has had an electronic communication, the time and date of the communication, and the electronic address of the person.
"Content of an electronic communication" means information concerning the substance or meaning of the communication which:
(a) has been sent or received by an account holder;
(b) is in electronic storage by a custodian of digital assets providing an electronic communication service to the public or is carried or maintained by a custodian of digital assets providing a remote computing service to the public; and
(c) is not readily accessible to the public.
"Court" means the Probate Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court.
"Custodian of digital assets" means a person that carries, maintains, processes, receives, or stores a digital asset of an account holder.
"Digital asset" means a record that is electronic. The term does not include an underlying asset or liability unless the asset or liability is itself a record that is electronic.
"Electronic" means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.
"Electronic communication" has the same meaning as the definition in 18 U.S.C. s. 2510(12).
"Electronic communication service" means a custodian of digital assets that provides to an account holder the ability to send or receive an electronic communication.
"Fiduciary" means an original, additional, or successor personal representative, guardian, agent, or trustee.
"Guardian" means a person appointed by the court to make decisions regarding the property of an incapacitated adult, including a person who has qualified as a guardian of an incapacitated person pursuant to court appointment in accordance with N.J.S.3B:12-1 et seq. or its equivalent in a state other than New Jersey.
"Governing instrument" means a will, trust, instrument creating a power of attorney, or other dispositive or nominative instrument.
"Information" means data, text, images, videos, sounds, codes, computer programs, software, databases, or the like.
"Person" means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or other legal entity.
"Personal representative" means an executor, administrator, special administrator, or person that performs substantially the same function under the law of this State other than this act.
"Power of attorney" means a written instrument by which an individual known as the principal authorizes another individual or individuals or a qualified bank within the meaning of section 28 of P.L.1948, c.67, s.28 (C.17:9A-28) known as the attorney-in-fact to perform specified acts on behalf of the principal as the principal's agent.
"Principal" means an individual, at least 18 years of age, who, in a power of attorney, authorizes an agent to act.
"Incapacitated person" means an individual for whom a guardian has been appointed. The term includes an individual for whom an application for the appointment of a guardian is pending.
"Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
"Remote computing service" means a custodian of digital assets that provides to an account holder computer processing services or the storage of digital assets by means of an electronic communications system, as defined in 18 U.S.C. s.2510(14).
"Terms of service agreement" means an agreement that controls the relationship between an account holder and a custodian of digital assets.
"Trustee" means a fiduciary with legal title to property pursuant to an agreement or declaration that creates a beneficial interest in another. "Trustee" includes an original, additional or successor trustee, whether or not appointed or confirmed by court.
"Will" means the last will and testament of a testator or testatrix and includes any codicil and any testamentary instrument that merely appoints an executor, revokes or revises another will, nominates a guardian, or expressly excludes or limits the right of a person or class to succeed to property of the decedent passing by intestate succession.
3. Applicability.
a. This act applies to:
(1) a fiduciary or agent acting under a will or power of attorney executed before, on, or after the effective date of this act;
(2) a personal representative acting for a decedent who died before, on, or after the effective date of this act;
(3) a guardianship, whether the proceeding creating the guardianship is pending in a court or commenced before, on, or after the effective date of this act; and
(4) a trustee acting under a trust created before, on, or after the effective date of this act.
b. This act does not apply to a digital asset of an employer used by an employee in the ordinary course of the employer's business.
4. Access by Personal Representative to Digital Asset of Decedent. Subject to subsection b. of section 8 of this act and unless otherwise ordered by the court or provided in the will of a decedent, the personal representative of the decedent has the right to access:
(a) the content of an electronic communication that the custodian of digital assets is permitted to disclose under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. s.2702(b);
(b) any catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by the decedent; and
(c) any other digital asset in which at death the decedent had a right or interest.
5. Access by Guardian to Digital Asset of Incapacitated Person.
Subject to subsection b. of section 8 of this act, the court, after an opportunity for a hearing pursuant to N.J.S.3B:12-1 et al. or N.J.S.3B:12-2, may grant a guardian the right to access:
(1) the content of an electronic communication that the custodian of digital assets is permitted to disclose under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. s.2702(b);
(2) any catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by the incapacitated person; and
(3) any other digital asset in which the incapacitated person has a right or interest.
6. Access by Agent to Digital Asset of Principal.
a. To the extent a power of attorney expressly grants an agent authority over the content of an electronic communication of the principal and subject to subsection b. of section 8 of this act, the agent has the right to access the content of an electronic communication that the custodian of digital assets is permitted to disclose under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. s.2702(b).
b. Subject to subsection b. of section 8 of this act and unless otherwise ordered by the court or provided by a power of attorney, an agent has the right to access:
(1) any catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by the principal; and
(2) any other digital asset in which the principal has a right or interest.
7. Access by Trustee to Digital Asset.
a. Subject to subsection b. of section 8 of this act and unless otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or provided in a trust, a trustee that is an original account holder has the right to access any digital asset held in trust, including any catalogue of electronic communications of the trustee and the content of an electronic communication.
b. Subject to subsection b. of section 8 of this act and unless otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or provided in a trust, a trustee that is not an original account holder has the right to access:
(1) the content of an electronic communication that the custodian of digital assets is permitted to disclose under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. s.2702(b);
(2) any catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by the original or any successor account holder; and
(3) any other digital asset in which the original or any successor account holder has a right or interest.
8. Fiduciary Authority.
a. A fiduciary that is an account holder or has the right under this act to access a digital asset of an account holder:
(1) subject to the terms of service agreement, copyright law, and other applicable law, may take any action concerning the asset to the extent of the account holder's authority and the fiduciary's power under the law of this State other than this act;
(2) has, for the purpose of applicable electronic privacy laws, the lawful consent of the account holder for the custodian of digital assets to divulge the content of an electronic communication to the fiduciary; and
(3) is, for the purpose of applicable computer fraud and unauthorized computer access laws, including but not limited to the provisions of P.L.1984, c.184 (C.2C:20-23 et seq.), an authorized user.
b. Unless an account holder, after the effective date of this act, agrees to a provision in a terms of service agreement that limits a fiduciary's access to a digital asset of the account holder by an affirmative act separate from the account holder's assent to other provisions of the agreement:
(1) the provision is void as against the strong public policy of this State; and
(2) the fiduciary's access under this act to a digital asset does not violate the terms of service agreement even if the agreement requires notice of a change in the account holder's status.
c. A choice of law provision in a terms of service agreement is unenforceable against a fiduciary acting under this act to the extent the provision designates law that enforces a limitation on a fiduciary's access to a digital asset, and the limitation is void under subsection b. of this section
d. As to tangible personal property capable of receiving, storing, processing, or sending a digital asset, a fiduciary with authority over the property of a decedent, incapacitated person, principal, or settlor:
(1) has the right to access the property and any digital asset stored in it; and
(2) is an authorized user for purposes of any applicable computer fraud and unauthorized computer access laws, including but not limited to the provisions of P.L.1984, c.184 (C.2C:20-23 et seq.)
9. Compliance.
a. If a fiduciary with a right under this act to access a digital asset of an account holder complies with subsection b. of this section, the custodian of digital assets shall comply with the fiduciary's request in a record for:
(1) access to the asset;
(2) control of the asset; and
(3) a copy of the asset to the extent permitted by copyright law.
b. If a request under subsection a. of this section is made by:
(1) a personal representative with the right of access under section 4 of this act, the request must be accompanied by a certified copy of the certificate or court order evidencing the appointment of the personal representative;
(2) a guardian with the right of access under section 5 of this act, the request must be accompanied by a certified copy of the court order that gives the guardian authority over the digital asset;
(3) an agent with the right of access under section 6 of this act, the request must be accompanied by an original or a copy of the power of attorney that authorizes the agent to exercise authority over the digital asset and a certification of the agent, under penalty of perjury, that the power of attorney is in effect; and
(4) a trustee with the right of access under section 7 of this act, the request must be accompanied by a certified copy of the trust instrument, or a certification of the trust under subsection d. of this section.
c. A custodian of digital assets shall comply with a request made under subsection a. of this section not later than 60 days after receipt. If the custodian of digital assets fails to comply, the fiduciary may apply to the court for an order directing compliance.
d. Instead of furnishing a copy of the trust instrument under paragraph (4) of subsection b. of this section, the trustee may provide a certification of trust. The certification:
(1) must contain the following information:
(a) that the trust exists and the date the trust instrument was executed;
(b) the identity of the settlor;
(c) the identity and address of the trustee;
(d) that there is nothing inconsistent in the trust with respect to the trustee's powers over digital assets;
(e) whether the trust is revocable and the identity of any person holding a power to revoke the trust;
(f) whether a co-trustee has authority to sign or otherwise authenticate; and
(g) whether all or fewer than all co-trustees are required to exercise powers of the trustee;
(2) must be signed or otherwise authenticated by a trustee;
(3) must state that the trust has not been revoked, modified, or amended in a manner that would cause the representations contained in the certification of trust to be incorrect; and
(4) need not contain the dispositive terms of the trust.
e. A custodian of digital assets that receives a certification under subsection d. of this section may require the trustee to provide copies of excerpts from the original trust instrument and later amendments designating the trustee and conferring on the trustee the power to act in the pending transaction.
f. A custodian of digital assets that acts in reliance on a certification under subsection d. of this section without knowledge that the representations contained in it are incorrect shall not be liable to any person for so acting and may assume without inquiry the existence of facts stated in the certification.
g. A person that in good faith enters into a transaction in reliance on a certification under subsection d. of this section may enforce the transaction against the trust property as if the representations contained in the certification were correct.
h. A person that demands the trust instrument in addition to a certification under subsection d. of this section or excerpts under subsection e. of this section is liable for damages, including attorneys' fees, if the court determines that the person did not act in good faith in demanding the instrument.
i. This section does not limit the right of a person to obtain a copy of a trust instrument in a judicial proceeding concerning the trust.
10. a. Immunity of Custodian of Digital Assets. A custodian of digital assets and its officers, employees, and agents shall be immune from liability for an act or omission done in good faith in compliance with this act.
b. A custodian of digital assets and its officers, employees, and agents shall be immune from liability for accidental destruction by the custodian of any digital asset subject to this act.
11. Uniformity of Application and Construction. In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
12. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. This act modifies, limits, or supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede Section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in Section 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7003(b).
13. This act shall take effect on the 90th day following enactment and shall be applicable as provided in section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
STATEMENT
This bill would enact the "Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act" ("UFDAA"). The bill authorizes access by an executor, guardian, agent, or trustee to digital property and electronic communications of a decedent, incapacitated person, principal, or trust creator. The intent of the UFADAA is to vest fiduciaries with the authority to access, control, or copy digital assets, while respecting the privacy and intent of the account holder. UFADAA was promulgated by the Uniform Law Commission in July 2014.
This uniform law address four types of fiduciaries: (1) executors of a deceased person's estate; (2) guardians for an incapacitated person; (3) agents acting under a power of attorney; and (4) trustees of a trust.
The act is designed to provide fiduciaries with access to digital assets without changing the ownership of the digital assets. The act defines "digital asset" as "a record that is electronic" and specifies that "digital asset" does not include an underlying asset or liability unless the asset or liability is itself a record that is electronic.
Sections 1 and 3 of the bill set out the act's title, definitions, and general provisions, including those relating to the scope of the fiduciary's authority.
Section 3 governs applicability, clarifying the scope of the act and the fiduciaries who have access to digital assets under UFADAA. This section specifies that the act does not apply to the digital assets of an employer used by an employee during the ordinary course of business.
Sections 4 through 7 establish the right of access by personal representatives (executors), guardians, agents acting pursuant to a power of attorney, and trustees. Each of these fiduciaries is subject to different opt-in and default rules based on the presumed intent of the account holder and the applicability of other State and federal laws. A personal representative is presumed to have access to all of the decedent's digital assets unless that is contrary to the decedent's expressed intent or to other applicable law. A guardian for an incapacitated person may access digital assets pursuant to a court order. An agent acting pursuant to a power of attorney is presumed to have access to all of a principal's digital assets not subject to the protections of other applicable law; if another law protects the asset, then the power of attorney must explicitly grant access. And a trustee may access any digital asset held by the trust unless that is contrary to the terms of the trust or to other applicable law.
Section 8 contains general provisions relating to the rights of the fiduciary to access digital assets.
Section 9 addresses compliance by the custodian of digital assets (the person or entity that carries, maintains, processes, receives, or stores a digital asset of an account holder). This section provides that the custodian must comply with a request for access to and control of a digital asset and, to the extent permitted by copyright law, a copy of the digital asset, within 60 days of receipt of the request. If the custodian fails to comply, the fiduciary may apply to the court for an order directing compliance.
Section 10 grants immunity from liability to custodians for an act or omission done in good faith in compliance with the act. The section also grants immunity from liability for accidental destruction by the custodian of any digital asset subject to the act.
Section 11 provides that in applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
Section 12 sets out the act's relation to the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. This section provides that the act modifies, limits, or supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede Section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in Section 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7003(b).
Section 13 provides that the act will take effect on the 90th day following enactment and would be applicable as provided in section 3 of the act. Section 3 provides that the act would apply retroactively to encompass:
(1) a fiduciary or agent acting under a will or power of attorney executed before, on, or after the effective date;
(2) a personal representative acting for a decedent who died before, on, or after the effective date;
(3) a guardianship, whether the proceeding creating the guardianship is pending in a court or commenced before, on, or after the effective date; and
(4) a trustee acting under a trust created before, on, or after the effective date.
