Ohio Code 2137.03 – User direction for disclosure of digital assets
(A) A user may use an online tool to direct the custodian to disclose or not to disclose to a designated recipient some or all of the user’s digital assets, including the content of electronic communications. If the online tool allows the user to modify or delete a direction at all times, a direction regarding disclosure using an online tool overrides a contrary direction by the user in a will, trust, power of attorney, or other record.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 2137.03
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- Custodian: means a person that carries, maintains, processes, receives, or stores a digital asset of a user. See Ohio Code 2137.01
- Designated recipient: means a person chosen by a user using an online tool to administer digital assets of the user. See Ohio Code 2137.01
- Electronic: means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. See Ohio Code 2137.01
- Online tool: means an electronic service provided by a custodian that allows the user, in an agreement distinct from the terms-of-service agreement between the custodian and user, to provide directions for disclosure or nondisclosure of digital assets to a third person. See Ohio Code 2137.01
- Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
- Power of attorney: means a writing or other record that grants authority to an agent to act in the place of the principal. See Ohio Code 2137.01
- 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. See Ohio Code 2137.01
- Terms-of-service agreement: means an agreement that controls the relationship between a user and a custodian. See Ohio Code 2137.01
- User: means a person that has an account with a custodian. See Ohio Code 2137.01
(B) If a user has not used an online tool to give direction under division (A) of this section, or if the custodian has not provided an online tool, the user may allow or prohibit in a will, trust, power of attorney, or other record, disclosure to a fiduciary of some or all of the user’s digital assets, including the content of electronic communications sent or received by the user.
(C) A user’s direction under division (A) or (B) of this s ection overrides a contrary provision in a terms-of-service agreement that does not require the user to act affirmatively and distinctly from the user’s assent to the terms of service.