DEPI — Digital Estate Planning Institute

About DEPI

The Digital Estate Planning Institute (DEPI) is an independent, nonprofit standards body dedicated to advancing global best practices for digital estate continuity, digital asset governance, and post-life data stewardship.

As individuals, families, fiduciaries, and institutions increasingly rely on digital systems, assets, and identities, the risks associated with digital death, inaccessible accounts, fragmented custody, and cross-border complexity have grown significantly. DEPI exists to address this gap—by providing structure, standards, certifications, and accreditation frameworks that bring clarity, trust, and interoperability to the digital estate ecosystem.

DEPI operates globally, serving professionals, platforms, policymakers, and the public interest by defining how digital estates should be designed, secured, transferred, and governed — ethically, legally, and technically.

Mission and Purpose

Our Mission

DEPI’s mission is to establish globally recognized standards that ensure digital estates can be safely managed, accessed, and transferred across generations, jurisdictions, and technologies.

Our Purpose

DEPI was founded to:

  • Create neutral, vendor-independent standards for digital estate continuity
  • Define professional certifications for practitioners working with digital assets and post-life data
  • Accredit platforms and systems that meet rigorous governance, security, and ethical criteria
  • Advance research and policy dialogue on emerging digital-legacy challenges
  • Protect individuals and families from fragmentation, lock-in, and loss in the digital age

Our work is grounded in the belief that digital continuity is no longer optional—it is a core component of modern estate planning and digital governance.

Founding Rationale

Why DEPI Was Founded

Digital assets now represent significant personal, emotional, and economic value—yet existing estate planning, custody, and policy frameworks were not designed for:

  • Encrypted systems with no recovery paths
  • Platform-controlled access models
  • Cross-border digital inheritance
  • AI-driven identities and autonomous agents
  • Long-term digital memory and emotional continuity

In the absence of shared standards, outcomes vary widely, exposing families, fiduciaries, and institutions to unnecessary risk.

DEPI was established to serve as a neutral convening authority—bringing together legal, technical, fiduciary, and policy perspectives to define how digital estates should work, not just how they currently do.

Governance

Governance Model

DEPI operates under a multi-layered governance framework designed to ensure independence, transparency, and long-term credibility.

Governance Bodies

  • Board of Directors
    Provides fiduciary oversight and strategic direction.
  • Standards Committee
    Responsible for developing, maintaining, and updating DEPI standards.
  • Certification & Accreditation Committee
    Oversees professional credentials, assessment methodologies, and platform accreditation programs.
  • Policy & Research Council
    Guides public-interest research, policy engagement, and institutional partnerships.

Governance Principles

  • Independence from commercial platform influence
  • Transparency in standards development
  • Global representation and cross-disciplinary input
  • Regular review and public consultation cycles

Organizational Structure

How DEPI Is Structured

DEPI is structured to balance standards authority, professional development, research, and ecosystem engagement.

Core Divisions

  • Standards Division
    Develops and maintains DEPI Standards (e.g., DEPI Standard v1.0).
  • Certification Division
    Manages professional certifications such as CDEP, DAC, and DCP.
  • Accreditation Division
    Evaluates and accredits platforms and systems.
  • Digital Policy Institute (DPI)
    Conducts research, publishes white papers, and supports policy development.
  • Community & Events
    Oversees symposiums, webinars, and professional engagement.

This structure allows DEPI to operate both as a technical authority and a public-interest institution.

Headquarters & Global Scope

Global Mandate

DEPI is incorporated in the United States and operates with a global mandate. It is based in Washington, D.C.

Digital estates do not respect borders. DEPI’s standards and programs are designed to be:

  • Jurisdiction-aware
  • Technology-neutral
  • Interoperable across legal systems
  • Adaptable to regional regulatory requirements

DEPI collaborates with international partners across North America, Europe, and other regions to ensure its work reflects diverse legal, cultural, and technological realities.

Ethics, Independence & Public Interest

Ethical Commitments

DEPI is committed to operating in the public interest, guided by the following principles:

  • Independence
    DEPI does not endorse or promote specific commercial platforms.
  • Neutrality
    Standards and certifications are vendor-agnostic and evidence-based.
  • Transparency
    Governance processes, updates, and methodologies are documented and disclosed.
  • Human-Centered Design
    Digital continuity must respect dignity, privacy, and emotional well-being.
  • Future-Readiness
    DEPI anticipates emerging risks related to AI, automation, and long-term digital memory.

These principles underpin all DEPI standards, certifications, and policy work.