Digital Estate Continuity Standard™ v1.0
The Digital Estate Continuity Standard™ is a global framework published by the Digital Estate Planning Institute (DEPI) to support the secure, lawful, and ethical continuity of digital identity and digital assets across life, incapacity, and death.
It is technology-neutral, jurisdiction-aware, and designed for use by individuals, professionals, platforms, institutions, and regulators worldwide.
About the Standard
Modern estates now include digital identities, online financial systems, cloud-based records, AI-generated content, and cryptographic assets that frequently fail during incapacity or death. Existing legal and technical solutions remain fragmented and inconsistent across platforms and jurisdictions.
The Digital Estate Continuity Standard™ defines a unified approach to preserving identity, authority, and governance across all continuity events, including emergency access, incapacity, succession, and post-mortem administration.
The Standard is voluntary and does not replace governing law.
Choose Your Level
Executive Summary
For executives, regulators, institutions, and policymakers.
A strategic, non-technical overview explaining why digital estate continuity matters, the global risks involved, and how the DEPI Standard addresses them.
Core Summary
For professionals, platforms, and implementers.
A structured overview of all major components of the Standard, designed to provide conceptual clarity and adoption readiness without replacing the full normative document.
Full Standard (Normative)
For accreditation, certification, and implementation.
The complete and authoritative Digital Estate Continuity Standard™ v1.0, defining all mandatory requirements, controls, workflows, and governance rules.
DEPI Standards Framework
The DEPI Standards Framework defines globally applicable principles, requirements, and best practices for digital estate continuity, digital asset governance, and post-life data stewardship.
DEPI standards are designed to be:
- Vendor-independent
- Jurisdiction-aware
- Technology-neutral
- Future-ready
They provide a shared foundation for professionals, platforms, policymakers, and institutions navigating the rapidly evolving digital estate landscape.
Scope of the Standard
DEPI Standard v1.0 applies to:
- Individuals and families
- Estate planners and fiduciaries
- Digital asset custodians
- Software platforms and infrastructure providers
- Trust companies and financial institutions
- Researchers and policymakers
It does not replace local law, but provides a harmonized framework that can be adapted to jurisdiction-specific requirements.
Foundational Principles
DEPI standards are built on the following principles:
1. Continuity by Design
Digital estates must be designed with continuity in mind from inception—not retrofitted after loss or incapacity.
2. Human Agency & Intent
The wishes, consent, and intent of individuals must remain central, even after death or incapacity.
3. Security Without Fragility
Strong encryption must coexist with lawful, ethical recovery and access mechanisms.
4. Vendor Neutrality
No single platform, provider, or technology should control digital legacy outcomes.
5. Jurisdictional Awareness
Standards must respect legal diversity while enabling cross-border interoperability.
6. Ethical Stewardship Digital remains, memories, and identities must be handled with dignity and care.
Domains & Framework
Core Domains of DEPI Standard v1.0
DEPI Standard v1.0 is organized into six core domains:
1. Digital Asset Identification & Classification
- Asset taxonomy
- Ownership vs access rights
- Custodial vs non-custodial assets
2. Access Control & Authorization
- Role-based access
- Emergency and post-life access
- Multi-party authorization models
3. Security & Cryptographic Governance
- Encryption standards
- Key management
- Recovery and escrow models
4. Continuity & Transfer Mechanisms
- Trigger events (death, incapacity)
- Transfer workflows
- Documentation and auditability
5. Governance, Compliance & Auditability
- Logging and traceability
- Regulatory alignment
- Oversight mechanisms
6. Ethics, Dignity & Digital Remains
- Post-life data handling
- AI-generated content
- Digital memory preservation
Each domain includes requirements, recommended practices, and implementation guidance.
Standards Governance & Updates
Standards Lifecycle
DEPI standards follow a formal lifecycle to ensure rigor and relevance:
- Drafting & Research
- Committee Review
- Public Consultation
- Revision & Approval
- Publication
- Ongoing Monitoring
- Versioned Updates
Versioning Policy
- Major releases: Structural or scope changes
- Minor updates: Clarifications or extensions
- Advisory notes: Interpretive guidance
All versions are archived and publicly documented.
Participation & Contribution
Participate in Standards Development
DEPI welcomes structured participation from qualified stakeholders, including:
- Fiduciaries and estate professionals
- Legal scholars and practitioners
- Technologists and security experts
- Platform operators
- Policy researchers
Ways to Participate
- Public consultation submissions
- Working groups
- Advisory panels
- Research contributions
Participation does not imply endorsement and is governed by DEPI’s conflict-of-interest policies.
DEPI — Digital Estate Planning Institute 