Put the evidence in order first.
Secure documents with date, origin and context. Only then can it be assessed whether the suspicion is legally sustainable.
Digital legacy
Hidden crypto wallet in the estate: seed phrase and compulsory portion
Suspected crypto assets in the estate require evidence, valuation and preservation. Technical recovery promises do not replace legal assessment.
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Mag. Bernhard Brandauer
Attorney · BRANDAUER Rechtsanwälte, Salzburg
Inheritance matters are handled by Mag. Bernhard Brandauer together with a coordinated team. We examine the will, compulsory portion, gifts and deadlines and tell you clearly where you stand.
1 July 2026 · Mag. Bernhard Brandauer, Rechtsanwalt
Suspected crypto assets in the estate require evidence, valuation and preservation. Technical recovery promises do not replace legal assessment.
The article is not another general crypto estate guide. It deals with the dispute: a wallet or exchange account is suspected or concealed.
Why crypto assets are hard to grasp
Why crypto assets are hard to grasp
Crypto assets may appear through exchange accounts, hardware wallets, seed phrases or apps. Access does not always show who owns the value economically.
In an inheritance dispute, existence, access, ownership and value must be examined separately. Technical indications are important, but do not replace legal allocation.
Which evidence can point to a wallet
Which evidence can point to a wallet
Indications can include bank statements, emails from exchanges, tax records, recovery notes, devices or app traces. Conversations about investments can also become relevant.
At the same time data protection, access rights and security risks must be observed. Uncoordinated attempts can endanger values or alter evidence.
How compulsory portion and valuation meet
How compulsory portion and valuation meet
For persons entitled to a compulsory portion it is not enough to know whether crypto exists. The relevant value and date must also be documented.
The issue belongs to the digital legacy and may also affect the compulsory portion.
What is not a serious solution
What is not a serious solution
Technical recovery promises without a file basis and without clear authority are not serious. First clarify who may act and which preservation is legally permissible.
Exchange enquiries, device documentation and valuation can then be prepared in an orderly way.
For crypto assets, clarify authority and evidence first. Technical steps without a legal basis can endanger assets and evidence.
Frequent questions
Hidden crypto wallet in the estate: seed phrase and compulsory portion
Must a suspected wallet be disclosed in the estate? +
If it concerns estate value, the trail must be examined legally and factually. Suspicion alone is not enough.
May I simply try a seed phrase? +
That is not advisable. Access rights, evidence preservation and security risks must be clarified first.
How is crypto valued for the compulsory portion? +
Existence, entitled person, valuation date and proof of values must be examined. Price fluctuations should be documented.
Topics
Crypto walletDigital estateCompulsory portionEvidence
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