Digital Asset Estate & Recovery
When estates hold
digital assets,
precision is
everything.
Structured advisory for probate and estate professionals navigating the technical complexity of blockchain-based holdings.
Most probate processes aren't built for digital assets.
Digital assets are increasingly present in estates. Yet most probate workflows are not equipped to address the technical complexity of blockchain-based holdings — leaving assets undiscovered, inaccessible, or improperly documented.
- Hardware wallets and seed phrase custody
- Exchange compliance and access barriers
- Unknown or undisclosed wallet holdings
- On-chain transaction tracing requirements
- Locked or partially accessible accounts
- Incomplete digital documentation for court
Structured digital asset estate support
A.W. Block integrates technical blockchain expertise directly into estate proceedings — providing disciplined forensic review, structured reporting, and coordinated recovery strategy alongside estate counsel.
Digital Asset Identification & Wallet Assessment
Systematic review of estate materials to locate hardware wallets, exchange accounts, seed materials, and on-chain holdings.
Digital Forensics & On-Chain Analysis
Technical blockchain analysis to trace transactions, map wallet activity, and assess recovery feasibility within legal parameters.
Recovery Feasibility Analysis
Clear technical assessment of what is recoverable, what is inaccessible, and why — documented for estate counsel and court use.
Exchange & Custodian Coordination
Direct coordination with exchanges and custodial platforms through formal compliance and legal documentation processes.
Court-Ready Reporting
Structured, legally appropriate reports covering transaction histories, wallet assessments, valuations, and recovery status.
Post-Recovery Custody Planning
Guidance on securing recovered assets appropriately and aligning custody with the estate's distribution requirements.
"William was able to successfully trace the missing assets and prepare a detailed but easily comprehensible report showing every step of his investigation — ensuring the recovery of over $100,000 worth of cryptocurrency for the heirs."
This is what the
work actually looks like.
A routine estate liquidation. A safe deposit box. A Trezor no one knew existed. Eleven unauthorized transactions after death. And a blockchain record that left the suspect with nowhere to go.
What started as a straightforward asset liquidation for an estate became a two-year blockchain forensics investigation. The Trezor was found by chance. The transactions it revealed were not.
The suspect arrived voluntarily — claiming nothing to hide. The blockchain disagreed. By the end, 100% of the stolen assets were returned.
Read the full caseEngagement process
Initial Estate Review
Review of the estate file to assess potential digital asset exposure, available documentation, and recovery pathways.
Technical Assessment
Detailed evaluation of wallets, devices, seed materials, exchange accounts, and on-chain activity.
Recovery & Strategy
Development of a structured recovery plan aligned with legal parameters and technical feasibility.
Documentation & Coordination
On-chain tracing, written reporting, and direct coordination with exchanges or custodians as required.
Ongoing Advisory
Continued technical support through estate resolution and post-recovery custody planning.
Risk Assessment & Exposure Review
Long-Term Accumulation Planning
Institutional Education & Advisory
Bitcoin advisory for individuals & institutions
In addition to estate engagements, A.W. Block provides Bitcoin-focused advisory services for individuals and institutions requiring structured digital asset guidance.
- Bitcoin custody strategy & architecture
- Risk assessment and exposure review
- Long-term accumulation planning
- Institutional education and advisory