Digital inheritance in Mexico (and beyond)
If you live in Mexico — or your family is there — what happens to your email, social media, photos, and crypto when you're gone? Short answer: it can be lost or locked unless you prepare it.
What the law says (and why it varies by state)
Mexico is a civil-law country: each state has its own Civil Code, and the legal instrument is a will made before a notario. Mexico City led the way — on August 4, 2021 it amended its Civil Code and added Article 1392 bis, which defines the digital legacy (legado digital). In your will you can name a digital executor (albacea digital) to manage your accounts, keep or close profiles, and safeguard your files.
Your digital estate can be inherited
Email, social media, cryptocurrency, and digital files are recognized as inheritable property. Mexico's Supreme Court has even held that your right to data protection survives after death.
How to get it ready in Mexico
- Make a will before a notario and include your digital legacy and, if you wish, a digital executor.
- Set the platforms' own tools (Google, Apple, Facebook) that let you name someone in advance.
- Leave an organized inventory of your accounts, where the access is, and where your will is — so your family never has to guess.
What about other countries?
If your family is cross-border, it's worth knowing: in the United States the law is RUFADAA (see our digital accounts & RUFADAA guide). The EU applies GDPR; German courts have recognized that heirs can inherit digital accounts, and France lets you leave instructions about your data. Every country is different — if you have assets or family in several, factor it into your plan.
Where FamiliaLista fits
FamiliaLista does not replace your will or the notario — those remain the legal instrument. FamiliaLista is the operational layer: it organizes what accounts exist, where the access is, your wishes, and where your will is — in Spanish and English — and delivers it to the people you choose if you're ever gone. A will decides who inherits; FamiliaLista solves what to do tomorrow.
Your life's operations manual, ready in an afternoon
FamiliaLista stores your instructions, messages, and access — and delivers them to your people only if you're ever gone or unreachable. Via WhatsApp and email, in English and Spanish.
Start free →Familia plan from $79/year · Your family, ready. No matter what.
Frequently asked questions
Does FamiliaLista replace a will?
No. The will before a notario is the legal document. FamiliaLista organizes and delivers the information that makes it usable — and tells your family where it is.
Does the digital-legacy law apply everywhere in Mexico?
It started in Mexico City in 2021 and other states have been catching up, but it varies. Check with a notario or attorney in your state.
What goes in my digital legacy?
Email, social media, photos and videos, cryptocurrency, and important files — and above all, where to find the access.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's general information that changes by state and over time. For your situation, consult a notario or attorney.
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