Privacy Law Library

Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act

RI RUFADAA

Communications · Other

Governs when online service providers must give executors, agents, trustees and guardians access to a person's digital accounts. The content of electronic communications is disclosed only if the user consented (through an online tool or an estate document) or a court orders it, and a user's choice in a provider's online tool overrides conflicting wills and ordinary terms of service.

Where
Rhode Island
Citation
R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 33-27.1-1 to 33-27.1-19
Status
In force
Enforced by
Courts (orders directing custodian compliance)
People can sue
Limited
Penalties
No penalties; a fiduciary or designated recipient may seek a court order compelling a custodian that fails to comply within 60 days (§ 33-27.1-16).
Applies to
  • Custodians that carry, maintain or store a user's digital assets and electronic communications (e.g., email, social media and cloud providers)
  • Fiduciaries: personal representatives, agents under powers of attorney, trustees, guardians and conservators
  • Users who give directions through online tools or estate documents

Rights it gives people

  • Users may direct custodians, through an online tool or in a will, trust, power of attorney or other record, to disclose or withhold some or all digital assets, including communication content; these directions override contrary terms-of-service provisions that do not require separate affirmative assent.R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-27.1-4

Practices it requires

  • Custodians disclose the content of a deceased user's electronic communications to the personal representative only if the user consented or a court directs, upon a written request, death certificate, proof of appointment, evidence of consent, account identifier and, where required, a court finding.R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-27.1-7
  • Comply with a proper request within 60 days, notify the user or account of the request where practicable, and any compelling court order must find that compliance does not violate the federal Stored Communications Act (18 U.S.C. § 2702).R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-27.1-16(a)-(c)

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.

Unverified: Effective date of P.L. 2019, chs. 200 and 262 not confirmed.

Research reference, not legal advice.