Inheritance of Digital Assets in China

If it is lawful property, it can form part of the estate — the platform’s death process is the practical gate, not a family password share.

Civil Code property includes lawful virtual property. Heirs may be entitled to Alipay/WeChat balances, compliant exchange accounts, domains and similar, but platforms run their own death KYC and often demand a notarial succession certificate. Crypto on an overseas exchange is a different enforcement story; onshore compliant venues still need heirship papers. Passwords and family ‘we all know the PIN’ are not a legal transfer and can be a crime if you impersonate the deceased. This page is orientation, not a recovery service.

The classification screen

4 questions before you choose the route.

This page identifies the right question and evidence. It does not determine the legal outcome on a reader’s facts.

What exists and is it lawful property?

Balance vs licence vs personal data.

What

Which platform death process?

Written checklist.

Platform

Do you have a succession certificate?

Usual key.

Notary

Is it offshore crypto?

Enforcement, not a PRC button.

Offshore

Working rule: Civil Code property includes lawful virtual property. Heirs may be entitled to Alipay/WeChat balances, compliant exchange accounts, domains and similar, but platforms run their own death KYC and often demand a notarial succession certificate.

What changes the answer

The signal ledger.

These facts move the question beyond a label and into a product, money-flow and control analysis.

Signal

Ask the operating question

Why it changes the route

Family using the phone.

Impersonation risk.

Everything is crypto folklore

Ignoring Alipay balances.

The boring balances are often larger.

Personal chats as estate

Demanding WeChat history as property.

Privacy vs property split.

Prepare before you escalate

Bring a compact evidence docket—not a pitch deck.

Give a compliance team or counsel the operating facts that reveal the perimeter.

01Account listPhones, emails, exchange KYC names.

02Platform rulesDeath/inheritance pages.

03Succession certificateWhen they ask for it.

Common confusions

Questions people ask before they build.

Short answers for orientation. The right result can change with the service model and current rules.

Can I inherit a WeChat account itself?

Balances and some property-like rights are the usual target. The social identity is heavily restricted. Read that platform’s current rules.

What about NFT or game skins?

Only if they are treated as lawful virtual property and the platform will move them. Many will not.

Primary authorities

Reviewed sources support orientation, not a fact-specific assessment.

PRC Civil Code (NPC laws database)

Ministry of Justice / notary

SAFE

National laws database (NPC)