Cryptocurrency and digital assets present unique challenges in estate and trust disputes.

Issues often arise where crypto assets are missing, inaccessible, or subject to competing claims.

Our specialist team advises on recovering cryptocurrency and digital assets in inheritance, trust and fraud-related disputes.

Common cryptocurrency issues

We advise on:

tracing and recovering crypto assets
accessing wallets and private keys
disputes over ownership
crypto held in exchanges or offshore structures
fraud and misappropriation

Cryptocurrency in estates and trusts

Digital assets may form part of an estate even if they are not mentioned in a will. Early action is essential to prevent loss or dissipation.

Internal link: What happens to cryptocurrency when someone dies?

What happens to cryptocurrency when someone dies?

Cryptocurrency forms part of a person’s estate, but accessing it can be challenging if passwords or private keys are unavailable.

Key issues for executors

Executors may face difficulties where:

crypto assets are not disclosed
wallets are inaccessible
exchanges are overseas
ownership is disputed

Early specialist advice can prevent permanent loss.

How we help

We work with forensic experts and international advisers where necessary to trace and recover crypto assets.

Key contact

Roman Kubiak TEP

Partner

Roman Kubiak is a Partner and Head of the market leading Private Wealth Disputes team.

He advises across the whole spectrum of private wealth disputes, with a particular focus on high value, complex and cross-border disputes including: trust disputes, breach of trust claims and applications to remove trustees; will disputes, particularly those with an international element; claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975; and claims for equitable relief under proprietary estoppel, constructive trusts and resulting trusts.

Roman Kubiak is described by a client as “tremendously capable, he knows what he is doing. He’s a national figure.” Another source adds: “Roman is exceptionally knowledgeable, he is very pragmatic and very solution-oriented.”

Chambers & Partners

A natural and dynamic leader’, the ‘very impressive’ Roman Kubiak heads the firm’s Private Wealth Disputes team and is noted for his ‘deep knowledge of estates and trusts law’.

The Legal 500

Recent experience

Advising an individual who had been the victim of a scam totalling £350,000 regarding steps to protect and recover their assets.
Advising the victim of a “pig-butchering” scam,
Assisted estate representatives in tracing and recovering cryptocurrency assets following the death of a digital asset holder, working with forensic experts.
Advised beneficiaries where ownership of digital assets held across exchanges and wallets was disputed, achieving negotiated asset transfer.

Next steps

We’re here to get things moving. Drop a message to one of our experts and we’ll get straight back to you.

Call us: 033 3016 2222

Message us

Cryptocurrency recovery