Senior Couple on Computer

Apple executives refused to give Canadian widow Peggy Bush her husband’s password but following considerable publicity they went in a different direction.

Canadian widow Peggy Bush received a lot of attention from the media when she ran into problems with Apple after her husband passed away and she inherited the iPad the two of them shared. She liked to play a card game on it. When that game suddenly stopped working, her children suggested that she delete it and try to reinstall it.

Unfortunately, to reinstall the game she was asked to supply her late husband’s Apple password, which she did not know.

When her daughter called Apple, she was told that the family would need to provide a death certificate and a copy of the will. They did that, but Apple still refused to tell them the password.

After two months of getting the run around, Peggy Bush was told that Apple would only give her the password if she got a court order.

There is, however, good news as reported by Fox News in an article entitled “Widow wins battle with Apple over deceased husband’s password.”

After being contacted by the media, Apple changed its mind and is working with the family.

Peggy Bush’s story has a happy ending, but Apple still has not changed its policy.

Other people who do not have support from the media, might not be so lucky in getting Apple to work with them and provide the passwords of deceased loved ones.

In this digital world it is important that the executor of your estate be given access to your passwords.

Reference: Fox News (Jan. 20, 2016) “Widow wins battle with Apple over deceased husband’s password.”

For more information on asset preservation and estate planning, please visit my estate planning website.

Mr. Amoruso concentrates his practice on Elder Law, Comprehensive Estate Planning, Asset Preservation, Estate Administration and Guardianship.