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HRS §556A-7

Getting a deceased person's emails and messages

When someone dies, their email or message company can give the person in charge of their estate access to their messages, but only if the dead person agreed or a court ordered it. The estate representative must provide certain documents to the company first.

courtspersonal representatives

The statute, as written — Disclosure of content of electronic communications of deceased user

If a deceased user consented or a court directs disclosure of the contents of electronic communications of the user, the custodian shall disclose to the personal representative of the estate of the user the content of an electronic communication sent or received by the user if the personal representative gives the custodian: (1) A written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form; (2) A certified copy of the death certificate of the user; (3) A certified copy of the letter of appointment of the personal representative or a small estate affidavit or court order; (4) Unless the user provided direction using an online tool, a copy of the user's will, trust, power of attorney, or other record evidencing the user's consent to disclosure of the content of electronic communications; and (5) If requested by the custodian: (A) A number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the user's account; (B) Evidence linking the account to the user; or (C) A finding by the court that: (i) The user had a specific account with the custodian, identifiable by the information specified in subparagraph (A); (ii) Disclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user would not violate title 18 U.S.C. section 2701 et seq., title 47 U.S.C. section 222, or other applicable law; (iii) Unless the user provided direction using an online tool, the user consented to disclosure of the content of electronic communications; or (iv) Disclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user is reasonably necessary for administration of the estate.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.