For Estate Counsel, Trustees & Fiduciaries

Does your estate
have digital assets?

We investigate, locate, and recover digital assets for estates, trusts, and receiverships. Flat-fee engagements. No findings, no success fee.

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~$400B
Estimated lost
Bitcoin worldwide
1 in 5
American adults
own cryptocurrency
$180B
Estimated crypto assets
at risk in estates
Why Fiduciaries Call Us

Three situations that warrant a call.

Some fiduciaries call because they’ve found something they can’t open — an encrypted wallet, a hardware device, a laptop with confirmed holdings and no accessible credentials. The asset is confirmed. It just needs to be unlocked.

Others call because the circumstances strongly suggest digital assets exist but haven’t been located yet: an individual with a technical background, unexplained exchange transactions in the financial records, old hardware in the estate. The indicators are strong enough to warrant investigation before closing.

Others call to satisfy due diligence — to document that a reasonable search was conducted and nothing was missed. Every engagement delivers a written findings report documenting what was found or confirmed not to exist, and what methodology was used.

Every engagement also surfaces indicators of traditional hidden assets: undisclosed accounts, forgotten retirement funds, and safe deposit box records that may not appear in the obvious estate inventory.

17%
of crypto holders have documented inheritance instructions for their digital assets
40%
of American adults own cryptocurrency — meaning most matters now carry potential digital asset exposure
15+
years of financial investigation and asset recovery experience underlying every engagement
What We Do

Our Services

Every engagement draws on 15+ years of financial investigation experience and a TRM-DFC credential in digital asset forensics.

Does this matter have digital assets?
Digital Asset Investigation
We examine estate devices and review the individual's digital footprint — exchange registrations, browser history, financial records, and online activity — to determine whether digital assets exist and where they are held. Whether you have no confirmation or strong reason to believe assets exist but haven't been located, the investigation approach is the same. We also surface indicators of traditional hidden assets: undisclosed accounts, forgotten retirement funds, and safe deposit box records.
The asset is located — how do we access it?
Known Asset Access
The wallet or device has been identified. The only problem is access — a forgotten password or encrypted device. We work directly from the known asset using targeted password recovery built from information gathered during the intake process. No discovery investigation required. Scope and timeline are confirmed before work begins. A written findings report is delivered on engagement close.
How It Works

A straightforward engagement. No complexity for your client.

Engagements are designed to be straightforward for all parties. The fiduciary manages the client relationship; we handle the technical work and deliver a written report.

01
Free Consultation
A 15-minute call to understand the matter. For Known Asset Access engagements, we confirm scope and move directly to engagement. For investigation engagements, we'll assess whether the matter warrants the work based on the individual's background, occupation, and what hardware is in the estate — if it doesn't, we'll say so.
02
Engagement & Device Submission
We provide a standard engagement letter outlining scope, fees, and process. Devices or files are submitted one of three ways depending on what you have access to:

Path A — File transfer. If you have a wallet file, seed phrase document, or other relevant files, send them securely by email. Fastest path to recovery.

Path B — Drive shipment. If the hard drive can be removed from the device, ship the drive only. We confirm receipt and condition on arrival.

Path C — Device shipment. If neither of the above is possible, ship the entire device. We handle extraction, imaging, and return the device per your instructions.
03
Investigation or Recovery Work
We conduct the agreed work and keep the fiduciary informed of progress. Investigation engagements combine device examination with a targeted review of the individual's digital footprint. Known asset access engagements work directly on the identified asset using targeted recovery methods. All device work uses hardware write blockers from the moment devices are received.
04
Findings Report
Every engagement concludes with a written findings report delivered to the attorney of record. The report includes:
  • –Complete device inventory with serial numbers and condition at intake
  • –Forensic methodology — tools used, process followed, hash verification
  • –Findings summary — assets discovered, or documented confirmation that none were found
05
Recovery & Transfer
If assets are located, we recover and transfer them directly to the fiduciary-designated account. Recovery work requires temporary technical access to the private keys necessary to complete the transfer. Where a success fee applies, it is deducted from recovered assets prior to transfer — all remaining assets are transferred immediately and in full. Private keys and wallet credentials are never handled on an internet-connected machine. Devices are returned to the fiduciary. Forensic images and working copies are securely destroyed on engagement close.
Fee Structure

Flat fees for investigation. Success fees on recovery.

Digital Asset Investigation Device forensic analysis · digital footprint review · hidden asset indicators · written report
1 device
$1,500
2–4 devices
$2,200
5+ devices $300 per additional device beyond 5
$3,000+
Known Asset Access Targeted password recovery · no discovery investigation required
Engagement fee Due at signing · credited against success fee if assets are recovered
$500
All Engagements
Recovery success fee Applies when self-custodied assets are recovered · 15% to $100K · 10% on $100K–$500K · 5% above $500K · minimum $1,500
5–15%
Initial Consultation Case assessment · service recommendation · no obligation
No charge
How fees work for the estate
Investigation fees qualify as ordinary administration expenses, recoverable from estate assets where liquid funds are available. Recovery success fees are deducted from recovered assets before transfer — making recovery effectively self-funding. The $500 Known Asset Access engagement fee is credited against the success fee on recovery.
When nothing is found or recovered
Every engagement delivers a written findings report whether or not digital assets are found. If no assets are located, the report documents that a reasonable search was conducted. No success fee is charged if assets cannot be recovered. For Known Asset Access engagements, the $500 engagement fee is retained if access is not achieved.
Engagement Guide

Signs that digital assets may exist.

These indicators apply to estates, trusts, receiverships, and conservatorships — any matter where digital assets may exist or may be inaccessible. If two or more apply, contact us before closing the matter. If you already know digital assets exist but cannot be accessed, contact us directly.

Financial records show unexplained transactions to cryptocurrency exchanges or payment platforms
Known assets appear inconsistent with the individual's income or lifestyle — possible undisclosed holdings
The individual worked in technology, engineering, finance, or a related technical field
The individual ever mentioned Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, or "digital money"
Old computing devices are present — laptops, desktops, or external drives from the 2008–2016 era
USB drives, hardware wallets, or unusual storage devices are present
The individual is under 60, or has a visible online presence
The individual was active in online communities, forums, or technical hobbyist groups
The individual held domain names, online businesses, monetized accounts, or other digital property
Get In Touch

Request a consultation.

Consultations are free, confidential, and take approximately 15 minutes. We’ll review the matter, recommend the appropriate service, and explain exactly what the engagement would involve.

We serve fiduciaries nationwide. Devices are shipped to us for forensic analysis; recovered assets are transferred directly to the designated account, regardless of location. Local engagements in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region can be handled in person.

Engagements are initiated through the attorney of record, executor, trustee, court-appointed receiver, or conservator. We do not engage directly with estate beneficiaries or family members.

Trust Forensics does not provide general data recovery, IT support, or consumer device services. Our practice is limited to civil legal and financial asset investigations for attorneys, fiduciaries, and court-appointed professionals. We do not accept criminal defense referrals, law enforcement work, or government contract engagements.

Sample findings reports are available on request.

Phone
(513) 204-9844
Address
2345 Ashland Avenue, Suite 241
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
Email
[email protected]

Consultations are confidential and carry no obligation. We typically respond to email inquiries within one business day.