Research Article

Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law

Volume: 2 Number: 1 April 8, 2026

Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law

Abstract

The concept of "digital inheritance," which has emerged with the acceleration of digitalization, brings with it significant legal debates. This study addresses the definition of digital assets, whether they are included in the decedent's estate, and their inheritability from the perspective of Turkish law and comparative law. Within this scope, the legal status of social media accounts, contracts with service providers, the protection of personal data, and the balance between the deceased's privacy and the rights of heirs are examined. In light of German Federal Court and Turkish judicial decisions, it is argued that digital assets should pass to the heirs under the principle of universal succession. The study draws attention to the problems created by new digital assets proposing a new type of right called the "digital identity right" to encompass their complex nature, and concludes that a legal regulation on the subject is necessary.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Comparative Law

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 8, 2026

Submission Date

October 8, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 12, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 2 Number: 1

APA
Hofstede, S. R. (2026). Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law. Eurasian Journal of Comparative Law, 2(1), 1-38. https://izlik.org/JA25UR87KN
AMA
1.Hofstede SR. Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law. Eurasian Journal of Comparative Law. 2026;2(1):1-38. https://izlik.org/JA25UR87KN
Chicago
Hofstede, Suzan R. 2026. “Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law”. Eurasian Journal of Comparative Law 2 (1): 1-38. https://izlik.org/JA25UR87KN.
EndNote
Hofstede SR (April 1, 2026) Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law. Eurasian Journal of Comparative Law 2 1 1–38.
IEEE
[1]S. R. Hofstede, “Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law”, Eurasian Journal of Comparative Law, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1–38, Apr. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA25UR87KN
ISNAD
Hofstede, Suzan R. “Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law”. Eurasian Journal of Comparative Law 2/1 (April 1, 2026): 1-38. https://izlik.org/JA25UR87KN.
JAMA
1.Hofstede SR. Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law. Eurasian Journal of Comparative Law. 2026;2:1–38.
MLA
Hofstede, Suzan R. “Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law”. Eurasian Journal of Comparative Law, vol. 2, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 1-38, https://izlik.org/JA25UR87KN.
Vancouver
1.Suzan R. Hofstede. Digital Inheritance in Comparative Law. Eurasian Journal of Comparative Law [Internet]. 2026 Apr. 1;2(1):1-38. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA25UR87KN