What Happens to Your MetaMask Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Recovery
Seed phrase ONLY
Chains
Ethereum + L2s
DeFi
Check positions
Step-by-Step Guide
Locate seed phrase from vault documentation
MetaMask is a self-custody browser/mobile wallet. Without the seed phrase, all funds are permanently lost.
Warning: No recovery without seed phrase
Restore wallet and check all networks
Install MetaMask, restore with seed phrase. Check Ethereum mainnet, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, BSC — funds may be on multiple networks.
Check DeFi positions
The wallet may have funds locked in DeFi protocols (Uniswap, Aave, Compound). Use DeBank or Zapper to scan all positions.
Document Now Checklist
- Seed phrase location
- Which networks have assets
- Any DeFi positions
Tax and access note: Crypto receives a step-up in basis at death — get date-of-death valuations BEFORE selling anything. If the family cannot access the assets, professional supervised recovery is available through our partnership with The Crypto Accountant. Learn more →
Save this to your vault
When you document your accounts in Passed Plan, your family gets a personalized action plan — with only the guides that apply to them, in the right order, with your notes attached.
Start your vault — free for 30 daysLast verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with MetaMask. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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