My friend passed away and he have Bitcoin in his wallet

[kayvie]

So do you guys think it's a good idea to tell his parents about it ? To search of they find some twelve words it's a key to some hisen coins ? Or what do you guys think?

It is a good idea to tell his parents, however, it's much better if you are the one who will assist them on finding the private keys of your friend's wallet. You can do it some other time if you have enough time and can fly to your friend's country, it can wait actually instead of letting them or someone close to their house does it.

[1714637279]

1714637279

[1714637279]

1714637279

[1714637279]

1714637279

[1714637279]

1714637279

[DeathAngel]

First of all I hope this is a genuine & honest OP, secondly if so please accept my condolences for the terrible loss of your friend. Thirdly yes, please try everything you can to get the bitcoin to your friends next of kin. 

[Fredomago]

First of all, can I offer my deepest condolences, mate. Second, if you you are sure of his "big amount" then you likely know the relevant address/es. If so, show that to his parents and tell them all necessary details so that they would be aware all things to factor in here.

By doing this, you'll be able to give them a good knowledge regarding to what your friends investments and to bring the attention of the figured that you are talking with.

Pay their close attention to  fraudsters who can contact them on the matter.

This is very important so much better to give them a call to explained more deeper, it will avoid them from the  hackers and scammers if they already aware of this assets.

[maxreish]

That's a sad news to your friend. You can tell his dad about the bitcoin saved inside his pc or mobile phone. So they can access your friend's wallet. After all, they are the "relatives". I do think they have their close relative to them that might help them find the private keys stored in his mobile phone or pc. You may have a good purpose if you inform them about your friend's left btc. Good karma will come if you help them.

[Kakmakr]

Who says he did not leave instructions for his parents if something happens to him? I made sure that my family knows what to do if something happens to me, so if I suddenly die in a accident... they will know exactly what to do.    (None of them are really into Bitcoin, but the instructions are making it very easy for them)

I think you must give them time to deal with his sudden death, because I think money is the last thing they are worried about. I will phone the dad and just offer to help, when he wants to deal with those bitcoins. 

[imstillthebest]

how do you know that he died , did his parent contacted you ? if they did it , you must be a trusted or a really close friend .  

its okay to ask his parents  then and im sure that they wont be angry with you and you will not use the money anyway for your own good but you will give the money to his parents and his parents can decide if they will give some to you .  anyway sorry for your loss and condolence to the family of your friend .

[DabsPoorVersion]

Yes, this is a good idea and your friend will be happy if you do it,

I'm sure if ever that your friend really has bitcoin in his wallet, it will be a big help for your friend's parents. You can just instruct them on where and how they can possibly find the information about the wallet.

[raidarksword]

First and foremost, condolence and rest in peace to your friend. Yeah, it might be good to tell your friend's family about bitcoin if he had spared some backed up keys or note on his computer and it would be a good thing to do as your friend.  You should go to your friend's house and personally look into his computer to make a confirmation about it and if yes, then you can tell everything about bitcoin and teach them about it if necessary.  If he has younger brother, sister instead it would be perfect teaching them first hand.

[masphie]

I think you should tell his parents about this,
but, not via phone. because I'm sure they will be confused hearing your explanation.
You should talk directly with the parents, or it can be through your close friends who are there

[NeuroticFish]

So I want to tell his parents about it as probably his private keys is saved in his personal PC or email or his phone or some paper
And no I cannot go to meet them as I'm in another country now but I have his father's phone and another friend of mine living close to them

So do you guys think it's a good idea to tell his parents about it ? To search of they find some twelve words it's a key to some hisen coins ? Or what do you guys think?

If your friend was smart his seed was not on the computer (or if it's there is in a password protected archive you'll never break). So get them search for a piece of paper containing
* either one or more lists of "random English words"
* either list of "strange letters/numbers" like KyNyPnXbYu31vwAfngmhYHdAb6jMymCRu6zTsmptZbQB7EtLSBuE (yes, you need to try to give them an example or explain a lot)
That's not so difficult to achieve and if the mother tongue is not English the list of words may somehow be more visible.

Of course, telling them such news needs certain skills, since it's probably very early after their loss and the may not care of anything really. But you have to tell them think about it. They may do.. later on, maybe even after years...
Maybe it's enough to not sell/throw away anything for a while and maybe someday you get to explain more detailed face to face.

[williamshennie9]

Since your friend's parents do not understand the technology, I would simply tell them the importance of it, and that they preserve all of his belongings. They may throw the computer away or loose papers. So I would tell them to protect all the documents until you can search the computer and find the seed phases.

Hope that helps you a bit!

[Ridwan Fauzi]

Why are you so sure that he had a lot of bitcoin?

I don't know that it is a big idea to tell his parent since they will not know bitcoin and how to using it. But maybe if he has an older brother or a little brother that actually have a knowledge how to use a computer/pc then it will have a chance to dig up lots of information about your friend. I know this is a big risk for crypto user, when we die all of our bitcoin and another crypto currency in our wallet will be useless unless we talk to someone that close to us to know our activity to digital currency, like I do now to my wife.

[ChiBitCTy]

Why are you so sure that he had a lot of bitcoin?

I don't know that it is a big idea to tell his parent since they will not know bitcoin and how to using it. But maybe if he has an older brother or a little brother that actually have a knowledge how to use a computer/pc then it will have a chance to dig up lots of information about your friend. I know this is a big risk for crypto user, when we die all of our bitcoin and another crypto currency in our wallet will be useless unless we talk to someone that close to us to know our activity to digital currency, like I do now to my wife.

The amount of bitcoin his friend may have stored is of no importance to any of us.  

You're right it can be a risk if you aren't keeping your finances in order.  I wrote a thread about establishing a financial Will ( collectibles themed- but concept and information to creating one remains the same) - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5134350.msg50703294#msg50703294

[Yamifoud]

Yes, this is a good idea and your friend will be happy if you do it,

It much happier if his parents can open his Bitcoin address/es and get those things inside.

I'm sure if ever that your friend really has bitcoin in his wallet, it will be a big help for your friend's parents. You can just instruct them on where and how they can possibly find the information about the wallet.

That seems to be a big problem unless your friend had left something about the private keys, passwords, and where it saves. Otherwise, they'll get nothing. Not really sure but it probably they don't know anything about Bitcoin and what their son's doing.
 
But anyway, nothing is more important for them but to see their son even though it was dead already.

[concept2]

Sorry to hear the story of your friend. Our life is so short and we dont know when we will suddenly pass away.

About the bitcoin wallet, how do you know that he stores his private key inside his computer? He might use some sorts of online wallet which is faster and better although they might scam you. But its hard to happen. Well, Convincing his parents is the only way to get access to his computer. Oldschool people might obsolete, but I believe they willing to learn something new, especially from their son's friends. However, I suggest you to wait for about 2-3 months and then talk to them

[mace15]

This is very important to inform at least one member of your family to tell about your assets in crypto. Life is uncertain and we do not know what will gonna happen. However, in my opinion, it's good to tell his family about it and at least teach them on how to access the wallet if the private key can find.

[Oceat]

It's a sad tragedy but we'll have to move on in order to survive.

You better have to tell one of the family members of your friend, maybe the father first since he might have some idea about of the Bitcoin wallet or something in the technology. Better to talk them/him in private if you ever have the chance to do it and also we don't know yet if your friend set an alarm or something to automatically send a message to one of his friends or family that has all the information needed for the crypto currency.

[coolcoinz]

yes tell his parents I personally have a box with instructions for my son and wife in case that happens to me

Just make sure a random burglar can't get a hold of it.

On topic, I'd let your friend's parents know, but I wouldn't ask your friend to go and mess with that. You either do it yourself or you don't. Do you want to tell the whole world about your dead friends coins? The moment you tell it to your friend,you create gossip. He'll get drunk and tell it to some of his friends and one day some drug addicts will break into the house looking for your dead friend's coins.
Tell them not to throw away or sell any of his electronics and either find someone trusted to search for their son's coins, or wait for you to come and do it.

[Tahsin Kabir Kollol]

Human life is really very uncertain and people need to be aware of this reality. The sudden death of your friend is really sad. Each of us should inform someone trusted about our cryptocurrency assets so that our assets are not lost due to any kind of accident in the future and these can be used by our family members. If you are familiar with cryptocurrency and you think your friend has enough bitcoin, you must help his parents to recover it.

[ChrisPop]

If you're a good friend you definitely want to tell their parents about it. Maybe help them educated themselves about Bitcoin so they don't ask you to sell the Bitcoin (assuming that they don't have the computer literacy to do it themselves). Teach one old man and he will teach the whole neighbourhood 

Good luck with it, man and I'm sorry to hear about your friend.. May he rest in peace!