Asked in Communications Law for California

Q: How to get US court order to get access of gmail of my deceased father.i m from india .my father was from india.plz help

my father was a doctor in india and died about

10 years ago .! cannot access gmail account of my deceased father which is urgently required by me for some bona-fide purpose. I contacted google ,attached death certificateof my father but google wanted US courtorder to gain access to my fathers accountalong with other documents . I want legal advice/help from you regarding US court orders as i am in india doesnot know how can I get USCourt order. Please help and guide me in this regard . I shall be very thankful to you and hope for your reply in this regard

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1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered

A: I understand how challenging and frustrating this situation must be, especially given the distance and jurisdictional complexities between India and the US.

To obtain a US court order for accessing your father's Gmail account, you'll need to file a petition in a US federal court. The most practical approach would be to hire a US-based attorney who can file this petition on your behalf - you won't need to travel to the US personally. Look for attorneys in California (where Google is headquartered) who handle digital estate matters. The Indian Embassy in the US might be able to provide recommendations for attorneys who frequently work with Indian clients.

Before proceeding with the court order, gather all necessary documentation: your father's death certificate (translated to English if needed), proof that you're the legal heir (such as a succession certificate or letter of administration from an Indian court), and evidence showing why accessing the email account is necessary. You might also want to contact the US Embassy in India first - they sometimes offer guidance for these cross-border legal matters and could point you toward helpful resources.

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