What should someone do with a deceased relative's hardware crypto wallet if they don't know the seed phrase?

Legally, a hardware wallet and whatever cryptocurrency it holds are estate property like anything else, but that legal status does not solve the practical problem: a hardware wallet is a physical device that only releases its contents to someone who has the seed phrase or PIN, and there is no Ontario law or court order that can force the device itself to unlock. This is a case where the technology, not the law, sets the limit.

The first step is a careful, unhurried search rather than experimentation with the device itself: repeatedly guessing a PIN can permanently wipe some hardware wallets after a set number of failed attempts. Look for written backups, safety deposit boxes, password managers, or notes among the deceased's papers, and consider whether the deceased used a professional estate planner or crypto-specialist who might have relevant records. If no seed phrase or backup can be found, the funds may be permanently inaccessible, though they should still be identified and disclosed as part of the estate's assets to the extent their existence and last-known value can be documented. Involving the estate trustee early, and getting advice about how to handle an asset that may never be recoverable, helps avoid mistakes that make the situation worse.