Guides · Inheritance

Bitcoin inheritance kit

Write a letter that tells your family what you hold, where the backups are and who can help. It never contains your recovery words.

The short version

If nobody knows your bitcoin exists, or how to reach it, it is lost when you are.
The letter says where things are, not what the secrets are. Keep it apart from your recovery words.
Store it with your will or a trusted person, and update it when your setup changes.

Never type your recovery words, passphrase, PINs or passwords into this page or any website. This form runs only in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us or saved, and it disappears when you close the tab. Print the letter, then close the page.

About you

Your nameDate

What you hold and where

Wallet, device or account 1Where it is keptWhat is needed to open it (no PINs)

Wallet, device or account 2Where it is keptWhat is needed to open it (no PINs)

Wallet, device or account 3Where it is keptWhat is needed to open it (no PINs)

Wallet, device or account 4Where it is keptWhat is needed to open it (no PINs)

BackupsWhere the recovery-word backup is kept (the place, never the words)Passphrase: is there one, and where is the hint? (never the passphrase itself)Multisig: how many keys, how many are needed and where each one isMultisig: where the wallet setup file (descriptor) is kept

People who can help

Someone you trust who understands bitcoinLawyer or accountant (optional)

A note to your family (optional)

Your letter

It updates as you type. Printing prints only the letter.

Before you file it away

Ask your trusted helper to read it and confirm they could follow it.
Test that your recovery backup actually restores your wallet, using a small amount.
Keep the letter and the recovery words in different places. The letter shows where your backups are. Keep it sealed with your will papers or your lawyer, not somewhere easy to find.
Mention your bitcoin in your will, but keep this letter and any locations out of the will itself. In many places a will becomes public after death. Rules differ by country and state, so a lawyer can tell you what works where you live.

Inheritance, in two minutes · How multisig works · Compare hardware wallets. Not legal or financial advice.