1. Make the starting point findable.
A family member may not know that bitcoin is held, how it is held or where to ask for help. Agree who should know about the arrangements and how that person can find the current starting instructions when needed. If you are that family member, ask to understand your intended role.
A folder being somewhere safe is not enough if nobody can locate or lawfully access it. Check that the intended person can identify the current version without relying on your memory, your phone or an unexplained account.
2. Agree what each person needs to know.
The preparation needed depends on the arrangement. A DIY setup may require a capable helper and clear technical instructions. A supported arrangement may provide guided assistance. Do not assume that a willing partner is also willing or able to manage technical recovery.
Discuss what someone is comfortable doing, what they would need help with and whom they would contact. Becoming familiar with the starting point is useful even when there is no need to learn the recovery procedure in advance.
3. Separate useful instructions from secrets.
Starting instructions can describe the arrangement, responsible people, verified contact routes and how to begin the appropriate process. Give them a version or review date. Keep detailed recovery material protected according to your actual security design.
Never enter recovery words, private keys or passwords into this website, its action sheet or an email template. This exercise does not need exact backup locations, account numbers or balances. Do not create a convenient document that accidentally gives one reader everything needed to spend the bitcoin.
4. Discuss legal authority separately.
Being able to use a device or key does not by itself establish the right to act or inherit. A family contact, an authorised representative and a beneficiary can have different roles. The relevant rules and documents depend on the jurisdiction and circumstances.
Ask an appropriate legal professional how your wills, powers of attorney or other arrangements should work with your Bitcoin setup. Ask your provider what evidence and verification its process requires. This guide and action sheet do not appoint anyone or create legal authority.
5. Prepare for more than one situation.
Temporary unavailability: what would your family need if you could not be reached for a while? Incapacity: who could lawfully act if you were unable to make decisions? Death: who would deal with the estate and begin the relevant process? Discuss these separately. Marriage or family status does not automatically settle every access question.
Allow for the time required to establish authority, gather documents and complete checks. Avoid building a household plan around an assumption of immediate access to inherited bitcoin.
6. Ask what happens when a dependency is missing.
Consider a missing device, unavailable helper, inaccessible email account or provider that no longer operates. Ask which alternative route exists, what it depends on and where the requirements are documented. For an exchange account, ask about that provider’s authorised access and estate process. For self-custody, clarify the recovery arrangement you actually use.
You can record an unanswered question without testing recovery now. Technical tests need their own preparation and appropriate expertise. This family conversation does not validate backups or prove that bitcoin can be recovered.
7. Try the starting point and keep it current.
Ask your trusted person to explain where they would begin while you listen. Note missing information and unclear responsibilities. Give each follow-up action an owner and a date. It is useful to discover uncertainty now, without judging the person or awarding a safety score.
Revisit the arrangements after changes to the family, contacts, legal documents, wallet or provider. Agree a next review date even when nothing has changed. Make sure the appropriate people can identify the latest instructions.
8. Decide what support would be useful.
You may be comfortable doing this yourself, want to check the service you already have, or prefer ongoing professional support. Consider your family’s willingness to take responsibility, the time you can give to maintenance and who can help when you are unavailable.
A useful conversation with a provider starts with specific questions: what is included, who helps my family, what remains our responsibility and which professionals do we still need? The resources here can help you prepare those questions, whichever route you choose.
Dealing with a death, lost access or suspected theft now?Use the verified contact route in the existing plan or your provider’s official support channel. Do not use this planning exercise to attempt recovery. For estate or authority questions, involve the appropriate legal professional.
Background and service information
