Crypto planning is a visibility problem and a control problem
Families often know there is crypto somewhere, but they do not know:
- which wallet or exchange matters
- whether access depends on a phone or hardware device
- where recovery phrases are stored
- whether the goal is liquidation, transfer, or simple inventory
That is why crypto should be documented as part of a broader digital estate plan.
Start with the map before the secret
Do not begin by spraying recovery phrases into random notes.
Start by documenting:
- what wallets or exchanges exist
- what each one is for
- what devices or hardware wallets matter
- who should handle the category
- where supporting legal or tax records live
This creates a plan someone can actually follow under pressure.
Separate recovery material from the instructions about it
In many cases, the most useful planning move is to keep:
- an inventory of the assets and wallet types
- instructions about who should act and in what order
- the recovery material under stricter protection
That is the same logic behind collection-based delayed access. If you want the product-level model, read how release rules work.
Document the surrounding dependencies
Crypto access can depend on more than the wallet itself:
- phone passcodes
- password manager entries
- exchange logins
- backup codes
- physical hardware wallet locations
- instructions for tax records or legal context
This overlaps directly with a guide to passwords after death, because families often need the surrounding systems before they can act safely.
Tell your family what the goal is
A crypto wallet note should answer:
- should the assets be held, transferred, or liquidated
- who should coordinate with legal or tax advisers
- which records prove ownership or transaction history
- what absolutely should not be done in a panic
The account is only one part of the estate task.
A simple planning standard
If your family would know that crypto exists but still not know where to start, the instructions are incomplete.
