curiositech/digital-estate-planner

Digital Estate Planner

Organizing digital life so loved ones can access what they need without guessing passwords, hunting accounts, or losing irreplaceable data when you die or become incapacitated.

DECISION POINTS

What is the user's primary need?

├─ COMPLETE ESTATE PLANNING (first-time setup)
│  ├─ Has trusted person identified? 
│  │  ├─ YES → Start with Tier 1 documentation
│  │  └─ NO → Help identify digital executor first
│  └─ Security comfort level?
│     ├─ HIGH → Password manager inheritance + encrypted backup
│     ├─ MEDIUM → Password manager + physical backup location
│     └─ LOW → Written documentation in secure physical location

├─ EMERGENCY ACCESS SETUP (quick minimum viable)
│  ├─ Time available?
│  │  ├─ <1 hour → Focus on email + phone + password manager only
│  │  └─ >1 hour → Add banking + crypto if present
│  └─ Trusted person tech level?
│     ├─ HIGH → Can use password manager emergency access
│     └─ LOW → Need written instructions + stored passwords

├─ CRYPTO/HIGH-VALUE ASSETS
│  ├─ Amount > $10,000?
│  │  ├─ YES → Requires multi-location seed phrase storage
│  │  └─ NO → Can store with other sensitive documents
│  └─ Beneficiary crypto knowledge?
│     ├─ EXPERT → Can handle seed phrases directly
│     └─ NOVICE → Need intermediary crypto advisor contact

├─ SOCIAL MEDIA LEGACY
│  ├─ Platform has legacy features?
│  │  ├─ YES (Facebook, Google) → Use platform tools first
│  │  └─ NO (Twitter, TikTok) → Document deletion preferences
│  └─ Content preservation desired?
│     ├─ YES → Download archives before setting up memorialization
│     └─ NO → Direct deletion instructions

└─ PHOTO/DATA PRESERVATION
   ├─ Data scattered across platforms?
   │  ├─ YES → Consolidation phase first, then preservation
   │  └─ NO → Direct to backup strategy
   └─ Family tech comfort?
      ├─ HIGH → Can handle cloud access transfers
      └─ LOW → Need physical drive + simple instructions

FAILURE MODES

Pattern: Password Manager Lockout

• Detection: If digital executor can't access password manager despite having master password
• Root Cause: 2FA device unavailable, emergency access not configured, backup codes missing
• Fix: Store 2FA backup codes with master password; configure emergency access features; test access annually
• Prevention: Always have 2FA backup plan stored separately from primary device

Pattern: Seed Phrase Disaster

• Detection: If crypto assets become permanently inaccessible despite documentation
• Root Cause: Seed phrase stored digitally and compromised, single point of failure, or stored in vulnerable location
• Fix: Multi-location storage (bank safe + home safe); metal backup for fire protection; never store digitally unencrypted
• Prevention: Treat seed phrases like cash - assume digital storage will be compromised

Pattern: The Digital Hoarding Trap

• Detection: If digital executor gets overwhelmed by too much information and abandons the process
• Root Cause: No prioritization, everything marked as "important", analysis paralysis
• Fix: Strict tier system - Tier 1 (critical access) first, ignore Tier 3+ until Tier 1 complete
• Prevention: Maximum 5 items in Tier 1, force prioritization decisions

Pattern: Ghost Account Syndrome

• Detection: If unexpected bills, renewals, or account activity continues after death
• Root Cause: Accounts not documented, subscriptions forgotten, old email addresses still active
• Fix: Email audit for subscription confirmations; credit card statement review; password manager audit for saved logins
• Prevention: Annual review process with email search for "subscription", "billing", "renewal"

Pattern: Family Fight Trigger

• Detection: If family disputes arise over digital asset access or preservation decisions
• Root Cause: Unclear instructions, multiple people with access, no clear hierarchy of authority
• Fix: Single designated digital executor with backup; written instructions for disputed scenarios; clear asset disposition
• Prevention: Family meeting to discuss plan; written acknowledgment from all parties

WORKED EXAMPLES

Case Study 1: Crypto-Heavy Estate (High Security)

Scenario: Tech entrepreneur with $500K in cryptocurrency, multiple hardware wallets, DeFi positions Challenge: Beneficiary (spouse) has minimal crypto knowledge

Decision Process:

1. Executor Selection: Spouse as primary, crypto-savvy business partner as technical advisor
2. Seed Phrase Storage: Split between bank safe deposit box (12 words) and home fireproof safe (12 words) using Shamir's secret sharing
3. Access Documentation:
   • Step-by-step video walkthrough for spouse
   • Technical advisor contact info with retainer agreement
   • Emergency liquidation instructions if market crashes during probate

Expert vs Novice Approach:

• Novice: Would store everything in password manager or single location
• Expert: Recognizes seed phrases need physical, distributed storage; plans for beneficiary skill gap; includes market timing considerations

Outcome: Spouse successfully accessed 95% of assets within 30 days using advisor guidance

Case Study 2: Luddite Estate (Low Security)

Scenario: Elderly person, no password manager, all passwords written in notebook, basic email and banking only Challenge: Adult child executor lives across country, limited tech skills

Decision Process:

1. Consolidation: Move to password manager with shared family vault
2. Physical Backup: Printed password list in bank safe deposit box
3. Simplification: Close unnecessary accounts, consolidate email to single provider with recovery options

Expert vs Novice Approach:

• Novice: Would try to digitize everything immediately, overwhelming the person
• Expert: Respects current system while adding redundancy; focuses on access over security optimization

Outcome: Executor accessed all accounts within one week, no assets lost

QUALITY GATES

Tier 1 Documentation Complete:

• [ ] Primary email access documented with 2FA backup method
• [ ] Password manager master password stored in secure, accessible location
• [ ] Phone carrier account access documented for SIM/number transfer
• [ ] Primary bank account access documented
• [ ] Digital executor identified and has copy of access information

Security Requirements Met:

• [ ] No passwords stored in plain text digital files
• [ ] 2FA backup codes stored separately from primary devices
• [ ] Cryptocurrency seed phrases stored in minimum two physical locations
• [ ] Password manager emergency access feature configured and tested
• [ ] Digital executor can successfully access test account using provided instructions

Preservation Plan Active:

• [ ] Photo consolidation completed to maximum two cloud services
• [ ] Important document locations documented and accessible
• [ ] Social media memorialization preferences recorded
• [ ] Subscription cancellation list current (reviewed within 6 months)
• [ ] Annual review date scheduled and documented

Communication Complete:

• [ ] Digital executor has written instructions document
• [ ] Family members aware of who digital executor is
• [ ] Physical storage locations (safes, deposit boxes) documented with access info
• [ ] Emergency contact has backup executor identification
• [ ] Legal integration confirmed with estate attorney if applicable

NOT-FOR BOUNDARIES

This skill should NOT be used for:

• Tax planning or legal estate document creation → use estate-attorney-finder
• Grief counseling or emotional death preparation → use grief-companion
• Technical security hardening of active accounts → use security-auditor
• Identity theft recovery or active account breaches → use identity-recovery-specialist
• Business succession planning for company accounts → use business-continuity-planner

Delegate when you encounter:

• Requests for will writing or trust creation
• Complex tax implications of digital asset transfers
• Active security incidents requiring immediate response
• Business partnership disputes over digital assets
• International estate law questions

Stay in scope for:

• Access documentation and inheritance planning
• Digital executor guidance and preparation
• Asset inventory and preservation strategies
• Platform-specific legacy feature configuration
• Family communication about digital estate plans