Wallet instructions are the operational layer of crypto inheritance
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.
If you want the broader inheritance strategy first, read How to leave crypto to your family.
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.
Document wallet dependencies, not just the wallet name
For each important wallet or exchange, note:
- whether access depends on a hardware wallet
- whether access depends on a phone already signed in
- which email or password manager entry supports it
- whether tax or legal records need to be reviewed first
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 executor or 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 documentation standard
If your family would know that crypto exists but still not know where to start, the instructions are incomplete.