Your family can't inherit what they can't find. Documenting crypto for family members means leaving a clear, offline record that tells the right people what you own, where it lives, and how to reach it — without handing a thief the keys. The hard part isn't the list itself. It's deciding what goes on paper and what stays in your head.
Start with the map, not the keys
Think of your documentation as two layers. Layer one is a map: which exchanges, which wallets, which accounts exist. Layer two is the keys: the actual recovery phrases and passwords that open them. Most families only need the map until something happens. The keys come later, and only to someone you trust.
A useful map answers a few blunt questions. Where do you hold assets? A Trezor hardware wallet on your desk counts as one location. So does a Coinbase account, a self-custody wallet app, or a staking platform. Write each one down by name, then note what kind of thing it is:
- Hardware wallets, such as a Trezor device kept in a home safe
- Exchange accounts with login credentials
- Software or mobile wallets
- Anywhere you've staked, lent, or parked coins
Don't list balances. Prices move, and a stale number confuses people more than it helps. What matters is location and access.
What actually goes in the document
Identity and location details
A short paragraph describing each holding is enough. "Trezor Model T, kept in the fireproof box in the upstairs closet, PIN known only to me" tells your family more than a spreadsheet of coin names. Note the device model, where it physically sits, and whether a PIN or passphrase protects it.
The recovery phrase question
Here's the part people get wrong. Your Trezor recovery phrase — usually 12 or 24 words — restores the wallet on any compatible device. Writing it in the same folder as your will is a mistake. Anyone who finds that folder can drain everything in minutes. If you must record it, split it, store it somewhere only your executor can reach, or use a sealed letter with clear instructions.
Access instructions without secrets
Tell your family what steps to take, not the passwords themselves. "Call this exchange's support line, provide the death certificate, ask about account recovery" is genuinely useful. So is naming a crypto-literate friend or attorney who can walk them through it.
A mini-scenario worth learning from
Say you hold 0.4 BTC on a Trezor and a smaller amount on an exchange. You write everything down in a notebook, including the 24-word phrase, and leave it in your desk drawer. A relative housesitting for a week finds it. That's the whole story — no hacking required, just a drawer.
Now flip it. Same holdings, but the notebook lists the Trezor's location, the exchange name, and a phone number for your attorney. The recovery phrase sits in a bank safe deposit box under your executor's name. Your family can act, and a casual snoop can't.
Storage and handoff
Where to keep the document
Paper beats cloud storage here. A file in Google Drive is one password reset away from exposure. A physical document in a safe, a locked filing cabinet, or with your attorney is harder to stumble onto. If you want redundancy, keep two copies in two secure places — never two copies in the same room.
Telling the right person
Documentation nobody knows about is just clutter. Tell one trusted person that the document exists and roughly where it is. You don't have to hand over the keys today. You do have to make sure someone knows there's a map.
Keeping it current
Review it once a year, or whenever you open a new account or move coins. An out-of-date map sends your family chasing accounts you closed two years ago. Set a calendar reminder. That's the whole system.
| Include | Leave out |
|---|---|
| Wallet models and physical locations | Recovery phrases in the same file |
| Exchange names and support contacts | Current balances or prices |
| Attorney or advisor contact | Passwords written in plain sight |
Frequently asked questions
Should I put my recovery phrase in my will?
No. A will becomes a public document in many jurisdictions once it's filed, and anyone reading it could access your funds. Keep the phrase separate and give instructions for reaching it to your executor through a sealed letter or a safe deposit box. The will can point to where the phrase is held without revealing the words themselves.
What if my family knows nothing about crypto?
Assume zero prior knowledge and write accordingly. Explain that a hardware wallet is a small device, not an app, and that a recovery phrase restores access even if the device is lost. Naming a knowledgeable contact — an attorney, a friend, a financial advisor — gives them someone to call when the terminology gets confusing.
How often should I update the document?
Once a year is a reasonable baseline, plus any time you open a new account, close one, or move a significant amount. A quick annual pass takes ten minutes and prevents your family from chasing accounts that no longer exist. Put it on the same calendar as your other financial checkups.
Pick one afternoon this week, open a blank page, and write down every place you hold crypto — names and locations only, no secrets. That single page is the difference between an inheritance and a mystery.