Begin with the role and the first contact

An executor may understand the legal task while needing technical help with wallets. Tell them what records exist, who can help and when to stop before taking an irreversible action. Do not start with instructions to sell or transfer everything. The appropriate action depends on authority, ownership, tax considerations and the actual custody arrangement.

A first message can identify the inventory and adviser without including seeds or private keys. Use a fictional example to check that the recipient understands the sequence. The recipient demo shows an information handoff, not wallet recovery or an asset transfer.

Define only the terms your plan uses

A wallet manages keys and interacts with a blockchain; assets are recorded on the network rather than physically inside the device. A hardware signer is a device used to authorise transactions. A recovery phrase may restore keys, but separate passphrases, imported accounts or configuration can also be needed.

A device PIN is not the recovery phrase. PIN length and failed-attempt behaviour depend on the model. A public address may reveal financial activity, so it still deserves privacy consideration. A private key authorises actions and must be protected. Explain authentication and transaction fees according to the actual provider and network rather than applying one rule to every wallet.

Write instructions that do not invite dangerous guessing

Record the exact wallet model, official documentation route and backup location. Explain which information stays on the device and which may be entered into an application. Never tell someone to type a hardware-wallet seed into a website or casually install software from a message.

Have a qualified person review the procedure. Use a separate empty wallet to practise unfamiliar steps, and follow the manufacturer’s supported verification method for live backups. Do not reset the only working device before recovery material has been verified. Add a clear stop point for a mismatched screen, unexpected fee or unexplained address.

Keep recovery information deliberately scoped

ZeroLatch can deliver a scoped inventory and instructions after a missed check-in and safety period. It does not transfer assets, establish legal authority or confirm death. Simple permits authorised service-managed key recovery; Private requires a separate password or ZeroLatch recovery phrase. Neither option replaces an independent backup or a real recipient rehearsal. Start with harmless information and read the security model and backup checklist.

Do not promise that the executor will receive everything needed in one email. The intended design may require a separate custodian or signing factor. Record who holds each part, how authority is checked and when the arrangement was last tested. Update the instructions after device, wallet or recipient changes.