5 min read · Updated October 3, 2026
A Bitcoin Holder and a Nontechnical Spouse: A Fictional Handoff
Alex holds bitcoin in a hardware wallet with an additional passphrase. Sam, Alex's spouse, does not use Bitcoin. These people and all arrangements below are fictional; the example is a discussion aid, not a safe custody design to copy.
Start with two different jobs
Sam needs to discover the plan without accidentally exposing funds. The designated executor needs valid authority under local law. Neither a letter nor access to a device establishes legal entitlement. Alex discusses beneficiary intent and executor arrangements with a qualified local professional.
Filled example: letter of instruction
Purpose: tell Sam how to begin, not how to sign a transaction. Coordinator: the person named in our separate estate records; use the contact details already held by the family. First action: preserve originals and contact that coordinator. Offline starting point: the family document index, stored separately from recovery materials. No secrets, wallet addresses, balances or exact storage locations appear in this public sample.
Filled example: asset inventory
Custody category: self-custody, single signature, additional passphrase. Recovery dependencies: recovery backup AND the documented passphrase arrangement; a PIN is device-specific. Operational references: compatible manufacturer guidance and a separately stored offline recovery map. Records: acquisition and tax records are maintained separately with the estate documentation. Status: legal arrangements still require local confirmation.
Filled example: checklist and annual review
Checklist: Sam can find the starting document; coordinator accepts the role; a backup coordinator still needs to be selected. Sam knows not to photograph recovery materials or respond to unsolicited help. Annual review: choose a date, verify all people and offline instructions, and review after a device, custody, provider or family change. A reminder does not perform wallet maintenance.
A rehearsal without live secrets
Alex and Sam rehearse only finding a fictional document index, contacting a pre-agreed person and refusing a fake support request. They do not open real backups or attempt transactions. A qualified helper must separately validate an actual recovery process in a no-value test environment. Remaining gaps are recorded, not hidden behind a score.
Sources used for this guide
Original publishers do not endorse BTCHEIR. Check current product documentation and obtain local professional advice where needed.
- Bitcoin Design Guide: Inheritance walletBitcoin Design community contributors · Bitcoin Design ↗
- BIP 39: Mnemonic Code for Generating Deterministic KeysMarek Palatinus, Pavol Rusnak, Aaron Voisine, Sean Bowe · Bitcoin BIPs repository ↗
- What is a passphrase?Trezor documentation team · Trezor Knowledge Base / SatoshiLabs ↗
- Making a willUK Government · GOV.UK ↗
- Secure Our World: Phishing Tip SheetCISA · Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ↗