If nobody can access your Bitcoin after you're gone, it's gone forever. Self-custody means there's no bank to call, no password reset, no customer service. Planning for this is not optional.
Your heirs need three things: knowledge that Bitcoin exists, instructions on how to access it, and the ability to actually do so. The best setups separate these elements so no single person (or document) can steal the funds, but your family can recover them together.
Anyone who finds it owns your Bitcoin. Cleaners, guests, burglars, estate attorneys. Zero protection.
Slightly better, but the bank can be compelled to open it, and heirs may not even know it exists. Single point of failure.
An estimated 3-4 million BTC are already permanently lost. Don't add yours to the pile.
Leave a letter (with your will or trusted person) that explains: what Bitcoin is, that you own some, and where to find the recovery instructions. Do not include the seed phrase in the letter.
Use Shamir's Secret Sharing (supported by Trezor) to split your seed into multiple shares. Example: 3 shares created, any 2 required to recover. Give one to a spouse, one to a lawyer, one to a sibling. No single share is useful alone.
A 2-of-3 multisig wallet where you hold 2 keys and a trusted service (Unchained Capital, Casa) holds 1. If you die, your heirs work with the service to recover funds using their key + the service's key. Professional, auditable, no single point of failure.
Offers a 3-of-5 multisig with inheritance protocol built in. Your heir contacts Casa with a death certificate, completes a waiting period, and recovers funds. The most turnkey inheritance solution available.
Collaborative custody with 2-of-3 multisig. You hold 2 keys, Unchained holds 1. Inheritance planning is part of their service. They help your heirs access funds through a documented legal process.
Open-source, step-by-step guide for high-security cold storage with inheritance provisions. Free, thorough, and fully self-sovereign. Best for technically inclined users willing to do the work themselves.
The best inheritance plan is one that works even if your heirs know nothing about Bitcoin today. They need: a letter telling them Bitcoin exists, a trusted contact who can help, and a recovery mechanism that doesn't depend on a single piece of paper. Set this up now, not later.
Last updated 2026-04-14. Not financial advice. Do your own research.