How Can I Make My Passwords Available to My Executors Only after My Death (for Free) ?

Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 07:41
Last edited 28/09/2023 - 07:19 by 1 other user

Semi-dysfunctional family discourages me from sharing passwords now. Separated wife will be the primary executor, succeeded by two adult children (who are estranged from each other) as joint executors.

Looking to make their job easier if possible by giving them joint access to financial stuff. They can hire and fire lawyers to do the paperwork as they wish. Thinking about splitting master password in two to ensure some cooperation between them.

What's the best free way to only allow them access after my death?

[Edit] Thanks for all the great suggestions people. I think I'll go the Bitwarden Emergency Access route for the passwords, and also leave a printed list of all the relevant organisations with the will so they at least know who to approach if they can't access the passwords, but have a death certificate.
I just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing some better solution. Cheers.

Financial

Comments

  • try2bhelpful on 27/09/2023 - 07:47
    +1

    Add a letter that gives the details with your will. Who currently holds your will?

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:28
      +1

      Will is kept at my home. Reluctant to leave written letter in-case of burglary. Paranoid much, I know! :)

      • AustriaBargain on 27/09/2023 - 09:43

        Why not get a lawyer and give it to them. Make it a lawyer at a firm so if the lawyer dies the firm will execute your will/give the letter with passwords to who you want.

        • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:59

          Lack of trust after poor previous experiences. :(

          • dcep on 27/09/2023 - 13:55
            +1

            @Gelf54: If you don't mind spending the money , split your password into 6 parts over 3 law firms.

            Law firm #1 gets 3 parts of password
            Law firm #2 gets 3 parts of password
            Law firm #3 gets the sequence of password to arrange into correct order

          • fredblogs on 27/09/2023 - 16:21
            +1

            @Gelf54: story time?

  • Hybroid on 27/09/2023 - 07:50
    +7

    Google has an Inactive Account Manager that you can set certain parameters and information to be shared if you disappear for 3/6/12/18 months and their attempts to contact you via phone/secondary e-mail etc all fail.

    https://myaccount.google.com/inactive

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:30
      +3

      Maybe 7 days would be a more suitable period, but this is the sort of thing I was wondering about. A (literal) dead man switch, if you like.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 27/09/2023 - 08:02
    +5

    Have you considered hiding your treasures in One Piece?

    • Sinnerator on 27/09/2023 - 08:27

      op should cashify most of his assets now and TREASUREHUNT with first clue released in his will

      • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:34

        Nice thought, but I still need a place to live now.
        Also, don't want to provide any incentive for my early demise. ;)

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:32
      -1

      We're not into manga. :)

    • AustriaBargain on 27/09/2023 - 09:43

      The real One Pieces was the friends he made along the way…

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 27/09/2023 - 10:10
        +3

        Why one piece when you can nine piece for 9.95 at kfc

  • AngusD on 27/09/2023 - 08:30
    +1

    As mentioned above, keep them with whoever is holding your will (solicitor, I assume?). Assuming you can trust them any more than your family :P

    If you're talking about financial stuff, though, they shouldn't need your passwords. If they're executor then they should just need to take the death certificate and the will naming them as executor to the bank or whatever institution we're talking about and they'll give them access. That's assuming we're just talking about finances in Australia. If you have accounts or property or whatever in another country then you should have a separate will in that country to deal with those under that country's laws.

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:44
      +1

      Understood. Will is kept at home. Won't make the mistake of trusting a solicitor or Public Trustee after previous experience with our own parents wills.
      Guess I should at least leave a list of where to look for bank accounts, etc.
      Just thought it'd make it easier for them for all the other things like bills that are due, credit card, council rates, insurance policies that need cancelling etc, plus unknown stuff that I haven't thought of. Suppose that doesn't need to be kept private though.

      • AngusD on 27/09/2023 - 10:18
        +5

        I think it's fine to keep a list of where your finances are ie what banks or institutions you're with, what credit cards you have, if you have a financial adviser or somebody managing any investments, your solicitor if you have one, etc. But you don't need to give them the passwords for any of those banks etc - if they're executor then they'll be able to get access to them with the appropriate documentation when the time comes, and you're not risking writing your passwords down where they might fall into the wrong hands.

        Note that insurance still needs to be maintained on assets (ie house, contents, car etc) after you die because they're still part of the estate and it's the executor's responsibility to make sure they remain insured until such time as they're sold or otherwise distributed. Obviously other stuff like health insurance can probably be cancelled right away, though :P

  • Elppa8 on 27/09/2023 - 08:49
    +1

    If you have an iPhone you could use Apple Legacy Contact. Just put your passwords etc into notes and the contact can get access after your death.

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:45
      +1

      Thanks, but we're all Android users.

  • lunchbox99 on 27/09/2023 - 08:52
    +1

    If you are on apple devices you can setup a legacy iCloud account access, which should give access to passwords stored in iCloud Keychain (basically the default on iPhones, iPads, macOS now).

    https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT212360

    EDIT: Oh the person above me just said the same while I was writing this…

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:46

      Thanks anyway. :)

  • GordonD on 27/09/2023 - 09:03
    +1

    Put them in a file. Encrypt the file. Give one side the encrypted file, and the other side the encryption key.

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:48

      Good advice in most cases, but sad to say, I'm too paranoid to discount the possibility of their collusion before I die.

      • HardQuiz on 27/09/2023 - 10:14

        possibility of their collusion before I die.

        Do a dummy exercise, they are estranged anyway. You’ll know how they feel about you and each other.

      • bargaino on 27/09/2023 - 10:48

        You can use a large pass-phrase, and divide into several sections, to give to trusted people. Will they all collude?
        But the risk of someone losing their part increases, so take a RAID approach.

        • ozbargainsam on 28/09/2023 - 08:50
          +2

          I did this recently. 100 character random key. Divided into three parts. First part goes to my two of my closest people who are in different circles (I.e. don't know each other and aren't likely to die in the same incident). Second part to a second group of trusted friends. And a third part is printed and copied are laminated and placed in various places I inhabit (car, house, parents' house). All those places can't burn down.

          The first group has instructions on how to contact the second group. The second group only knows about the third part. Yes they could collude but my life doesn't have that sort of drama.

      • AngusD on 27/09/2023 - 13:58
        +1

        Geez, mate… sounds like you should just spend it all on yourself before you die, and leave any left over to a worthy charity! :P

  • sumyungguy on 27/09/2023 - 09:13

    My phone lock code and Mac OS password is on a post-it note stuck to my will, giving access to my keychain. BTW, fingerprints can't be read when you're deceased.

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:54
      +1

      I'd never store important financial information on my phone. I follow a security podcast and I'm hearing about new and old unpatched mobile vunerabilities nearly every week. Plus, the (unlikely) possibility of a burglar finding a written note.
      Told ya I was paranoid! :)

    • Jake17 on 27/09/2023 - 11:16

      @rock-bottom i am pretty sure they can be, when my brother passed away earlier this year, I am certain they checked his prints to confirm him

      • sumyungguy on 27/09/2023 - 11:25

        Sorry, I meant as biometric access to your device

        • Jake17 on 27/09/2023 - 11:46

          that makes more sense

  • ChrisLevo on 27/09/2023 - 09:34
    +1

    See a lawyer, have them draw up a will with them as executors and give them the passwords.

    • CyberMurning on 27/09/2023 - 09:47

      how much is that usually? and will i need to pay like monthly fee to those guys till i die or just one off fee ?

      • ChrisLevo on 28/09/2023 - 15:43
        1. One-off fee to prepare the will.
        2. Any money spent by them getting a grant of probate.
        3. Hourly rate fee for any work they need to do after that, which is generally not a lot.

        I was my step-mother's executor a few years ago and the lawyers ended up charging less than $2,000 for their work, which I thought was quite cheap as they had to set up a couple of trusts for minor beneficiaries.

        It worked!

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 09:57

      Previous experience with a solicitor as executor has not been positive for me. Unexplained long delays, poor communication, and even using their wife as broker to sell the property without revealing it. Prefer to keep as much control as possible in the family.

      • rossnroller on 28/09/2023 - 11:55
        +2

        As someone who is now estranged from my siblings and, thanks to their lies and whiteanting, my entire family network (cousins, nephews etc), I must warn you against your current strategy of appointing already estranged children as secondary executors (NO!!!) or your separated wife as primary executor (WHY???). Seems you're wanting to keep the executorship within a family you don't trust at all. This is irrational, frankly.

        My mother appointed 4 joint executors, two of my siblings and me + a primary school friend of my sister's she didn't know, this bizarre move being a strategy to ensure my sister was not "ganged up on" by my brother and I. As it turned out, when I emerged as the only Executor committed to doing the right thing by law every step of the way, they ganged up against me, and the school friend of my sister was left not knowing what was going on but obligated to take their side against me no matter what. He actually divulged that he agreed with my positions, but had to do as he agreed and support my sister. The entire thing was an absolute nightmare that went on for 3 years. It culminated in the other 3 executors hiring a solicitor to get rid of me as an Executor, and after heeding advice from a lawyer friend, I succumbed. Appointing multiple executors from a dysfunctional family is a recipe for misery and disaster. Do not do it!

        FFS, appoint your own choice of solicitor/law firm as executors. Whatever your reservations based on past experience, you need to overcome those and go the way of common sense. Keep your untrustworthy warring family out of it.

  • Drakesy on 27/09/2023 - 09:51

    Give them a riddle

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 10:01

      How would that work?

      • Drakesy on 27/09/2023 - 10:02

        Worked for pirates.

        • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 10:08

          I've found it's wise to never over-estimate anyone's ability to solve simple problems as you would expect.

          • Protractor on 27/09/2023 - 11:17
            +1

            @Gelf54: I see.
            You are you explaining why you posted here.

  • Rako on 27/09/2023 - 10:16
    +3

    How to Prepare Your Digital Life for Your Death
    Password Managers Emergency Access
    Dashlane Bit warden etc check out this article from pcmag
    https://au.pcmag.com/security/100627/how-to-prepare-youpcmag…

    • Gelf54 on 27/09/2023 - 10:28
      +1

      Some good advice there for most families…

  • pharkurnell on 27/09/2023 - 10:36

    I'm too paranoid to discount the possibility of their collusion before I die.

    how many trillion $ are we talking here?

    • outlander on 27/09/2023 - 14:20
      +1

      He's looking for a free and easy solution, emphasis on the free, so I think we're thinking more along the terms of "who gets the loose change jar".

  • No on 27/09/2023 - 11:12
    +1

    Safety deposit box in Switzerland and have the key implanted inside you. Easy.

    • Drakesy on 27/09/2023 - 11:57

      If you're not cremated it may take a while to decompose out.

  • Protractor on 27/09/2023 - 11:15
    +4

    Go back to basics.You seem to bat away every offering so..
    Think of the pre internet solutions and go with that.
    And make sure you put in your will how untrusting you are of all the ppl you have talked about in this thread as being untrustworthy and would possibly collude etc.
    I'm glad all these assets and money gave you the peace and security you have. Best of luck

    EDIT, or piss it all up against the wall now,before you cark.

  • shaybisc on 27/09/2023 - 17:56
    +3

    I seem to recall that Lastpass has a way to do it. And I'm sure, plenty of the others.

    https://www.lastpass.com/features/digital-will

    But now I'm no longer with LP I will put everything on one encrypted USB flash drive, like this.

    https://securedrive.com.au/product/datashur-pro/

    And give the password to the flash drive to my executors. Then they can pry it from my cold, dead hands.

    Or I might do this with Bitwarden my PM now.

    https://bitwarden.com/help/emergency-access/

  • moar bargains on 27/09/2023 - 20:37
    +2

    Sounds like you need to find someone (or some people) you can trust :)

    You have two options: digital and analogue. They each have their pros and cons, and it depends on what your threat-model is, and what you're trying to achieve and prevent, some of which you've explained, but some of which will be internal only.

    For digital, I would suggest using Bitwarden. You probably already know about it from your security podcasts. The premium version (USD$10/year currently) has an emergency access feature, plus 1GB of encrypted file storage. Save all your passwords in there, along with some documents that have your bank details or whatever else you want. When you die, family gets access to your account which means all your passwords and the documents. The only downside of this is that emergency contacts will need a Bitwarden account of their own, but they may forget how to access it by the time they need it if they're not using it regularly. Read more: https://bitwarden.com/help/emergency-access/. BW also has the benefit that it can contain your MFA codes, which people will need for getting access to your accounts where that is turned on.

    1Password has a similar feature, except it's on a printed document, so it somewhat straddles the line.

    Your other obvious option is writing or printing a list of everything, and storing it somewhere. Ideally you should have a copy outside of your home, hence the need to find someone else that you trust.

    If you really want to nerd out, and enforce cooperation, you could look into something like Shamir's Secret Sharing to split an encrypted secret (Master Password, GPS coordinates to buried treasure, whatever) into n parts, which require at least m to recombine and decrypt the original value. This won't prevent collusion, but it will enforce cooperation between at least some of the parties. There are websites around that will implement it directly in browser, but it will increase the technology burden, which may not be something you want to do to people who are (presumably) grieving.

  • shadow7412 on 28/09/2023 - 08:30
    +1

    Bitwarden has a feature that allows designated emergency contacts access to your passwords if they use a special link. When they click it, you have a few days to say "no", otherwise it's unlocked.

  • Lensta on 28/09/2023 - 08:51

    You can leave a note with instructions to unlock your phone using facial recognition and navigate to a file that stores all your passwords. Or a file that contains a the password to a password manager app.

  • 2esc on 28/09/2023 - 10:28

    Will at home? What happens if your home burns down? Fire safes are not totally trustworthy either a relatives house burnt down some of the papers didnt survive.

    I recently opened mine and found a few spots of mould.

    Find a solicitor / firm is your best bet. Depending on your age, health, assets enjoy it spend it, give some to family now so there is less later to fight over.

    Family shouldnt be thinking of your assets they need to get on with their own lives.

    I told my elderly mum as long as she pre pays her funeral to go and enjoy life spend it all.

    Though so far she has only done a few trips so far currently doing renovations.

    Try not to worry about passing on your assets you gave your kids life that is enough.

    • pharkurnell on 28/09/2023 - 12:00
      +2

      hes already shit canned solicitors …. and every other suggestion

      • rossnroller on 28/09/2023 - 12:04
        +2

        Correct. Wonder why he's bothered asking for advice? Seems his mind is made up to take a completely irrational path and to justify it every inch of the way. Hard to avoid the conclusion he's seeking justification or attention, but is not open to genuine advice. No sensible person in his position would do anything other than appoint solicitors.

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