A complete template and guide for creating a Bitcoin Letter of Instructions so your heirs can access your Bitcoin after you die — without exposing your seed phrase.
Your Bitcoin is worth nothing to your heirs if they don't know how to access it. A Letter of Instructions is the single most important document you can create to ensure your family can recover your Bitcoin after you die.
This guide explains what to include and gives you a working template.
Unlike a bank account, there is no "forgot password" for Bitcoin. Your heirs face several obstacles:
A Letter of Instructions solves all of this.
Do not put your seed phrase in this document. The Letter of Instructions tells your heirs HOW to access your Bitcoin and WHERE to find the seed phrase — not what the seed phrase is.
Someone who finds only your letter gets instructions, not keys. Someone who finds only your seed plate has keys but no instructions. This separation is the security model.
For each asset, list:
Example entry:
1.25 BTC — Coldcard hardware wallet in fireproof safe, master bedroom closet 0.15 BTC — Coinbase account (login email: [your email])
For each hardware wallet:
For each exchange:
BITCOIN LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS
Owner: [Your Name] | Date: [Date] | Last updated: [Date]
1. OVERVIEW
Estimated total Bitcoin holdings: ~[amount] as of [date]
Help contacts: [attorney, accountant, technical friend]
2. HOLDINGS
[List each holding with location]
3. HARDWARE WALLET RECOVERY
Device: [Model] — Location: [Where]
Seed phrase backup: [Where stored]
Passphrase (25th word): [Yes/No — if yes, location]
Recovery steps: [Step-by-step instructions]
4. EXCHANGE ACCOUNTS
[Exchange name, login email, 2FA method, recovery codes location]
5. WARNINGS
[Scam warnings as described above]
6. CONTACTS
[Names and contact info]
Store this document in your fireproof safe or with your will. Tell your executor and/or spouse where it is. Update it annually and after any significant change.
Should I include my seed phrase in my will? Absolutely not. Wills are public records after probate. Your seed phrase in a public document means anyone can take your Bitcoin. Keep the seed phrase and its location separate from any public document.
What if I use a multisig wallet? Multisig inheritance is more complex. Services like Unchained and Casa specialize in this. Document which keys you control, which the service holds, and include the service's contact information and recovery procedures in your letter.
How often should I update this document? At minimum, once per year — and immediately after any significant change: new wallet, new exchange account, moving seed phrase location, or large Bitcoin purchase.
What is a digital asset executor? Some states allow you to name a digital asset executor specifically authorized to handle crypto. If your jurisdiction supports this, consider naming someone tech-literate in this role separately from your general executor.
Where should I store this letter? In a fireproof safe at home, alongside your will in your attorney's files, or in a safe deposit box. Never store it unencrypted in cloud storage or email. Tell at least two people you trust where to find it.
Get our free Beginners Guide to Buying Bitcoin plus weekly insights for long-term holders.
Bitcoin estate planning often focuses on access but leaves heirs without a clear path to sell. This guide covers exchange account setup, stepped-up basis documentation, scam prevention, and making the sale process easy.
Unmarried partners have no automatic Bitcoin inheritance rights in most states. This guide covers wills, beneficiary designations, trust structures, and access planning to protect your partner's claim to your Bitcoin.
Shamir's Secret Sharing for Bitcoin inheritance — how SLIP39 splits your seed phrase so any 2-of-3 shares can recover your wallet, with step-by-step setup guide.