Printable templates

Letter of instruction (no secrets) · Version date: ____ / ____ / ________ · Never write seed words, shares, passphrases, PINs, passwords or private keys on this sheet. Seed Phrase Field Guide, templates.html#letter · not legal advice.

To: ____________________ (my executor / trustee / attorney)   Date: ____ / ____ / ________

From: ____________________   Will dated: ____ / ____ / ________   Held by: ____________________

This letter replaces any earlier version. ☐ UK supplement attached   ☐ US supplement attached   ☐ Backup inventory exists (see Part C)

Part A — What exists

Part B — Exchange and custodial accounts

Part C — How recovery works (in plain words)

Standard used (tick): ☐ BIP39 12/24 words   ☐ BIP39 + passphrase   ☐ SLIP-39 Shamir (___ of ___)   ☐ Multisig (___ of ___)   ☐ Seed XOR (___ parts)   ☐ Collaborative custody with ____________________   ☐ Other ____________________

Where the backups are kept is described in my backup inventory, which is kept at: ______________________________________________

The passphrase (if any) is: ☐ stored separately at ____________________   ☐ known to ____________________   ☐ held by my solicitor in a sealed envelope

Wallet configuration / descriptor backup (for multisig) is kept at: ______________________________________________

Software to use for recovery: ____________________ (download only from the official site: ____________________)

Part D — People who can help

Part E — My wishes and warnings

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Warnings for my executor: Nobody legitimate will ever ask you for the recovery words. Do not type them into any website, app, email or chat. Do not let anyone "recover" funds for a percentage. Read the executor guide first.

Part F — Where my other papers are

Will / trust: ____________________   Power of attorney: ____________________   Tax and cost-basis records: ____________________   Recovery drill and review logs: ____________________

Signed: ____________________   Next review date: ____ / ____ / ________

UK supplement to the letter of instruction · Version date: ____ / ____ / ________ · Never write seed words, shares, passphrases, PINs, passwords or private keys on this sheet. Seed Phrase Field Guide, templates.html#letter-uk · not legal advice.

Attach to my letter of instruction dated ____ / ____ / ________.   Jurisdiction of my will: ☐ England & Wales   ☐ Scotland   ☐ Northern Ireland

Part A — Will and letter of wishes

Will dated ____ / ____ / ________   Original held by: ☐ solicitor ____________________   ☐ HMCTS will storage (England & Wales; lodgement certificate kept at ____________________)   ☐ other ____________________

Executors named in the will: ______________________________________________   ☐ Will gives executors power to deal with cryptoassets and hire technical help

Letter of wishes: ☐ yes, kept at ____________________   ☐ no   Last reviewed: ____ / ____ / ________   ☐ Reviewed after marriage, civil partnership, divorce or a move

Part B — If I lose capacity

☐ Lasting power of attorney for property and financial affairs (England & Wales), registered with the Office of the Public Guardian on ____ / ____ / ________

☐ Continuing power of attorney (Scotland), registered with the OPG (Scotland)   ☐ Enduring power of attorney (Northern Ireland)

Attorneys: ______________________________________________   Original / certified copies kept at: ____________________

☐ Attorneys know this letter exists   ☐ Crypto instructions for attorneys are in a separate letter of wishes (not in the LPA wording itself)

Part C — Pointers for executors (tax)

☐ This estate holds cryptoassets: form IHT400 asks about them   ☐ Value each token in pounds sterling at the date of death; note the price source and time

Records of acquisition costs and disposals are at: ____________________   Record of lifetime gifts (for the 7-year rule) is at: ____________________

☐ HMRC's CRYPTO25000 checklist for finding crypto has been read   ☐ Any crypto that cannot be accessed must still be explained to HMRC

Part D — Professional contacts

For executors: exchanges usually ask for a death certificate and the grant of probate (confirmation in Scotland) before releasing an account. See the UK guide's executor timeline. Signed: ____________________

US supplement to the letter of instruction · Version date: ____ / ____ / ________ · Never write seed words, shares, passphrases, PINs, passwords or private keys on this sheet. Seed Phrase Field Guide, templates.html#letter-us · not legal advice.

Attach to my letter of instruction dated ____ / ____ / ________.   Signed: ____________________   State of residence: ______________   Other states where I own property: ______________

Part A — Will and trust

Will dated ____ / ____ / ________   Original held by: ____________________   Executor / personal representative: ____________________

☐ Revocable living trust: name ____________________ dated ____ / ____ / ________   Successor trustee: ____________________   ☐ Crypto held in the trust's name

☐ Will / trust includes digital-asset (RUFADAA) authority   ☐ Trust gives power to retain crypto without diversifying (ask attorney)

Part B — If I am incapacitated

☐ Durable financial power of attorney dated ____ / ____ / ________   Agent: ____________________   ☐ Includes digital-asset authority

☐ Health care power of attorney (separate document)   Originals kept at: ____________________

Part C — Custodial accounts

Part D — Pointers for the executor (tax)

☐ Record each asset's fair market value at the date of death, with source and time stamp (stepped-up basis)   ☐ Form 706 may be needed; digital assets go on Schedule F

☐ Estate files Form 1041 if gross income is $600 or more   ☐ State estate / inheritance tax checked   ☐ Community property state: ☐ yes ☐ no

Cost-basis records and exchange exports are at: ______________________________________________

Part E — Professional contacts

Backup inventory and location map · Version date: ____ / ____ / ________ · Never write seed words, shares, passphrases, PINs, passwords or private keys on this sheet. Seed Phrase Field Guide, templates.html#inventory · not legal advice.

Part A — Items

Part B — Location map

Check: ☐ No single site holds enough items to recover alone (unless intended)   ☐ Passphrase stored apart from seed   ☐ Descriptor copies stored with each multisig key   ☐ Two sites are not in the same building   ☐ Inventory itself stored apart from the backups   ☐ Old versions destroyed

Recovery drill and test-restore log · Version date: ____ / ____ / ________ · Never write seed words, shares, passphrases, PINs, passwords or private keys on this sheet. Seed Phrase Field Guide, templates.html#testlog · not legal advice.

Part A — Drill steps (tick as you go)

☐ Private room; phones, cameras and smart speakers away   ☐ Method: ☐ device "check backup" (dry run)   ☐ full restore on a wiped spare device   ☐ multisig rebuild from descriptor + quorum

☐ Words entered only on the hardware device, never on a computer or phone   ☐ Fingerprint or first receive address matches my records   ☐ Passphrase tested separately (if used)

☐ Spare device wiped afterwards   ☐ Backups re-sealed; new bag serials copied to the inventory   ☐ Next drill booked for ____ / ____ / ________

Part B — Log

Part C — Executor or heir rehearsal (no secret revealed)

Hardware wallet setup and verification log · Version date: ____ / ____ / ________ · Never write seed words, shares, passphrases, PINs, passwords or private keys on this sheet. Seed Phrase Field Guide, templates.html#hwlog · not legal advice.

Part A — The device

Item ID (from inventory): ______   Make and model: ____________________   Nickname / label on device: ____________________

Bought from: ☐ maker's own shop   ☐ authorised reseller ____________________   Order date: ____ / ____ / ________   Order reference: ____________________

☐ Packaging inspected (but not relied on)   ☐ No pre-printed or pre-filled recovery card in the box   ☐ Device was not already set up

Part B — Verification at setup

☐ Companion app downloaded from the maker's official site and verified where the maker explains how   ☐ Authenticity / genuine check passed on ____ / ____ / ________

Firmware version at setup: __________   Seed created: ☐ on the device   ☐ with dice on the device (see dice worksheet)   ☐ Entropy check shown by the app (where offered)

Backup type: ☐ BIP39 12   ☐ BIP39 24   ☐ SLIP-39 single share   ☐ SLIP-39 ___ of ___   Backup item IDs: ____________________

☐ Word confirmation on the device passed   ☐ "Check backup" passed on ____ / ____ / ________   ☐ Passphrase in use (the passphrase itself is not recorded here; its backup is item ______)

Master key fingerprint: [ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ] (8 characters, public)   ☐ First receive address checked on the device screen

☐ Small test deposit received   ☐ Restore test done (see drill log)   ☐ PIN set and remembered (never written here)   ☐ I know how many wrong PINs wipe the device

Part C — Firmware and advisory history

Multisig and wallet configuration record · Version date: ____ / ____ / ________ · Never write seed words, shares, passphrases, PINs, passwords or private keys on this sheet. Seed Phrase Field Guide, templates.html#msconfig · not legal advice.

Part A — The wallet

Wallet nickname: ____________________   Quorum: ___ of ___   Created: ____ / ____ / ________   Coordinator software and version: ____________________

Script type: ☐ native SegWit multisig (P2WSH)   ☐ nested SegWit (P2SH-P2WSH)   ☐ Taproot / miniscript policy   ☐ other ____________   ☐ Timelock / decaying quorum? Details on the attached printout

☐ Descriptor printed (text and QR) and attached to this sheet   ☐ BSMS record (BIP-129) kept   ☐ Wallet policy registered on each signing device (BIP-388, where supported)

Part B — Keys

Part C — Checks

☐ First receive address shown identically on every signing device and the coordinator (date ____ / ____ / ________)   ☐ Recovery tested from descriptor + quorum of seeds (see drill log)

Number of descriptor copies: ___   Stored at sites: ____________________   ☐ Provider recovery path documented (collaborative custody: which keys I hold, how to recover without the provider)

Periodic review log · Version date: ____ / ____ / ________ · Never write seed words, shares, passphrases, PINs, passwords or private keys on this sheet. Seed Phrase Field Guide, templates.html#reviewlog · not legal advice.

Part A — Schedule and triggers

Next routine review: ____ / ____ / ________   Reminder set in: ____________________

Review early if: ☐ moving house   ☐ marriage, civil partnership or divorce   ☐ birth or death in the family   ☐ new wallet or device   ☐ security advisory   ☐ executor, attorney or helper changes   ☐ change in the law   ☐ large change in value

Part B — Review log

Part C — Advisory record

Dice entropy worksheet (offline, paper only) · Version date: ____ / ____ / ________ · Never write seed words, shares, passphrases, PINs, passwords or private keys on this sheet. Seed Phrase Field Guide, templates.html#dice · not legal advice.

Part A — Dice fairness practice (separate session; never reuse these rolls)

Die description: ____________________   ☐ casino / precision   ☐ ordinary   Number of practice rolls N = ________   Expected count per face E = N ÷ 6 = ________

With 6 faces there are 5 degrees of freedom. A total above 11.07 would be flagged as uneven at the 5% level (NIST table). A pass shows only that the faces look even in this sample; a short test proves little, and it says nothing about whether a sequence is unpredictable.

Part B — Real generation session (counts only)

Signing device: ☐ COLDCARD   ☐ SeedSigner   ☐ Krux   ☐ Keystone   ☐ other ____________   Target: ☐ 12 words (at least 50 d6 rolls)   ☐ 24 words (at least 99 d6 rolls)   I plan to roll: ______

Tick one box for every 10 rolls entered on the device: ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐   (12 boxes = 120 rolls)

Part C — Session checks

☐ Device offline / air-gapped   ☐ No phones, cameras or smart speakers in the room   ☐ Dice shaken in a cup and thrown against a backstop   ☐ Read in a fixed order (for example left to right)   ☐ Rule for cocked dice decided in advance

☐ Rolls entered directly on the device; no scratch paper   ☐ If any scratch paper was used, destroyed by burning or cross-cut shredding after the backup was checked   ☐ Any verification of the device's maths done earlier with throwaway rolls, and that wallet never funded

☐ Backup written, confirmed on the device and checked (see drill log)   Date: ____ / ____ / ________   Device item ID: ______

Explain-to-your-executor guide · Version date: ____ / ____ / ________ · Never write seed words, shares, passphrases, PINs, passwords or private keys on this sheet. Seed Phrase Field Guide, templates.html#executor · not legal advice.

What you are dealing with

Cryptocurrency is not held by a bank. It is controlled by secret information — usually a list of 12 to 24 words (a "recovery phrase") or several separate parts. Whoever has that information can move the money, permanently, with no way to reverse it. Your job is to keep that information safe and use it only in the way described in the letter of instruction.

Do

1. Secure everything first. Collect the devices, papers and metal plates listed in the inventory and lock them away. Do not show them to anyone.
2. Read the letter of instruction and find out which method was used (single phrase, passphrase, Shamir shares, multisig or a company service).
3. Get professional help from the solicitor/attorney handling the estate. If the plan names a technical helper or a company (e.g. a collaborative-custody provider), contact them through their official website, not through links in emails.
4. Value the holdings at the date of death for tax purposes. A helper can do this from public addresses without moving anything; keep screenshots and dates.
5. Recover only on a proper device, following the plan, ideally with a second trusted person present. Move funds to accounts in the beneficiaries' or estate's name as advised by the professional.
6. Keep a written record of every step for the estate accounts.

Never

• Never type the recovery words into a website, an app on a phone or computer, an email or a chat.
• Never photograph or scan them.
• Never give them to anyone who contacts you offering help — including people claiming to be from a wallet company, an exchange, the police or a "recovery service". These are scams.
• Never pay anyone a percentage to "unlock" or "recover" funds.
• Never rush. Nothing expires quickly, except certain timelock plans, which the letter will mention.

Where it differs by country

Probate, tax and who may act differ by country — see the UK guide, the US guide and other countries. In the UK, HMRC treats crypto as property for inheritance tax; in the US, inherited crypto usually gets a stepped-up basis. Your professional adviser will confirm; any attached UK or US supplement lists documents and contacts.

Helpful contacts: Solicitor/attorney _______________   Technical helper _______________   Provider _______________