Password managers and security tools are designed to be impenetrable fortresses, protecting your most sensitive information with military-grade encryption. This creates a paradox in legacy planning: the very security measures that protect you in life can permanently lock out your loved ones after death unless you plan appropriately.

Your password manager likely contains credentials for dozens or hundreds of accounts, including financial institutions, email accounts, and critical services. Without access to this vault, your family may be unable to manage your digital estate, access important accounts, or even complete basic administrative tasks after your death.

Critical challenges include master password cannot be reset or recovered by bitwarden, emergency access requires premium or families subscription, and emergency contact needs their own bitwarden account (free works). These security layers protect against unauthorized access but can also prevent legitimate access by authorized family members and estate executors.

DeathNote helps you securely document master passwords, recovery keys, 2FA backup codes, and hardware security device PINs. You can provide step-by-step instructions for accessing your password vault while ensuring this information remains encrypted and protected until properly verified death triggers delivery to your designated contacts.

Consider creating a layered access plan: emergency contacts who can access critical accounts immediately, trusted executors who receive full vault access, and detailed documentation of what's stored where. This planning ensures security during life while enabling access when needed.

Password storage, secure notes, 2FA codes, encrypted file attachments, vault sharing

Free (unlimited passwords), Premium ($10/year), Families ($40/year for 6 users), Teams, Enterprise, Self-Hosted

Login credentials, secure notes, payment cards, identities, 2FA codes (TOTP), encrypted file attachments (Premium), emergency access contacts

Bitwarden Emergency Access (similar to LastPass) lets trusted contacts request vault access after your death. Requires Premium ($10/year) or Families ($40/year) subscription. Free accounts cannot use this feature.

Bitwarden offers two permission levels: View (read-only) and Takeover (full control). Takeover is unique - it lets emergency contact change your master password and fully control the account.