Dear friends,
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 no built-in emergency access feature (unlike lastpass/bitwarden), master password cannot be reset or recovered by dashlane, and free plan limits to 50 passwords and 1 device (inadequate for legacy). 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.
Platform Overview
Primary Use
Password storage, password health monitoring, dark web monitoring, VPN service, secure notes
Account Types
Free (50 passwords, 1 device), Premium ($59.99/year), Friends & Family ($89.99/year for 10 users), Business
Data Types
Login credentials, secure notes, payment methods, personal info, IDs, 2FA codes, password health scores, breach alerts
Access Challenges
- NO built-in emergency access feature (unlike LastPass/Bitwarden)
- Master password cannot be reset or recovered by Dashlane
- Free plan limits to 50 passwords and 1 device (inadequate for legacy)
- Account cannot be transferred to another person
- Zero-knowledge encryption prevents Dashlane from accessing vault
- Friends & Family plan requires manual vault sharing before death
- Password health reports and breach alerts stop when account becomes inactive
Inheritance Guidance
Step 1: Understand Dashlane's Lack of Emergency Access
Unlike LastPass and Bitwarden, Dashlane does NOT offer a built-in emergency access feature. You must plan manual inheritance through master password sharing and account exports.
Step 2: Store Master Password Securely
Without emergency access, your master password is the ONLY way to access your vault after death. Dashlane cannot reset it. Secure storage is critical.
Step 3: Export Vault as Encrypted Backup
Dashlane Premium allows vault export to encrypted CSV file. Store this backup with estate documents as secondary access method.
Step 4: Upgrade to Friends & Family Plan for Sharing
Friends & Family plan ($89.99/year for 10 users) allows vault sharing with family members while you're alive. Provides immediate access without waiting for post-death recovery.
Step 5: Create Manual Inheritance Instructions
Since Dashlane lacks automated emergency access, create detailed written instructions for your executor on how to access your vault.
Related Resources
LastPass Emergency Access
Compare Dashlane's manual approach to LastPass's automated emergency access feature
Bitwarden Legacy Planning
Explore Bitwarden's emergency access and open-source alternatives to Dashlane
1Password Vault Handoff
Compare Dashlane's manual process to 1Password's Emergency Kit approach
How It Works
Learn how DeathNote automates digital legacy delivery including password vaults
2FA Recovery Codes Legacy
Secure 2FA backup codes stored in Dashlane for account recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dashlane have an emergency access feature like LastPass?
No. Dashlane does not offer a built-in emergency access feature where trusted contacts can request vault access after a waiting period. You must manually share your master password through secure storage (sealed envelope, attorney, estate documents) and consider exporting your vault to an encrypted file as backup. If automated emergency access is critical for your inheritance planning, consider switching to LastPass or Bitwarden.
Can I transfer my Dashlane account to my spouse after I die?
No. Dashlane accounts cannot be officially transferred to another person. However, if your spouse has your master password, they can log into your account and access the vault. Better approach: Use Friends & Family plan to share password collections with your spouse while you're alive, and store your master password securely for post-death access to your private vault.
What happens to my Dashlane Premium subscription when I die?
Your Premium subscription will remain active until it expires (annual billing). After that, the account converts to Free plan (50 passwords, 1 device limit). Your vault data remains accessible with the master password, but Premium features (dark web monitoring, VPN, unlimited passwords) stop working. Your executor should export the vault to CSV before the subscription expires to avoid Free plan limitations.
How do I export my Dashlane vault for inheritance planning?
Premium subscribers can export vault data: Go to Settings > Export Data > Download as encrypted CSV file. Store this CSV file on a USB drive in a secure location (safe, attorney office) along with your master password. Update the export annually as you add passwords. Free plan users cannot export - you must upgrade to Premium or Friends & Family to use this feature.