{/* Letter Greeting - Personalized salutation */} Dear friends, {/* Letter Body - Main content with consistent paragraph spacing */} 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. {/* Platform-Specific Details */} Platform Overview Primary Use Password storage, secure notes, 2FA codes, encrypted file attachments, vault sharing Account Types Free (unlimited passwords), Premium ($10/year), Families ($40/year for 6 users), Teams, Enterprise, Self-Hosted Data Types Login credentials, secure notes, payment cards, identities, 2FA codes (TOTP), encrypted file attachments (Premium), emergency access contacts {/* Access Challenges */} Access Challenges Master password cannot be reset or recovered by Bitwarden Emergency Access requires Premium or Families subscription Emergency contact needs their own Bitwarden account (free works) Waiting period (1-90 days) before emergency contact gains access Self-hosted instances require additional emergency access planning Zero-knowledge encryption prevents Bitwarden from accessing vault Account owner can reject emergency access request if alive {/* Inheritance Guidance */} Inheritance Guidance Step 1: Enable Emergency Access Feature 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. Step 2: Choose Permission Level Carefully 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. Step 3: Configure Waiting Period for Security Waiting period (1-90 days) prevents unauthorized access if you're alive but temporarily unavailable. Longer period = more security. Shorter period = faster emergency access. Step 4: Plan for Self-Hosted Instances If you self-host Bitwarden, Emergency Access works but requires additional planning. Your server must remain online for emergency access to function after death. Step 5: Store Master Password and Recovery Codes Emergency Access grants vault access, but with zero-knowledge encryption, your emergency contact may still need your master password for certain operations. Always store it securely. {/* Related Resources */} Related Resources LastPass Emergency Access Compare Bitwarden's Emergency Access to LastPass's similar feature 1Password Vault Handoff Compare Bitwarden's built-in emergency access to 1Password's manual Emergency Kit 2FA Recovery Codes Legacy Secure 2FA backup codes stored in Bitwarden for account recovery How It Works Learn how DeathNote automates digital legacy delivery including password vaults Crypto Wallet Legacy Secure seed phrases and private keys stored in Bitwarden vaults {/* FAQ Section */} Frequently Asked Questions What's the difference between View and Takeover permission in Bitwarden Emergency Access? View permission gives read-only access to your vault - they can see passwords but not change or delete anything (good for preservation). Takeover permission gives FULL control - they can change your master password, modify vault contents, and fully manage the account as if they own it (needed for executors closing accounts). Takeover is more powerful than LastPass's View + Modify. Choose based on trust level and whether they need to close accounts. Does Bitwarden's free plan include Emergency Access? No. Emergency Access requires Premium ($10/year individual) or Families ($40/year for 6 users) subscription. However, your emergency contact can use a free Bitwarden account - only YOU need the paid plan to designate them. If inheritance planning is important, the $10/year Premium cost is a small investment for peace of mind. What happens to my self-hosted Bitwarden server when I die? If you self-host Bitwarden, your server must remain online for Emergency Access to work. Your executor needs server credentials, hosting account access, and technical knowledge to maintain it. This is complex for inheritance. Better options: Migrate to Bitwarden cloud before death, export vault to encrypted file stored with estate documents, or document complete server access instructions for technically capable executor. Can Bitwarden recover my master password if I forget it? No. Bitwarden uses zero-knowledge encryption - they cannot see, reset, or recover your master password. If you lose it, your vault is permanently inaccessible. Emergency Access helps your family gain access after death, but you still need to store your master password somewhere secure (physical location, attorney, sealed envelope with will) for complete vault recovery. {/* Letter Signature - Team avatars, names, and brand tagline */} Warmly, {/* Team Signatures - Circular avatars with initials */} JP L CJ 8 S JP, Luca, CJ, 8, and Summer {/* Brand tagline - Small logo and mission statement */} • We help connect the present to the future.