Guide treatment: Scenario. Essential guidance is in the page content below.
Executor Support
Bitcoin Executor Support
You are now responsible for administering Bitcoin. This page is for executors, trustees, and professional partners who need an operational path, not generic crypto advice.
In most estates, authority is established by documents. With Bitcoin, authority still matters, but it is not the same thing as control. Your job is to align legal authority with the technical reality of how the Bitcoin is held.
Family member in crisis right now? This page is not crisis triage. Use Inherited Bitcoin? Start Here for “do not panic” guidance.
The First 24 to 72 Hours
Secure and stabilise
- Secure devices, paper, metal backups, and any sealed envelopes in a controlled location.
- Minimise the number of people handling anything Bitcoin-related.
- Preserve evidence and record what was found, where, and when.
Classify custody
- Exchange: estate support workflows (authority documents required).
- Self-custody: depends on seed phrases, hardware, and recovery paths.
- Multisig: may allow guided execution under documented authority.
Professional Administration Support
We provide non-custodial technical education and operational support so executors and trustees can administer Bitcoin safely, with counsel in the lead on legal questions.
Triage and risk assessment
- Identify what has been found and what it implies.
- Separate continuity issues (lost device, missing signer) from security emergencies (seed exposure).
- Design a safe next-step sequence that avoids key exposure.
Coordination with professional partners
- Work alongside your solicitor, estate attorney, and trustees.
- Ensure technical steps match the authority chain and fiduciary duties.
- Maintain an audit-friendly record of decisions and actions.
Executor Questions
Is this the same as “Inherited Bitcoin? Start Here”?
No. Inherited Bitcoin? Start Here is crisis triage for family members. This page is for executors, trustees, and lawyers administering an estate: authority alignment, custody classification, safe handling, and operational execution support.
What do you need from an executor to start?
Start with what you have, not what you wish you had: proof of authority (or timeline to obtain it), the names of any exchanges or wallet providers, and an inventory of found devices or documents. Do not send seed phrases.
Can you recover Bitcoin without seed phrases?
Sometimes. It depends on how the Bitcoin was held. Exchange custody often has estate workflows. Multisig and collaborative security may allow guided execution under documented authority. For self-custody without key material, recovery may be impossible.
Do you provide legal or tax advice?
No. We provide technical education and operational support for client-controlled Bitcoin. Work with qualified counsel and tax professionals for legal and tax advice. See scope and risks.
Related: Continuity · Estate planning · Emergency kit