Frequently Asked Questions

AfterlifeWill.com is a secure digital will service that allows you to store important messages, documents, and information that will be automatically delivered to your designated emergency contact if you become inactive for a specified period.

Our service uses zero-knowledge encryption, meaning even we cannot access your will content - only you and your emergency contact can read it.

Creating a will is simple:

1. Register for an account and verify your email
2. Go to your dashboard and fill out the will form
3. Add your message, emergency contact email, and optional file attachment
4. Create a secure access password (this encrypts your will)
5. Set your activity check interval (7-365 days recommended: 60 days)
6. Click "Create My Will" - your data is encrypted client-side before sending

Currently, each user can create only one will per account. This design ensures simplicity and focuses on your most important message.

If you need to update your will, you can delete your current one and create a new one with updated information.

Your will is protected by military-grade encryption:

• AES-256-GCM encryption - The same standard used by governments and banks
• Client-side encryption - Your data is encrypted in your browser before sending
• PBKDF2 key derivation - 100,000 iterations protect against brute force attacks
• Zero-knowledge architecture - Even our administrators cannot read your will
• HTTPS/SSL - All data transmission is encrypted

Important: If you forget your access password, your testament cannot be recovered. This is by design for maximum security.

The access password is used to encrypt your will content. Without it, the encrypted data cannot be decrypted by anyone - including us.

Recommendation: Store your access password in a secure location and consider sharing it with your emergency contact through a separate, secure channel.

No. Our zero-knowledge architecture ensures that no one - including our staff, administrators, or even law enforcement - can read your will content without your access password.

Your will is encrypted in your browser before it ever reaches our servers. We only store encrypted data that is meaningless without your password.

You can attach one file (maximum 5MB) with the following supported formats:

• Documents: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT
• Images: JPG, PNG (for scanned documents)

Common examples include will copies, insurance documents, account information, or important photos. All files are encrypted with the same security as your text message.

Our activity monitoring system works as follows:

1. Check Interval: Based on your chosen interval (7-365 days), we send you activity verification emails
2. Verification Email: You receive an email with a unique confirmation link
3. Confirm Activity: Simply click the link to confirm you're active
4. Grace Period: If you don't respond, you get a 7-day grace period with daily reminders
5. Emergency Notification: After the grace period, your emergency contact receives access to your testament

Recommended: 60 days

This provides a good balance between regular checking and not being too frequent. Consider your lifestyle:

• 30-60 days: If you check email regularly and want faster notification
• 90-120 days: If you prefer less frequent check-ins
• 180+ days: For minimal monitoring (consider the risk of delayed notification)

You can change this interval anytime in your settings.

If you know you'll be unavailable, you have several options:

• Extend your interval before traveling (you can change it back later)
• Ask someone to check your email and click the confirmation link
• Use mobile data/wifi to quickly confirm activity even while traveling
• Remember the grace period - you have 7 days of daily reminders before emergency notification

When you become inactive, your emergency contact receives an email with:

1. Will ID: A unique identifier for your will
2. Access Instructions: How to access your will on our website
3. Security Note: They'll need the access password you created

They can then visit afterlifewill.com/testament/access, enter the Will ID and access password to read your message and download any attached files.

Yes, but securely. Your emergency contact needs both the Will ID (sent by email) and the access password to read your will.

Secure sharing methods:

• Write it in your physical will or legal documents
• Store it in a password manager they can access
• Tell them in person (ensure they remember or write it down)
• Leave it in a sealed envelope with instructions

Avoid: Sending passwords via email or text messages.

Currently, to change your emergency contact, you need to:

1. Delete your existing testament (requires email confirmation)
2. Create a new testament with the updated emergency contact email
3. Update your access password sharing with the new contact

Future updates may include the ability to modify emergency contacts directly.

For security, will deletion requires email confirmation:

1. Click "Delete Will" on your dashboard
2. Check your email for a deletion confirmation message
3. Click the confirmation link in the email (valid for 24 hours)
4. Your will and all associated data will be permanently deleted

Warning: This action cannot be undone. All encrypted data and files will be permanently removed.

Currently, direct editing is not available. To update your will:

1. View your current will to copy any information you want to keep
2. Delete your existing will
3. Create a new will with your updated information

This ensures maximum security by requiring re-encryption of all data with potentially new passwords.

Consider including:

• Personal messages to loved ones
• Important account information (financial, digital accounts)
• Location of important documents (will, insurance, deeds)
• Digital asset information (cryptocurrency, online accounts)
• Medical information or wishes
• Instructions for handling your affairs
• Passwords for critical accounts (consider security implications)

Note: This service complements but doesn't replace a legal will.

AfterlifeWill.com requires a modern browser with Web Crypto API support:

• Chrome: Version 37+ ✅
• Firefox: Version 34+ ✅
• Safari: Version 11+ ✅
• Edge: Version 79+ ✅
• Internet Explorer: Not supported ❌

The service requires HTTPS and modern encryption capabilities for security.

If you're not receiving emails:

1. Check your spam/junk folder - emails from noreply@afterlifewill.com may be filtered
2. Add our email to your whitelist to prevent future filtering
3. Verify your email address is correct in your account settings
4. Check email provider settings - some providers block automated emails
5. Try a different email address if the problem persists

Yes, your encrypted will data is backed up securely:

• Database backups include all encrypted will data
• Multiple backup locations ensure data preservation
• Encrypted state maintained - backups contain only encrypted data
• Regular backup testing ensures data integrity

However, remember that without your access password, even backed-up data cannot be decrypted.

No. AfterlifeWill.com is a digital message and document storage service, not a legal will service.

For legal matters:

• Consult an attorney for creating a legally binding will
• Use our service to store information about your legal will's location
• Include instructions for accessing legal documents and attorneys
• Complement legal planning - don't replace it

In the unlikely event of service discontinuation:

• 90-day notice would be provided to all users
• Data export tools would be made available
• Emergency contacts would be notified with will access information
• Migration assistance to alternative services where possible

Your encrypted data remains protected even during such transitions since only you have the decryption password.