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Offline backup transaction

Beyond the Will-Executor network, the plugin can save the signed inheritance transaction to a file you keep yourself. It is the fallback for the (unlikely) scenario where every Will-Executor holding your will has ceased to operate.

Backup Transaction option in plugin settings Enable it in the plugin parameters.

How it works

With the option enabled, the signed transaction is also written to a file you can store on a USB stick, a NAS, or wherever you prefer.

Saving the backup transaction Save the transaction to your medium of choice.

You can then deliver it through a notary, a trusted person, or directly to the heir. On or after the delivery date, whoever holds it can broadcast it through Electrum and the funds move.

The trade-offs, honestly

Relying on the offline backup alone has real drawbacks:

  1. It goes stale. Any change to the wallet — a satoshi spent, a new heir, a different date — invalidates the saved file. You have to regenerate and redistribute it every time.
  2. It leaks information. An heir who holds the file knows the exact date and amount of the inheritance, years in advance. That may not be prudent.
  3. Every step is manual, with the corresponding risk of error.

Use it as a second layer, not the main plan

The recommended setup: select as many Will-Executors as possible — only one has to survive to the delivery date — and keep the offline backup as an additional safety net.

Digital media ages badly

Check the file periodically and re-save it to fresh media — USB sticks, SD cards, and similar storage degrade over time and can silently fail.

Still have a question?

The FAQ answers the most common ones — costs, hardware wallets, privacy, and what happens if a Will-Executor disappears.