Bitcoin Custody Summary for Executor

Custody Briefing for Named Executors

This memo is published by CustodyStress, an independent Bitcoin custody stress test that produces reference documents for individuals, families, and professionals.

What the Summary Contains

A bitcoin custody summary for executor provides condensed custody information relevant to executor responsibilities, distinct from comprehensive technical documentation that serves other purposes. The executor does not need to understand everything about bitcoin custody; they need the specific information that enables performing their administrative duties. A summary tailored to executor needs focuses on what matters for estate administration rather than attempting to convey everything the holder knew or everything that could theoretically be relevant.

The executor-focused summary differs from documentation created for other audiences. Documentation for a spouse emphasizes ongoing awareness and emergency response during the holder's lifetime. Documentation for an attorney emphasizes legal-relevant information for drafting and advising purposes. Documentation for technical consultants emphasizes configuration details that enable troubleshooting. The executor summary draws from these other documentation purposes but repackages information for the specific administrative context the executor faces. Information that matters for other purposes may not matter for executors, and information critical for executors may be peripheral for other audiences.

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What the Summary Contains

The executor summary provides a starting point for bitcoin-related estate administration, not comprehensive documentation of every detail. The summary answers the executor's initial questions—what bitcoin exists, where is it, how do I access it, who can help—in a format they can absorb quickly and reference throughout administration. Comprehensive detail may exist in supporting documents; the summary provides orientation that enables finding and using those detailed documents.

Holdings overview describes what bitcoin the estate includes. This overview may specify amounts, approximate values, and how bitcoin is held—self-custody versus exchange, single wallet versus multiple, straightforward versus complex arrangements. The executor needs to understand the scope of what they are dealing with to prioritize appropriately and allocate resources. An estate with modest bitcoin holdings in simple custody warrants different executor attention than an estate with substantial holdings in complex multi-party arrangements.

Custody structure description explains how the bitcoin is secured and what accessing it requires. Self-custody involves seed phrases, possibly passphrases, possibly hardware wallets. Exchange custody involves account credentials and third-party processes. Multi-party arrangements involve coordination with other parties. Understanding the custody structure helps the executor recognize what they need and what obstacles they may face. The summary need not explain why the holder chose their particular structure, only what that structure is and what it implies for administration.

Location pointers direct the executor to custody materials without necessarily containing the materials themselves. The summary may specify where seed phrases are stored, where hardware wallets can be found, where supporting documentation lives—enabling the executor to gather materials when needed. Including actual seed phrases in the executor summary creates security concerns; pointing to where they are stored separates the summary from the most sensitive access credentials while still enabling the executor to find them.

Contact information identifies people who can assist with various aspects of bitcoin estate administration. Professionals who know about the bitcoin situation—attorneys, accountants, technical consultants—provide resources the executor may need. Other parties involved in custody—multisig participants, key holders, service providers—may need to be contacted for access or coordination. Family members with relevant knowledge or roles offer additional support. These contacts help the executor when they face situations the summary does not address.

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What the Summary References

The executor summary points to detailed documentation that the executor may need during administration, rather than duplicating that detail within the summary itself. This reference structure keeps the summary focused and manageable while ensuring the executor knows where to find additional information. The summary serves as navigation aid to a larger documentation system; the summary alone may not enable complete administration, but it enables finding what does.

Detailed recovery procedures receive reference rather than inclusion. Step-by-step instructions for wallet recovery, transaction execution, and other technical operations may run to many pages. Including these within the summary would overwhelm the document's orientation purpose. Instead, the summary indicates where recovery procedures can be found and when they apply, enabling the executor to locate them when the time comes for actual recovery.

Technical configuration details receive similar treatment. Derivation paths, script types, wallet descriptors, and other technical specifics matter for recovery but not for executive overview. The summary notes that such details exist and where to find them without attempting to convey information the executor cannot use without substantial technical context.

Legal and tax documentation relevant to bitcoin holdings receives reference. Estate planning documents, cost basis records, transaction histories, and other records the executor or their advisors need exist somewhere; the summary points to where. This reference approach acknowledges that the summary serves administrative orientation, not comprehensive record-keeping.

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Formatting for Executor Use

The executor summary's format affects its usefulness during administration. Executors work under time pressure, often while managing multiple estate responsibilities simultaneously and potentially while grieving the deceased. A summary designed for quick reference, clear organization, and easy navigation serves executor needs better than documentation optimized for other purposes like comprehensive coverage or technical precision.

Clear section headings enable quick navigation. The executor who needs to find contact information should be able to locate it without reading through unrelated material. Section headings like "Holdings Overview," "Custody Structure," "Material Locations," and "Contacts" allow scanning for needed sections rather than linear reading. This organizational clarity becomes more important as the summary grows longer—a brief summary may be scannable without much structure, but a longer summary needs explicit organization.

Concise language respects executor time and attention. Every sentence that does not serve the executor's administrative needs is a sentence the executor must read without benefit. Technical explanations, justifications for custody choices, and background information that might serve educational purposes may not serve the executor who needs to act, not learn. The summary should be as brief as possible while still conveying essential information—this brevity discipline focuses the document on what matters.

Actionable information enables doing rather than just understanding. Where possible, the summary should support action: where to go, whom to contact, what to retrieve. Abstract understanding matters less than practical capability. The executor who finishes reading the summary should have a clearer sense of what to do next, not merely a better theoretical understanding of bitcoin custody.

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Security Considerations

Executor summaries contain sensitive information that requires security-conscious handling. The summary reveals bitcoin holdings, their magnitude, and potentially how to access them. If this information reaches wrong parties—whether through loss, theft, or careless handling—it could enable theft or other harm to the estate. Balancing information provision with security protection shapes how summaries are created, stored, and distributed.

Separation of the summary from the most sensitive credentials provides some protection. The summary that describes custody structure and points to where seed phrases are stored does not itself contain the seed phrases. An attacker who obtains only the summary gains information about the estate but not immediate access capability. This separation layer adds friction for legitimate access—the executor must follow pointers rather than finding everything in one document—but also adds friction for illegitimate access.

Storage location and access control affect summary security. A summary stored in a locked safe, a secure digital vault, or with a trusted attorney receives more protection than a summary left in an unlocked desk drawer or unencrypted cloud storage. The holder who creates an executor summary must also decide how to store it and who can access it during the holder's lifetime. These storage decisions represent security choices that persist until the executor actually uses the summary.

Distribution timing balances preparation against exposure. Providing the summary to the executor during the holder's lifetime enables preparation and familiarization but creates exposure risk during that period. Restricting access until death provides security during life but denies preparation benefits. The holder chooses where along this tradeoff to position, and different approaches suit different risk assessments and relationships.

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Maintenance and Updates

Custody arrangements change, making summaries outdated if not maintained. The summary created three years ago may not accurately describe custody as it exists today, and an outdated summary may actively mislead the executor into searching for materials that have moved, contacting people no longer involved, or approaching custody through a structure that no longer applies. Maintenance obligations attach to executor summaries as they do to other custody documentation.

Triggering events for updates include changes to holdings, custody structure, locations, and relevant contacts. When the holder acquires or sells bitcoin, the holdings overview needs updating. When custody arrangements change—new wallet, new backup locations, transition from exchange to self-custody—the structure description needs revision. When materials move or contacts change, corresponding sections need updates. Recognizing these triggers and acting on them keeps the summary accurate.

Version control prevents confusion about currency. If multiple versions of the summary exist—perhaps because updates were made but old copies were not destroyed—the executor may not know which version to trust. Clear version marking, along with disciplined removal of superseded versions, ensures the executor finds and uses current information. Simple approaches like dates and version numbers suffice; the goal is clarity about what is current, not complex version management.

The holder's death ends the opportunity for updates. Whatever summary exists at death is the final version. This reality emphasizes maintaining accuracy during life rather than assuming future updates will correct present inaccuracies. The summary that the holder always intended to update but never did becomes the summary the executor must use.

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Relationship to Other Documents

The executor summary exists within a larger documentation ecosystem that may include comprehensive custody documentation, legal documents, professional records, and personal communications. Understanding how the summary relates to these other documents clarifies its scope and limitations—the summary is one piece of a larger puzzle, not a standalone solution to executor preparation.

The summary complements but does not replace comprehensive custody documentation. Detailed procedures, technical specifications, and complete records may exist in separate documents that the summary references. The executor who only has the summary has less than they would ideally have; the executor who has comprehensive documentation without a summary may struggle to find relevant information within that comprehensive mass. The summary provides orientation that makes comprehensive documentation usable.

Legal documents may reference or be referenced by the executor summary. The will or trust may mention bitcoin; the summary may point to where legal documents are stored. Coordination between legal and custody documentation ensures consistency and prevents confusion. The executor should be able to move between legal documents and custody summary without encountering contradictions or gaps.

Professional advisors may have their own records that relate to the summary. The attorney who drafted estate planning documents, the accountant who handled tax matters, the consultant who assisted with custody setup—each may have information that supplements or overlaps with the summary. The summary's contact section should enable reaching these professionals, who can provide their records and knowledge when the executor needs them.

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Conclusion

A bitcoin custody summary for executor provides condensed information relevant to estate administration: holdings overview, custody structure, material locations, and contact information for those who can assist. The summary serves administrative orientation rather than comprehensive technical documentation, enabling the executor to understand scope, recognize what they face, and find detailed information when needed. This focused approach respects executor time and attention while ensuring they have what they need to begin administration.

The summary references rather than duplicates detailed procedures, technical configuration, and legal documentation. Format choices—clear headings, concise language, actionable information—optimize for executor use under time pressure. Security considerations shape how summaries are created, stored, and distributed, balancing information provision against exposure risk. Maintenance obligations keep summaries accurate as circumstances change.

The executor summary exists within a larger documentation ecosystem and serves its purpose best when that ecosystem is well-organized and the summary effectively navigates it. The holder who creates a well-designed executor summary provides their executor with orientation that makes bitcoin estate administration tractable rather than overwhelming.

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System Context

Examining Bitcoin Custody Under Stress

Bitcoin Heir Documentation Usability Gaps

Bitcoin Custody Reference for Spouse

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