Getting Started
What do I need to sign up? An email address, a password, and a phone number for two-factor authentication.
How long does setup take? About 10 minutes. You'll verify your email, set up 2FA, add at least one contact, and upload some files.
What should I put in my vault? Start with your password manager's master password — that single file unlocks everything else. Then add a financial overview, insurance policies, subscriptions, and any crypto recovery instructions. You don't need to do it all at once. We wrote a full guide here.
Do my contacts need to create accounts? No. They verify their email and phone number, but they don't need passwords or accounts.
What happens after I sign up? You'll set up your vault (choose encryption mode, add files), invite contacts, and configure your check-in schedule. Then you're done until your first check-in.
Check-Ins
How often will I hear from you? The standard interval is every 30 days. Some plans allow custom intervals (7-90 days).
What if I'm traveling or unavailable? You can pause check-ins for up to 8 weeks. They resume automatically when the pause ends.
Can I pause check-ins permanently? Yes—just deactivate check-ins from Settings. Your vault stays stored but won't be released.
What counts as responding? Clicking the link in an email, tapping the button in SMS or WhatsApp, or logging in to your dashboard.
What if I miss a check-in by accident? Don't worry. You'll get reminders for a week across all channels. The full process takes 40+ days.
Security
Who can see my files? Only you—until your vault is released. Then your contacts can see them. Everything is encrypted in your browser before upload, and decrypted in the browser after download. Unencrypted files never touch our servers—not even temporarily.
Where is my data stored? In the EU only. We don't use US cloud providers.
What's the difference between Seamless and Maximum Privacy?
- Seamless: We hold a per-vault release key (each vault has its own—no master key) that lets your contacts access files after release. We could technically decrypt, but we don't—access controls and audit logging prevent it. Even then, decryption happens in the browser, not on our servers. Simpler for contacts: they just click a link. Available on all plans.
- Maximum Privacy: True zero-knowledge. No release key on our servers. Only you have the decryption key. File names are encrypted too—we can't see them. Contacts need a passphrase you've shared separately (in a safe, a letter, with a solicitor). You can leave them a personal message (which might hint at where to find the passphrase), but we cannot decrypt or see file names. Available on Plus plan.
I already use a password manager with emergency access. Why do I need Trustbourne? Emergency access gives your family all your passwords at once — with no context about which ones matter. Trustbourne holds what your password manager can't: instructions, documents, personal messages, and your master password itself — routed to the right people. Here's how they work together.
How is Trustbourne different from a notary vault like IZIMI? Notary vaults release after a death certificate. Trustbourne releases when you're unreachable — which also covers incapacitation. You choose who gets what, recipients don't need local ID, and storage starts at 5 GB instead of 1 GB. Full comparison here.
Can I change encryption modes later? Not easily—you'd need to re-upload your files. Choose carefully during setup.
Is my data backed up? Yes, encrypted backups within EU data centres. But we can't restore individual files—you should keep your own backups too.
Contacts
Do contacts know what's in my vault? Not until release. They know they're a contact, but not what files you've stored.
Can contacts see my files before release? No. They only gain access after the full escalation process completes.
What information do contacts provide? Name, email, and phone number. They verify both email and phone before being confirmed.
What do my contacts actually experience? A short email when you add them, a two-minute verification, then nothing — until it matters. During escalation they get a calm message asking if they've heard from you. After release, they get a link to browse and download files. No app, no account, no technical steps. See every screen and message here.
Can I remove a contact later? Yes, anytime from your dashboard. They'll be notified that they've been removed.
How many contacts can I have? At least one, recommended two or three. The exact limit depends on your plan (5-10 contacts).
Account
Is there a free tier? No, but we offer a generous trial and guarantee:
Try Before You Commit
- 14-day free trial — no credit card required
- Trial includes limited storage and contacts, with email-only check-ins
- All paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee
How much storage do I get? Depends on your plan—ranges from 5 GB to 25 GB. See our pricing page for details.
Can I export my data? Yes. Settings → Export Data. You'll get all your files and metadata.
How do I delete my account? Settings → Danger Zone → Delete Account. This is immediate and permanent—your files are deleted from our servers.
What happens to my vault if I delete my account? It's gone. Make sure to export anything you need first.
Still have questions? Contact us at feedback@trustbourne.com