Deadman notification accounts?

[Cali-Glock]

Deadman notification accounts are almost a trope in spy movies and books; but I have been considering setting one up.

As a general misanthrope, I find myself further and further disconnected from people in real life and have thought I'd like a way to let some key people know if I died or something serious happened so my cats don't starve to death or end up having to feast on my decaying corpse. Hell sometimes I go a couple weeks before virtually seeing my boss in a Zoom meeting; I have some other co-workers who would probably ask questions if I did not respond to emails, but worst case scenario I could see my being gone a couple weeks without someone coming to my door to see if I were still alive.

I am married, but one day some years back my wife decided she was not talking to me any more and then moved to our second home in another state. I don't want to get into details, but to say this is not the worst I imagined when I signed on to the better-or-worse clause during the wedding ceremony. I kid, but I am also very serious.

I would like to be able to give access to some additional information to my wife and close friends upon my death: banking info, passwords, safe combos, etc. I was thinking of putting together a packet, perhaps with a thumb drive and keep it in a friend's safe so he could open it up and/or pass it along if I died, but that friend died last fall.

I see Google has the option of setting up a dead man switch auto email, but for several reasons it does not look like the route I want to take.

I came across these two commercial sites, both of which have free service options and pretty reasonable fee options as well.

https://www.deadmantracker.com/

Deadman Tracker has a file option - I am a bit concerned about uploading a doc with sensitive information such as banking/password/combo, but offhand I was thinking perhaps I could create a password protected document and let her know up front what the password is - something unique to us; what song did we listen to on XYZ trip or something like that.

https://www.deadmansswitch.net/

Any insights on setting up a dead man email deal or on either of these two services?

Any insights or suggestions on setting up a password protected/encrypted document where I could put sensitive information I would want/need to be passed along upon my death?

[Marauder2003]

[sonofeugene]

Do you have any assets like a house, cars, money, etc. If so, if you don't have a trust set up, do so now. It avoids expensive probate (think wills alone, 10's of thousands) and makes it easy to settle your affairs for those you designate. Put all the info you want of need into the trust. Easy to do.

Add a will to a trust. Never be without a trust.

[Cali-Glock]

Do you have any assets like a house, cars, money, etc. If so, if you don't have a trust set up, do so now. It avoids expensive probate (think wills alone, 10's of thousands) and makes it easy to settle your affairs for those you designate. Put all the info you want of need into the trust. Easy to do.

Add a will to a trust. Never be without a trust.

I have not gone the trust route for two three reasons:

1. I am Lazy
2. I am Cheap (Though I have offered multiple times to pay for my Dad to set up a trust... to no avail.)
3. I am leaving everything to my wife. My understanding (perhaps incorrectly) is that no probate would apply when a person dies and leaves everything to their spouse. Our two homes are held jointly and most accounts are held jointly - she is listed as the beneficiary with the banks for accounts that are not held jointly.

One quirk is that allegedly my Dad signed his home over to my siblings and me a few months ago - just before the law changed about being able to do so and still stay under Prop 13. I never saw any paperwork, so I honestly don't know if it really happened or how the ownership is set up. I asked my brother and he rolled his eyes which does not bode well. Assuming for the moment I do actually own 21% of my Dad's home or whatever that deal was supposed to be, I should address how that should be handled; as things stand at this very moment it could be challenging. (Note to self - send my Marxist sister an email about the house - this is probably not going to go well.)

I have a will which accounts for all my assets excluding this recent development with my Dad's house. The will leaves everything to my wife. The original in my safe, and a copy with my wife and a couple of friends.

[Cali-Glock]

2nd one has good pricing.

When I first moved to Vegas I checked into these services. Some better that others but they all wanted $120 a year or more. They called and/or sent an email that had to be responded to.

I now have a deal with an ex-coworker in CA. I send her an email before noon. And she does the same to me. No email a call is made to the person.

She also has my lawyers info in NV and my estate docs.

Did I miss something - the first one (Deadmantracker.com) is $10 a year for the premium service https://www.deadmantracker.com/pricing

The second (one deadmanswitch.com) $50 for a lifetime premium service. https://www.deadmansswitch.net/pricing/

The premium services with a variety of options seems ideal: I am figuring 72 hour notice to a few folks - and include in that message that another more detailed message will go out at 168 hour trigger if it turns out I am actually gone for good or in a coma or something.

Perhaps a "It was nice knowing you!" email to my full email list at a month out. Or one could be a tool and send one to some conspiracy minded acquaintances that says - You are the only one I am telling - I actually alive and living the dream under an assumed name on an unnamed tropical island - psych! The possibilities for cruel posthumous humor is almost endless!

[ScottsBad]

I don't know I just share all info with my wife

[Marauder2003]

If one lives alone and normally does not have daily contact with someone you will have melted into the carpet before someone finds you.

I don't know I just share all info with my wife

[hermosabeach]

Do you have one of those - help Ive fallen and can’t get up bracelet?

What wrong with
1- safety deposit box at bank? When you die, ss# is flagged as dead. Bank gets notified
Copy of will and such in the box
2- if married wife can really take it all regardless of will if she is left out.

It’s worth chatting with an estate attorney

[Cali-Glock]

A: No help I've fallen bracelet - that is kind of like those rescue me beacon devices wimps today take into the back country. Struggle and survive or die like a man.

1: Safety deposit box... my SS# is flagged... My wife and others have a copy of my will... plus I am pretty confident everyone I know and am related to will have figured out I am dead long before SS does. Seems like paying for a deposit box that the bank might figure out belongs to a dead guy years after the fact is not super helpful - but I am sure I am missing something.

2: Currently everything is left to my wife anyway.

2: Part b: Once I figure out the deal with my alleged part ownership of my Dad's house I will probably speak to an attorney as to protect my siblings; I would not want to create a situation that forces a premature sale. My Dad's house will have to be sold at some point but there are a couple of of triggers that will have to happen first and I would not want to force a sale prior to those triggers.

[Cali-Glock]

If one lives alone and normally does not have daily contact with someone you will have melted into the carpet before someone finds you.

If I have a little forewarning I can try to die outside so the wildlife can feast on me.

[elSquid]

[ScottsBad]

If one lives alone and normally does not have daily contact with someone you will have melted into the carpet before someone finds you.

I started to add to that post, and then got side tracked.

I believe it is a concern when someone lives alone. I'm not sure what is the best way to have reliable checks on yourself. But a trust with an executor, and good instructions can keep the Government out of the process after death. And a copy of the trust should be kept with the attorney.

The problem is that it can be expensive.

Potentially a religious institution might be of help or a charity? I've thought a bit about what I would like done with my firearms. These problems are not easily solved if you want your belongings to go to a good cause. AND not be stolen or misused.

If you are skilled you can write a program that expects live input every day. And takes action if it does not receive it. Potentially, it could dial 911 with a recorded message, but it would only be reliable if it was a wired phone line.

It would probably be nicer if you cross test with a friend. But there is a reliability and trust issue there. Some retirement communities have staff or a system that calls each room or home each day.

There might be an interesting product there if someone wanted to develop something that could take multiple actions, and provide data. It might even be a cell phone app.