The Secure Vault
The information your loved ones will need - locked safely until they need it.
Beyond letters, there's the practical stuff: bank accounts, insurance policies, the password to the family computer, where the will is kept, the location of the safe deposit key. The Vault holds all of it - encrypted with a key only you control - and releases it only when you decide.
- Zero-knowledge encryption - we can't read your vault
- Stored documents, passwords, accounts, and instructions
- Release on schedule, on event, or posthumously
- Selective release - send the right item to the right person
How The Vault Works
Encrypted on your device. Released on your terms.
Add what matters
Upload documents (PDFs, scans, photos), save credentials (logins, account numbers, PINs), and write free-form instructions ("the safe deposit key is taped under the third drawer in the office desk").
Everything is encrypted on your device
Your vault is encrypted with a key derived from your master passphrase before anything leaves your browser. We store only the ciphertext - we cannot read it.
Assign release rules per item
Each vault item gets its own release rule: hold until a date, hold until an event, or hold posthumously. You pick exactly who receives each item - and when.
Release triggers run automatically
When a release condition is met (a date arrives, you don't respond to check-ins, posthumous verification completes), the targeted recipient gets a secure link to decrypt and download that specific item.
Recipient gets a one-time decryption link
They receive a secure, time-limited link. They view or download the item directly - we never see it decrypted. They keep the copy; the encrypted vault entry stays intact on our servers.
Zero-Knowledge Encryption
Your vault is encrypted on your device with a key derived from your master passphrase. We never see your passphrase or your plaintext data. See our privacy model.
Documents & Files
Store wills, insurance policies, deeds, health care directives, scanned IDs - any file format, encrypted at rest with AES-256.
Credentials & Accounts
Save logins, account numbers, PINs, recovery phrases, and device passwords. Each entry is encrypted individually with its own per-item key.
Free-Form Notes
Some things aren't documents - they're knowledge. "Grandma's silver is in the attic in the blue trunk." "Don't sell the cabin." Write whatever needs to be known.
Per-Item Recipients
Each vault item targets specific people. The will goes to your attorney. The computer password goes to your kids. The lake house instructions go to your sibling.
Flexible Release Triggers
Release on a specific date, on an event, after check-ins stop, or only after posthumous verification. Different rules per item. See all trigger types.
One-Time Secure Links
Recipients open vault items through time-limited decryption links delivered by email or SMS. Links expire after use - or after a configurable window if unclaimed.
Full Access History
See every time you've added, edited, or released a vault item. Recipient downloads are logged too - so you (or your estate) always know what was opened, by whom, when.
Edit & Revoke Anytime
Update a document, rotate a password, remove an item, or change a release rule any time before delivery. The vault is yours - always.
Don't make them guess. Don't make them dig.
Free to start. Add your first vault items in minutes.
Start Free See How Encryption WorksWhat People Put In The Vault
- Wills, trusts, and estate documents
- Insurance policies (life, home, auto, health)
- Bank, brokerage, and retirement account info
- Device and computer passwords
- Crypto wallet recovery phrases
- Location of physical items: keys, safes, deeds
- Funeral wishes and final instructions
- Pet care plans and veterinary records
What WordsLater Cannot Do With Your Vault
- Read your vault contents
- Reset your master passphrase
- Release vault items without your defined triggers
- Hand vault contents to a third party on request
- Recover items if you lose your passphrase entirely
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "zero-knowledge" actually mean?
Your vault is encrypted on your device with a key derived from your master passphrase before anything reaches our servers. We store only encrypted blobs - we have no way to decrypt or read your data, even if we wanted to.
What if I forget my master passphrase?
We can't reset it. That's the point of zero-knowledge. Use the recovery key we generate when you set up your vault - print it, store it somewhere physically safe. Without either, vault contents cannot be recovered.
Is the vault the same thing as scheduled messages?
Related but separate. Messages are the personal stuff (letters, video, audio). The vault is for sensitive documents and credentials. Both can release on the same triggers - including posthumously.
How big is the vault?
500 MB free, up to 5 GB on paid plans. See pricing for current plan limits.
Can I share a vault item right now, not in the future?
Yes. You can generate a one-time secure link for any vault item and share it manually - useful for handing a document to your attorney or accountant on demand.
What happens to the vault if I die?
Posthumous vault items release through the same trusted-contact verification process used for messages. See how posthumous delivery works.
Can trusted contacts see my vault?
No. Trusted contacts only verify your passing. They cannot open, read, or download any vault item - only the recipients you've designated per item can.
Will recipients need a WordsLater account?
No. They receive a secure link by email or SMS, click it, and view or download the item directly. The vault works for everyone in your life.
