Posthumous Delivery
Some words are meant for after.
A final "I love you." Birthday letters for the grandchildren you may never meet. A confession, an apology, a recipe, a story. WordsLater can hold these messages privately for as long as you need - and only release them once we're certain you've passed. Here's exactly how that works.
How Posthumous Delivery Works
A careful, multi-step process built for trust.
You write and seal your message
Compose a letter, record a video, attach photos or files. Mark it as "Posthumous Delivery" and choose the recipients. Once sealed, only the recipients you designate will ever be able to read it.
You add trusted contacts
Choose 1-3 people who can later confirm your status - usually a spouse, sibling, adult child, or close friend. They don't need an account, and they never see the content of your messages.
We run gentle check-ins
On the schedule you choose (monthly, quarterly, or yearly), we send a short email or SMS asking, "Still here?" One click confirms you're well and resets the timer.
If you stop responding, we escalate carefully
After multiple missed check-ins across email and SMS over an extended window, we reach out to your trusted contacts. They're asked to confirm or deny your passing - never to guess.
Trusted contacts verify
Verification requires confirmation from your trusted contacts, often supported by a public record (obituary, death certificate reference, or similar). We require multiple independent confirmations - never just one.
We deliver your messages
Once verified, your sealed messages are released to the recipients you chose - by email, SMS, or both. Each recipient gets your message exactly as you wrote it, with the date you originally composed it.
Try a posthumous message idea.
Each example pre-fills the recipient and posthumous delivery - change anything before sending.
Leave something behind that lasts.
Start your first posthumous message today. Free, private, and you can change it anytime.
Start Free See Legacy PlanBuilt to Be Trusted - For Decades
Because the words you leave behind deserve more than a hope and a prayer.
End-to-End Encryption
Your messages are encrypted at rest and in transit. Not even our staff can read them. Recipients receive decrypted content only at delivery.
Multi-Person Verification
We don't take any one person's word. Posthumous releases require confirmation from multiple trusted contacts, plus supporting evidence.
Designed for the Long Haul
Our Legacy plan is funded for decades-long custody, with redundant backups and a documented continuity plan so your messages outlive any one server.
Edit Anytime While You're Here
Until delivery happens, you can rewrite, add to, or remove any message. Your future words are always in your hands.
False-Trigger Safeguards
Multiple missed check-ins, multi-channel reminders, and contact confirmation - all required before anything is released.
Total Privacy
Trusted contacts confirm your status, never the content. Your messages are yours - and your recipients' - alone.
Safeguards That Protect You
- Multiple missed check-ins required before any escalation begins.
- Reminders sent across both email and SMS so a single channel failure can't trigger release.
- Trusted contacts must independently confirm - one person's claim is never enough.
- Supporting evidence (obituary link, death certificate reference, etc.) is requested before release.
- A built-in 7-day "cooling off" window after verification, with one last chance for you to respond.
- You can pause or postpone the entire check-in process at any time from your dashboard.
- Full audit trail of every check-in, response, and verification event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I miss a check-in because I'm on vacation or hospitalized?
Check-ins use multiple reminders over weeks - not days - before anything escalates. You can also pause check-ins in advance from your dashboard or by replying to any reminder. A trusted contact can also flag you as "temporarily unavailable" on your behalf.
Who picks my trusted contacts? Can I change them?
You do, and you can change them anytime. We recommend at least two people in different households. They don't need a WordsLater account - they just need a reachable email or phone number.
Can my trusted contacts read my messages?
No. Trusted contacts only confirm your status. They never see the content of your messages. Only the recipients you designate receive the actual content, and only after verified posthumous release.
What if a trusted contact passes away before me?
We'll prompt you periodically to review your trusted contacts. If we detect a bounced or undeliverable address, you'll get a notification asking you to update it.
What happens to my messages if WordsLater shuts down?
Our Legacy plan is funded with long-term custody in mind, and we maintain a documented continuity plan including encrypted off-site backups and partner arrangements. Read more in our Data Retention & Custody overview.
Is this legally binding like a will?
No - WordsLater messages are personal communications, not legal instruments. They don't replace a will, trust, or estate plan. We recommend pairing WordsLater with proper estate planning for anything legally significant.
Can I cancel a posthumous message I no longer want delivered?
Yes, anytime. Until the moment a message is released, you have full control - edit it, reschedule it, or delete it permanently from your dashboard.
How is the recipient notified that this is a posthumous message?
Each posthumous delivery includes a gentle, personal cover note explaining the message was written by you and held until this moment. The tone is designed to be kind, not jarring.
