Frequently Asked Questions

A DeathBox is a personal, physical archive system that contains all your essential documents, information, and instructions needed during an emergency or after your passing. It's a comprehensive collection housed in a durable container that you create and maintain yourself, ensuring your loved ones have access to critical information when they need it most.

While digital services have their benefits, they also come with several limitations and risks:

• They require internet access and technical knowledge
• They often involve subscription fees that must be maintained
• Services can change terms, go out of business, or suffer data breaches
• In emergency situations, power or internet may be unavailable
• Your loved ones need to know about the service and have access credentials

A physical DeathBox provides immediate, tangible access without these dependencies, though we do recommend including some digital components within your physical system.

No, we don't sell DeathBox kits. Our mission is to empower you to create your own personalized system using readily available materials. We provide guides, checklists, and recommendations, but believe the most effective solution is one you build yourself to meet your specific needs and circumstances.

The ideal container for your DeathBox should be:

• Durable and able to withstand physical impact
• Water-resistant or waterproof
• Fire-resistant (ideally, though this increases cost)
• Lockable for basic security
• Appropriately sized for your documents (typically around the size of a briefcase)

Many people use waterproof outdoor equipment cases, document storage boxes, or even modified fireproof safes. Our components guide provides specific recommendations for different budgets and needs.

The essential documents for most DeathBox systems include:

• Identification documents (birth certificates, social security cards, etc.)
• Medical information (conditions, medications, providers, insurance)
• Financial documents (account information, insurance policies, property deeds)
• Legal documents (will, power of attorney, healthcare directives)
• Emergency contacts and important relationships
• Digital legacy information (accounts, passwords, instructions)

Our comprehensive document checklist provides a detailed breakdown of recommended documents by category.

This depends on your specific situation and the documents in question:

• For critically important documents that are rarely needed (birth certificates, property deeds), consider high-quality copies in your DeathBox and originals in a safe deposit box
• For documents that might be needed quickly in an emergency, include originals if possible
• For documents where originals are stored elsewhere (like a safe deposit box), include information about where to find them

Many people create a hybrid approach, with some originals and some copies, depending on their overall document storage strategy. Our document storage guide provides more detailed recommendations.

Balancing security and accessibility is a key consideration. Some approaches include:

• Using a basic lock on the container and sharing the combination with trusted individuals
• Storing the box in a secure but known location in your home
• For sensitive documents, using an additional sealed envelope within the box
• Creating a "notification document" that sits on top when opened, explaining the contents and their purpose
• Using tamper-evident seals that show if the box has been opened

The right balance depends on your personal circumstances. Our security guide provides detailed options for different security levels.

At minimum, you should inform:

• Your spouse or partner
• Close family members who would be involved in an emergency
• Your emergency contacts
• The executor of your will
• Your attorney or financial advisor

Consider creating a simple "In Case of Emergency" card for your wallet that mentions the existence and location of your DeathBox.

Regular updates are essential to ensure your DeathBox remains effective. We recommend:

• Quarterly review of emergency contacts and medical information
• Biannual review of financial documents and digital information
• Annual comprehensive review of all contents
• Immediate updates after major life events (marriage, birth, property purchase, etc.)

Consider setting calendar reminders to help you maintain a regular update schedule. Our maintenance guide includes checklists for each type of review.

Tracking updates helps you and others know how current the information is. Some methods include:

• Including a maintenance log at the front of your DeathBox
• Dating each document when it's added or updated
• Using colored tabs or stickers to indicate the last review date
• Using tamper-evident seals with dates written on them
• Creating a digital maintenance log (stored both in and outside the box)

A simple "Last Updated" sheet on top of each section can be an effective tracking method.