Glossary
The terms and concepts behind crypto inheritance — in plain English, without the jargon tax.
15 terms · Updated March 2026
- 01
Dead Man's Switch
An automated mechanism that triggers an action when the user fails to perform a regular check-in. In crypto inheritance, it activates the heir claim process when the vault owner misses their scheduled check-in, ensuring assets can be recovered without sharing private keys.
Learn more- 02
Multisig (Multi-Signature)
A security mechanism that requires multiple parties to sign a transaction before it can be executed. In HeirVault, multisig means M-of-N heirs must sign before a claim can be completed — for example, 2-of-3 heirs must agree to release funds.
Learn more- 03
Guardian
A trusted party appointed by the vault owner who can extend the check-in deadline by a limited amount (up to 90 days per session, 180 days lifetime). Guardians cannot withdraw, transfer, or modify assets — they can only buy time for the owner to respond.
Learn more- 04
Check-In Interval
The time period set by the vault owner between required proof-of-life confirmations. Common intervals are 90, 180, or 365 days. If the owner fails to check in before the interval expires, the dead man's switch activates.
- 05
Grace Period
A configurable window of time after the check-in deadline is missed and before heirs can execute a claim. During this period, the owner can still check in to reset the timer, and guardians can extend the deadline.
- 06
Self-Custody
The practice of holding your own private keys and directly controlling your crypto assets, rather than trusting a third-party custodian (like an exchange). HeirVault is fully self-custodial — your assets live in smart contracts that only you control.
- 07
Non-Custodial
A system where no third party holds or controls user funds. HeirVault smart contracts are non-custodial: the platform never has access to your private keys or the ability to move your assets.
- 08
Smart Contract
A self-executing program stored on a blockchain that automatically enforces the terms of an agreement. HeirVault vaults are smart contracts that manage inheritance rules, check-in logic, and asset distribution without human intervention.
- 09
Vault
In HeirVault, a vault is a smart contract deployed on-chain that holds your digital assets and enforces your inheritance rules. Each vault has an owner, designated heirs with share allocations, a check-in interval, and optional guardians.
- 10
Heir
A wallet address designated by the vault owner to receive a share of the vault's assets after a successful claim. Each heir is assigned a percentage share, and in multisig configurations, heirs must collectively sign to execute a claim.
- 11
Claim
The process by which heirs request access to vault assets after the dead man's switch has been triggered. A claim goes through stages: initiation, signing (if multisig), and execution. Once executed, withdrawals unlock according to heir shares.
- 12
ERC-20
A token standard on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains. ERC-20 tokens include stablecoins (USDC, USDT, DAI), governance tokens, and utility tokens. HeirVault supports inheritance of any ERC-20 token.
- 13
ERC-721 (NFT)
A token standard for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on Ethereum and EVM chains. Each ERC-721 token is unique. HeirVault supports NFT inheritance — your digital collectibles, art, and domain names can be passed to heirs.
- 14
Timelock
A restriction that prevents a transaction from being executed until a specified time has passed. In Bitcoin vaults, HeirVault uses OP_CSV timelocks to enforce inheritance delays, ensuring the owner has time to reclaim funds.
Learn more- 15
Emergency Recovery
A function available to vault owners that transfers all assets to a specified address and permanently deactivates the vault. This is an irreversible last-resort action for recovering funds.
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Theory into practice
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