Custody notes are the section clients ask about most. They understand the wallet index. They accept that exchange history takes time. But they hesitate at describing where recovery material is stored — afraid of creating a treasure map, or afraid of leaving too little for their family.
What to include
- Location category: “Home safe, third drawer” or “Bank box #214, Jeju branch” — enough to orient a trusted person, not enough for a stranger
- Who knows: Names of people aware of the location
- Device model: If a hardware wallet is involved, note the brand and where the device itself is kept
- Last verified date: When you personally confirmed the material was still there
What to exclude
- Seed phrases, private keys, or passwords — ever
- Photographs of recovery sheets
- Safe combination numbers written in full (a hint is acceptable only if your household already shares the combination through another channel)
The notebook answers where to look, not what you will find when you open it.
A practical example
Custody note — “Trading” wallet Recovery sheet in home safe (bedroom), third drawer, brown envelope labelled “P”. Wife Min-jung knows the safe location. Ledger Nano X device in same drawer. Last verified 2 February 2025.
That paragraph gives a family member a path without exposing the secret itself.
When custody changes
Any move — new safe, divorce, death in the family — triggers an immediate custody note update. Date the change. If the old location is obsolete, strike through the previous paragraph and write the new one beneath it.
Questions about your specific situation are welcome during a consolidation session. We walk through custody notes together before you write the final version.