Answers to Common Questions About Inheritance
Table of Contents
KEY SHARING
How does key sharing work?
For 3-Key vaults:
2 Keys are shared with your Recipient: the Mobile Key and the Casa Recovery Key.
- Mobile Key: You'll share the Mobile Key with your Recipient by having them scan your Mobile Key QR code, following the steps in the Casa app. This will import the Key into their Casa account. Importing this key is only possible for the account owned by the person you invited to your Inheritance setup.
Note: For vaults with 2 hardware wallets, you will need to follow instructions in the app to share 1 hardware key with your Recipient.
- Casa Recovery Key: Your Recipient will see the Casa Recovery Key in their app, which is shared automatically.
A Recipient cannot use any shared Keys, nor view your vault balance, until after the Request Access Process has completed.
For 5-key and 6-key vaults:
3 Keys are shared with your Recipient: the Mobile Key, a Hardware Key and the Casa Recovery Key.
- Mobile Key: You'll share the Mobile Key with your Recipient by having them scan your Mobile Key QR code, following the steps in the Casa app. This will import the Key into their Casa account. Importing this key is only possible for the account owned by the person you invited to your Inheritance setup.
- Hardware Key: Choose a Hardware Key from your vault for Inheritance, preferably one for which you have the backup seed phrase. Give this Hardware Key to your Recipient along with its PIN. They'll conduct a health check using their Casa app from the Inheritance tab. Once the Health Check is done, the Hardware Key setup is finished. Sharing this key is only possible for the account owned by the person you invited to your Inheritance setup. Going forward, you will both need to perform health checks on this Key, so it’s important to choose one accessible to both of you.
Note: As another option, you can duplicate one of your Hardware Keys for your Recipient to handle. To go with this approach, you’ll need to obtain a new hardware device and import the seed phrase for that Key into the new hardware device, then follow the Key sharing steps outlined in the Casa app. Learn how to do this
- Casa Recovery Key: Your Recipient will see the Casa Recovery Key in their app, which is shared automatically.
A Recipient cannot use any shared Keys, nor view your vault balance, until after the Request Access Process has completed.
Do I have to be in the same place as my Recipient to share the Mobile Key?
You don't need to be physically together. During set up, you'll be able to share the QR code through the Casa app using any method you prefer, such as email or text message. Importing a copy of your Mobile Key is only possible for the account owned by the person you invited to your Inheritance setup.
HEALTH CHECKS
Does my Recipient need to do Health Checks on the Mobile Key?
Yes, both you and your Recipient/s will need to do health checks on the shared Mobile Key. Casa will send you both reminders every six months if they are due.
Your Recipient will conduct their health check by going to the Inheritance tab in their Casa app, going into the vault that’s been shared with them, then on the Mobile Key screen, they tap “Perform Health Check”. How to do health checks as a Recipient.
Who does the Health Check on the Hardware Key that’s shared for Inheritance?
Every six months, both you and your Recipient will need to conduct health checks on the designated Hardware Key for Inheritance. You will each perform this task through your Casa Mobile app. Casa will send reminders to both of you if the health checks are due.
Your Recipient will conduct their health check by going to the Inheritance tab in their Casa app, tapping into the vault that’s been shared with them, tap on the Hardware Key screen, and then tap “Perform Health Check” and follow the instructions. How to do health checks as a Recipient.
VAULT ACCESS
Does Casa verify death?
Casa does not verify the death of the Vault Owner. Instead, there is a 6-month verification period during which you have the opportunity to reject any request for vault access made by your designated Recipient.
Throughout this 6-month period, you will receive monthly notifications when your Recipient has requested access to the shared vault. You have the ability to reject this request at any time within the 6-month window.
Note: Private Client members who are US residents, have the option to add "Enhanced Verification" which does provide death verification. In the unfortunate event of your passing, your Recipient will provide a death certificate, which Casa will validate.
Once validated, vault access will be granted to the Recipient. To enable this feature, Private Clients need to provide their full name, their Recipient’s full name, and upload copies of both US government issued IDs.
What is the Request Access Process?
In the event of your death or incapacitation, your Recipient can request access to your vault. This triggers a 6-month verification period, during which you'll receive monthly notifications about the access request. You have the option to reject the request at any time within this 6-month period. If you do not reject the request, your Recipient will gain access to your vault after the 6-month period.
Can I change the 6-month verification period?
Not at this time.The verification period is determined by Casa and is set at 6 months.
What if I want to approve a Vault Access Request?
You won’t be able to approve a Vault Access Request, but if you wish for your Recipient to receive funds sooner, you can simply send your Recipient (or anyone else) funds from your Vault whenever you want.
If I share my BTC Vault, am I sharing my Sub-Accounts as well?
Yes. If you have sub-accounts in your Bitcoin Vault, your Recipient will be able to access them after the Request Access Process has been completed.
If I share my ETH vault, will my Recipient have access to my stablecoins as well?
Yes. Your Recipient will have access to your ethereum and any stable coins in your shared Vault after the Request Access Process has been completed.
How will my Recipient get the assets from my Vault/s?
For BTC Vaults: Once your Recipient has been granted access to the vault, they will be guided through the send flows. They will be able to send bitcoin from the main vault and each sub account separately to any wallet of their choosing.
For ETH Vaults (and stablecoins): Once your Recipient has been granted access to the vault, they will be guided through the send flows. They will be directed to send USDC and/or USDT before they send ETH to any wallet of their choosing.
Where can my Recipient send assets?
They have the flexibility to send assets to any address or wallet they prefer. Whether it's a Casa Pay Key, their personal Casa vault, or an address outside of Casa, they can easily initiate asset transfers through the in-app send flows.
Is there a limit on how much my Recipients can send?
No, once the Request Access Process has completed, your Recipient will have full access to your vault and be able to send transactions of any amount, and send as many transactions as they’d like.
How does my Recipient use the Casa Recovery Key?
Once the Request Access Process has completed and your Recipient has gained access to the vault, they will sign transactions with their shared key(s) and then request a Casa Recovery Key signature.
The Recipient will need to wait:
7 days for a 3-key vault signature to be signed.
2 days for a 5-key or 6-key vault signature to be signed.
Can I remove a Recipient from my Inheritance setup?
Yes. To remove a Recipient from your vault, navigate to your Inheritance tab and select the vault you want to remove them from. Then, tap on "Revoke Vault Access" and confirm your action. Once confirmed, the Recipient will be removed from the vault, and their copy of the shared Keys will be deleted.
Note: If you have multiple Vaults setup with Inheritance, you will need to revoke vault access for each Vault.
KEY ROTATIONS
What happens if I rotate my Mobile Key that’s been shared for Inheritance?
When you begin to rotate your Mobile Key, the app will warn you that doing so will break your Inheritance setup. After completing the rotation, follow the steps in the Inheritance tab of your Casa app to share the updated Mobile Key with your Recipient to maintain the health of your Inheritance setup.
What happens if I rotate a Hardware Key that’s been shared for Inheritance?
When you begin to rotate your Hardware Key, the app will warn you that doing so will break your Inheritance setup. After completing the rotation, follow the steps in the Inheritance tab of your Casa app to share the updated Hardware Key with your Recipient to maintain the health of your Inheritance setup.
OTHER QUESTIONS
How old does my Recipient have to be?
Recipients need to be 18 years of age or older at the time of setup. You can view the full details in our terms.
What if someone else scans my Mobile QR code with the Casa app?
Nothing will happen. Importing your Mobile Key is only possible for the account owned by the person you invited to your Inheritance setup.
In a 3-key vault can my Recipient use my hardware device instead of the Casa Recovery Key?
Yes, if your Recipient has access to your Hardware Key and knows the PIN, they can use any combination of 2 keys to send funds from your vault, once the Request Access Process has completed.
If the Request Access Process has completed, and access has been granted to my Recipient, can I still use my Vault and Keys?
Yes, you can use the app as normal, even after the Request Access Process has completed. You also have the ability to revoke the Recipient’s access to your Vault at any time.
Can I assign more than 1 recipient?
Please note that at the standard and premium membership levels, only 1 recipient is supported for the inheritance program. You can at any time revoke access to that recipient and replace
What happens if my membership lapses before the 6 month claim hold?
If your membership expires before the 6 month verification period has completed, your recipient can still access your assets. They are able to move your assets to any address they want, or they can purchase a Casa membership if they want to self-custody with Casa.