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Heirship Protocol (Wallet recovery)

1 min read
Pronunciation
[heer-ship proh-toh-kawl]
Analogy
Like a digital will that activates when you don’t check in for a long time.
Definition
A scheme enabling on-chain transfer of wallet access to designated heirs upon proof of owner’s death or inactivity.
Key Points Intro
Heirship protocols manage inheritance via:
Key Points

Designated heirs: Addresses set as beneficiaries.

Activation conditions: Time lock or oracle-confirmed death event.

Multi-signature: Heirs collectively claim access.

Smart contract enforcement: Code automates transfer.

Example
A wallet contract holds assets and if no `keepAlive()` call for 1 year, heirs can call `claimInheritance()` to receive funds.
Technical Deep Dive
Combines time lock and social recovery: stores `heirs[]` and `threshold`. On `trigger()`, checks `block.timestamp > lastAlive + period` then allows `recover(newOwner)` by heirs’ signatures.
Security Warning
Malicious heirs could collude; include multi-party safeguards and challenge periods.
Caveat
Legal recognition of on-chain inheritance varies by jurisdiction.
Related Terms
Social Recovery
Programmable Wallet

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