Use case
Estate planning
Document valuables so heirs immediately know what is where — and estate tax can be substantiated correctly.
When an estate opens, heirs often face the question: “What did they actually own, and where was it kept?” A pre-existing inventory saves heirs weeks of searching — and prevents items from being forgotten entirely.
What heirs really need
- A map of which asset is where (safe deposit box, home safe, account)
- Photo proof and receipts for every valuable
- Value at date of death (for estate tax)
- Activity history as a plausibility check toward tax authorities
- Access (keys, power of attorney, legacy contact)
How to use the app for estate prep
- Add every storage location (bank box, home safe, jewelry case)
- Capture each valuable with photo and receipt
- Annually: export a password-protected master PDF
- Store the PDF and password separately (attorney, estate folder, trusted person)
- Enable Apple Legacy Contact (Settings → Apple ID → Legacy Contact)
Safe deposit box after death
Bank box access after death is strictly regulated: banks typically open a box only against a court order / letters testamentary, often with an attorney present. A pre-existing inventory PDF — password-protected, lodged with your attorney — makes the box contents unambiguous from the start.
Frequently asked questions
How do heirs access the inventory data if the app is biometric-locked?
Recommendation: regularly export a password-protected master PDF and lodge it with your attorney or in an estate folder. Keep the password separate. With iCloud Sync on, Apple\\'s Legacy Contact feature gives heirs access to your iCloud account.
Does this help with estate tax?
Yes. Estate tax is based on date-of-death market value. A pre-existing photo-backed inventory with receipts dramatically simplifies appraisal — and makes amended returns much less likely.