Your Hive Legacy

I have given this topic a lot of thought recently, but a few days ago, @focusnow posted a question about what will happen to your accounts when you die.

Now, don’t go thinking that I am being morbid; I am trying to be helpful.
One thing I learned working in Emergency Medicine for over 20 years is that life can change instantly. You need to have a plan in place, I think it is the responsible thing to do for your family.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself.

Does your family know anything about your Hive account and activity?
Do you have all your credentials in a safe place?
Do your loved ones know what you have accumulated in your Hive account?

I believe most of us would answer question 1 with a resounding NO.

As for myself, I have tried to get my family involved on the blockchain, but it has not been very successful. I have set them up with accounts, but they have not been on for some time now.

**Question 2 should be a resounding YES! **

When I first joined the Hive Blockchain, it was through ListNerds. One point that my mentor, @jongolson, hammered home was the importance of securing your Hive keys.

You need to have multiple copies laminated, of course, in a few secured locations both at home and off-site.

I have laminated copies of my keys, and they are in my safe, along with my Hive journal. I also have digital storage.

Remember that it is essential to protect your keys, but you also want to protect your family by having them available upon your demise.

Question 3 is a bit different, I guess.

My family does not really know how much I have accumulated on Hive since joining, but I want them to have access to it when I am gone.

The last thing you want to have happen to your account is the “Dead Fish” status and your funds just sitting there, helping no one.

I have done this to help ensure a smooth transition of my Hive account once I have transitioned.

First and foremost, I have secured my keys in multiple places, but in areas where my family will be able to find them.

I have started a simple journal that outlines my Hive life but is not so complex that they will be overwhelmed by the information.

I have a somewhat current list of my Hive Ledger that describes each token and what they are for.

Once they secure my Hive account, I have instructed them to log on to @jongolson’s The Hive Guide at https://thehiveguide.com.

This free program describes how to start on the Hive Blockchain and how things work.

If you are not familiar with the site, I urge you to check it out.

It is my hope that either my wife or, more likely, one of my kids will pick up the mantle and continue to grow the account.

I instruct them on the simple process of transferring tokens to their own account or cashing them out.

I hope this will not be an issue for a long time, but I am a realist and know things change in life.

Keep in mind that this method is also helpful if you are incapacitated for some reason like a stroke of coma.

**I keep my ledger in our safe and my family knows where it is and they also understand not to read it unless necessary.
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And on that note, I wish you all a long and prosperous life.

Until next time,

John Novak

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