FAQ
Ask us the hard questions
A service like this deserves skepticism. These are the questions you should ask anyone offering to keep your last words — answered plainly, including the answers that aren't flattering yet.
- How do you know when I've died?
- Delivery is designed around layers of confirmation, not a single signal: periodic check-in emails, a grace period after missed check-ins, and finally your trusted contacts — real people you chose — confirming what happened before anything is delivered. The automated check-in system is still in development, so today your trusted contacts are the mechanism. Invite them, and make sure they know your account exists. See how delivery works
- Is automated delivery live today?
- Not yet — and we'd rather say that plainly than let you assume otherwise. You can write letters, choose recipients, and set delivery preferences today, and your trusted contacts can be invited today. The automated check-in and delivery system is in active development. Until it ships, delivery works through your trusted contacts, which is why telling them about your account matters. Read the full status
- What should I tell my trusted contacts?
- Tell them your account exists and what you'd want them to do. Trusted contacts are the human layer of the system: they can be notified, asked to confirm what happened, and given access you've chosen to grant. A service like this works best when at least one person you trust knows it's there. See their role in delivery
- What happens if When I Die Files shuts down?
- We've made four commitments: at least 12 months advance notice to every user, all scheduled deliveries executed before shutdown, a full export of your data provided to you, and the option to transfer your data to a designated successor service. These commitments are written into our Terms of Service, not just a blog post. Read our continuity commitments
- Can I export my letters?
- Yes — anytime, free, on every plan. You can download any letter, or all of your letters at once, from the letters page. Your words are never held hostage: we encourage you to keep your own copies somewhere you control.
- Who can read my letters?
- You, the people you explicitly share with, and — once delivery happens — the recipients you named. Our staff do not read your content. To be precise rather than comforting: like almost every cloud service, a small number of operators could technically access the database; that access is restricted and logged, and we only touch your content with your consent for support or when the law requires it. Read our security practices
- Are my letters end-to-end encrypted?
- No, and we won't claim otherwise. Your content is encrypted in transit and at rest, with access tightly controlled — but the encryption keys are managed by our infrastructure provider, not derived from your password. True client-side encryption for the vault is on our roadmap. Until it ships, you'll never see us use the words "end-to-end" or "zero-knowledge." See what we do and don't claim
- How is When I Die Files funded?
- By one-time Lifetime purchases — $199, once. No ads, no selling data, no subscription treadmill. One-time pricing means our incentive is simple: keep the service running and worthy of trust for decades, because that's exactly what we were paid to do. More about us
- What does "lifetime" mean?
- One payment, no renewals, for as long as When I Die Files operates. We're honest that no company can promise to exist forever — which is why the Lifetime plan is backed by our shutdown commitments: 12 months notice, deliveries executed, and a full export of your data if we ever wind down. Read the shutdown protocol
- What's your refund policy?
- If the Lifetime plan isn't right for you, email us within 30 days of purchase and we'll refund you in full, no questions asked.
- Are the letters legally binding?
- No — letters and messages in When I Die Files are personal communications, not legal documents, and a letter doesn't replace a will. When I Die Files is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you need legally binding documents like a will, healthcare directive, or power of attorney, those must be prepared and executed according to your state's rules (signing, witnesses, notarization); our state-by-state guides explain what each one requires. See state-by-state requirements
- How do I delete my account and data?
- You can delete individual letters, vault items, and other content anytime from inside the app — deletion is immediate and permanent. For full account deletion, email support@whenidiefiles.com and we'll remove your account and all associated content.
Something we didn’t answer? Email support@whenidiefiles.com — a human reads every message.