What Happens to Your 1Password / Bitwarden / LastPass Account When You Die
Quick Facts
1Password
Emergency Kit + family vault
Bitwarden
Emergency access feature
LastPass
Emergency access feature
Step-by-Step Guide
1Password: Set up Emergency Kit
1Password generates an Emergency Kit with your Secret Key and account details. Print it, store physically, and note the location in your vault. Family vaults can be shared.
Bitwarden: Enable Emergency Access
Settings → Emergency Access → Add a trusted person. Set a wait time (1-30 days). After the wait period with no response from you, they gain access.
LastPass: Set up Emergency Access
Account Settings → Emergency Access → Add a trusted person. Works similarly to Bitwarden with a configurable wait period.
Document Now Checklist
- Note which password manager you use
- Note location of 1Password Emergency Kit (if applicable)
- Note if Emergency Access is configured in Bitwarden/LastPass
- Note who has been designated as emergency contact
Save this to your vault
When you document your accounts in Passed Plan, your family gets a personalized action plan — with only the guides that apply to them, in the right order, with your notes attached.
Start your vault — free for 30 daysLast verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with 1Password / Bitwarden / LastPass. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Related Guides
What is 2FA?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the single biggest barrier families face when accessing accounts after death. If 2FA is enabled on an account and nobody has the authenticator device or backup codes, the account may be permanently inaccessible.
Google Authenticator
Open Google Authenticator → tap your profile icon → turn on sync. This backs up your 2FA codes to your Google account so they survive phone loss.
Authy
Settings → Devices → Allow multi-device. This lets you add Authy to multiple phones or tablets. If multi-device is off and the phone is lost, recovery is extremely difficult.
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