Labeling Hardware Wallets for Heirs Who Are Not Technical

When heirs open a drawer and find two similar-looking USB devices, model numbers alone do not help. Our binder inventory sheets use a labeling system clients adopt before we arrive for intake.

The Three-Part Label

Each device receives:

1. A household name — “Dad’s retirement wallet” or “Family savings device.” Plain language, no jargon.
2. A physical description — color, brand, any stickers or engraving. “Black Ledger Nano X, silver sticker on back with initials JPK.”
3. A holdings category — not exact balances, but purpose. “Long-term savings” or “Rental property proceeds.”

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Do not label devices with exchange account usernames. Do not write PINs on the device or its label. Do not use only cryptocurrency ticker symbols — heirs may not know that “ETH device” means Ethereum holdings.

Binder Tab Order

We assign tab numbers during assembly. Tab 1 is always the inventory overview listing all devices with their household names. Individual device tabs follow in the order you specify — typically by importance or by heir responsibility.

Practice at the Briefing

During the family briefing session, we ask heirs to match physical devices (brought to the meeting or shown in photographs) to inventory sheet entries. Mismatches surface before an emergency.

Start with a record review if you are unsure how many devices you have or whether labels are consistent.