Common questions about planning ahead

Heirloom is a cataloging and planning tool, not a legal service. This FAQ explains how it fits into the estate planning process and where it hands off to legal professionals.

Is Heirloom a legal document?

No. The inheritance plan you create in Heirloom — and the PDF you can export — is not a legally binding will or trust document. It's a clear, organised record of your wishes that can accompany and inform your formal estate documents.

Think of it as a detailed letter of instruction: it tells your family what you own, what each item means, and what you'd like to happen to it. That context is invaluable, but it doesn't replace a will.

How does Heirloom work alongside a will?

Most estate attorneys recommend a "personal property memorandum" alongside a will — a separate document that lists specific items and their intended recipients. Heirloom's exported inheritance plan is designed to serve exactly this purpose.

You can give a printed copy to your attorney, attach it to your will documents, or store it with your other important papers. Because it's generated from live data in your vault, you can reprint it whenever your wishes change without needing to amend your will.

What happens if there's a conflict between Heirloom and a formal will?

The formal legal document will govern. Heirloom records your wishes; your will and trust documents determine legal ownership and distribution. Make sure the two are consistent, and speak to your attorney if there's any doubt.

Should I tell my family about my Heirloom vault?

Yes — and ideally invite them. A vault that your family knows about and can access is far more useful than one that only exists on your account. Consider inviting your executor or the person most likely to handle your estate as at least a viewer, so they know the vault exists and how to access it.

You can also share a read-only link to your collection with specific people without giving them full vault access.

What's the best order to do things?

There's no single right order, but many people find this sequence works well:

• Catalog items first — get everything recorded before worrying about recipients.
• Add stories and photos while the objects are accessible.
• Assign recipients once the catalog feels reasonably complete.
• Export the inheritance plan and share it with your attorney.
• Review and update annually, or after any significant life change.

Can Heirloom help with insurance?

Yes, indirectly. A catalog with photos, provenance, condition notes, and estimated values is exactly what insurers and appraisers need to assess and cover valuable items. The Excel export is particularly useful for this — it gives you a complete itemised spreadsheet that you can submit to your insurer or share with an appraiser.

Heirloom is not an appraisal service. Estimated values in the vault are self-reported. For insurance purposes, you should get formal appraisals for high-value items.

What happens to my vault if I pass away?

Your vault belongs to your account. If you've invited family members as editors or owners, they will retain access. We recommend designating at least one other person as a vault editor so access isn't lost.

If you'd like to ensure continued access for your estate, include your Heirloom login credentials in your secure document storage (a safe, with your attorney, or in a password manager whose access details are known to your executor).