The 45 Day Waiting Period

After a posthumous access claim is verified, access is not granted immediately. A 45 day waiting period applies first. This article explains why that pause exists, what it does, and how to plan for it so it never feels like an obstacle.

What the waiting period is

The 45 day waiting period is a fixed window between two points: the moment a posthumous access claim is verified, and the moment access is actually granted. Verification can happen relatively quickly once you provide what is needed. The waiting period is a separate, deliberate delay that follows it.

Why it exists

It would be easy to make access instant. We chose not to, on purpose, for three reasons.

Fraud protection. Posthumous access is one of the most attractive targets for someone acting in bad faith, because it can unlock a person's entire private life at the worst moment for the family. A waiting period removes the "instant payoff" that makes such attempts worthwhile and gives time to detect them.

Mistake protection. Verification is careful but no system is perfect. The window leaves room to catch and correct an error before irreversible access is granted.

A chance to intervene. If a claim is wrongful, for example someone misrepresenting their role, the waiting period creates a real opportunity to flag and halt it before harm is done, rather than discovering it too late.

In short, the pause exists because this access is powerful, and powerful actions deserve a deliberate, reversible window rather than a single irreversible click.

What happens during the 45 days

The clock runs on its own. You do not have to do anything special each day. This is also why we tell executors to start the claim early: the period runs in the background while you handle the funeral, paperwork, and notifications. By the time other tasks settle, the window is often well underway or complete.

The account holder's content stays encrypted and sealed during this time. Nothing is exposed early, including to LivingWill, which cannot read it regardless.

How to plan around it

• Start the claim as early as you reasonably can. The single best way to "shorten" the wait is to begin it sooner. The 45 days run in parallel with everything else you must do.
• Set expectations with the family. Tell relatives and recipients that posthumous access is deliberately not instant. Knowing this in advance prevents frustration during grief.
• Use the time for the rest. The early weeks are full of other necessary tasks anyway. The waiting period rarely sits on the critical path if you started promptly.

What it does not change

The waiting period does not change what you ultimately get access to. Scope is still defined entirely by what the account holder designated for after death and to whom. The 45 days govern when, not what. And nothing about the wait gives LivingWill the ability to read the content; that remains impossible by design throughout.