Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is WhenVault?

WhenVault is a physical family continuity system — a guided, attorney-designed planning workbook that helps your loved ones find, access, and handle everything that matters most when death, incapacity, or crisis changes life fast. It covers 17 categories including device access, digital accounts, financial records, legal document locations, and business continuity.

Is WhenVault just a password book?

No. A password book records login credentials. WhenVault documents the full practical picture your family needs to function — device access, email recovery paths, the complete financial account map, legal document locations, property and storage access, business continuity information, key advisor contacts, and a priority first-steps roadmap. It was designed by estate planning attorneys who understand what families actually face in a crisis, not just what they face on paper.

Does WhenVault replace a will, trust, or estate plan?

No. WhenVault works alongside your existing estate plan. Your will and trust create the legal structure. WhenVault creates the practical access layer — the part that tells your family where everything is and how to get to it, not just who legally owns it. They are not competing products. They complete each other.

Does purchasing WhenVault create an attorney-client relationship with Winkelman Law Firm?

No. Purchase of WhenVault does not create an attorney-client relationship with Mr. Winkelman or Winkelman Law Firm. WhenVault is a standalone consumer product sold by 360 Vault Exchange, LLC. Legal services through Winkelman Law Firm, Inc. are offered separately, by written engagement agreement, and only after a full consultation. Washington state residents who purchase WhenVault may be eligible to receive information about a complimentary Family Wealth Planning Session — this offer is presented separately and does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.

Should my spouse and I each have our own WhenVault?

Yes — and the Couple's System exists for exactly this reason. Most households have two completely separate digital lives: different phones, different email addresses, different password systems, different account recovery paths. One WhenVault documents one person's access chain. The Couple's System ensures both partners are fully documented so that if anything happens to either person, the other has a complete, usable roadmap.

I'm a business owner. Is the Family Office right for me?

If you own a business, the Family Office is the correct choice. Your estate plan addresses ownership succession. WhenVault's Business Continuity Binder documents what your family, key employees, or business partner will actually need to keep the business functioning when you cannot — payroll portal access, vendor contacts, software subscriptions, banking relationships, licenses, and operational first steps. If you own more than one business, add-on binders are available for $39 each.

Is WhenVault only useful for older people or wealthy families?

No. WhenVault is useful for any person who has a phone, an email account, a bank account, and people who depend on them. The most common feedback the attorneys at Winkelman Law Firm hear is that families wish they had this earlier — not just for older relatives, but for spouses, parents of young children, and business owners at every stage.

How long does it take to complete?

You do not need to complete WhenVault in one sitting. Most people complete the first five priority sections — device access, primary email, passwords and backup accounts, banking and bills, and legal document locations — in about one to two hours. Those five sections alone put you ahead of most families. The full system can be completed over multiple sessions at your own pace.

What if my information changes?

WhenVault includes annual update prompt pages to remind you to review and refresh your information. Treat it like a smoke detector battery — check it once a year. A few minutes of updates keeps it current and useful.

Where should I store my WhenVault?

Store it wherever you keep your most important documents — a fireproof safe, a secure filing cabinet, with your estate plan documents, or in a location your family knows and can access. You may also want to tell a trusted person (spouse, adult child, attorney) that it exists and where it is. Its value is in being found, not hidden.