Dead Man’s Switch

A Dead Man’s Switch is for the moment nobody likes to say out loud: you’re the one who knows the bills, the insurance, the school stuff, the pet vet, where the papers are. You pick how often you check in. You show up on time and nothing happens. If you don’t, you get reminders and real time to fix it. If you’re still gone after that, encrypted messages and files go to the small list of people you chose, so they’re not guessing in a crisis. Some people are mainly thinking about family at a distance, a partner, or an adult child. Others add a layer for recovery pointers and careful handoffs, or a short “if I’m not here, wind this down” note for a cofounder or contractor. Different contacts can get different instructions. It is not a will and it does not wait for legal proof of death. It fires when you stop checking in past the grace period you set.