Heir Access - Storehouses

Pro

Overview

Heir Access is a secure emergency access feature that allows you to designate trusted individuals who can access your portfolio in case of incapacitation or death. This ensures your valuable asset records aren’t lost and your beneficiaries can access important information when needed.

Dual Pro Subscription Required: Both you (the account holder) AND your designated heirs must have active Pro or Lifetime subscriptions for Heir Access to work. Additionally, heirs must have existing Storehouses accounts.

What is Heir Access?

Heir Access provides a secure mechanism for designated individuals to access your portfolio through two distinct paths:

Heir-Initiated Request: Heirs request access and a waiting period begins (14-90 days)
Account Holder Pre-Approval: You grant immediate access without a waiting period

This feature balances security with emergency access needs, ensuring your asset records can be recovered by trusted parties if you become unable to access your account.

Why Heir Access Matters

Estate Planning

Ensure beneficiaries can access asset records for estate settlement

Emergency Preparedness

Family members can access important records if you’re incapacitated

Digital Legacy

Prevent valuable portfolio data from being permanently lost

Insurance Claims

Heirs can access records needed for insurance or probate

Requirements

Before using Heir Access, ensure:

Pro Subscription (Both Users)

Account holder must have Pro or Lifetime subscription
Heir must also have Pro or Lifetime subscription
If either user downgrades to Free, access is immediately revoked
Continuous subscription validation ensures both users maintain Pro

Heir Must Have Storehouses Account

Heirs must register for their own Storehouses account
Use the same email address you’ll designate them with
Heirs cannot be added until they have an active account

Both Users Active

Account holder and heir must both have active accounts
Heirs cannot be yourself
Each heir is validated when added and during access requests

How Heir Access Works

There are two paths to grant heir access:

Path 1: Heir-Initiated Request (With Waiting Period)

This path includes built-in security waiting periods:

You Designate Heirs

Set up one or more trusted contacts with their email addresses

Heir Requests Access

When needed, the heir (who you’ve already designated) initiates an access request through storehouses.app/heir-access/request

Waiting Period Begins

A security waiting period starts (14-90 days, default: 30)

You're Notified

You receive immediate notification and reminders at days 7, 14, and 21

You Can Deny Request

If you’re able, you can immediately deny the request with one click

Final Notice

You receive a final notification 24 hours before auto-approval

Access Granted (If Not Denied)

After the waiting period, if not denied, heir receives access for 180 days

Path 2: Account Holder Pre-Approval (Immediate Access)

You can grant access immediately without a waiting period:

You Designate Heir

Add heir via storehouses.app/heir-access

Click 'Grant Access Now'

Use the green “Grant Access Now” button next to the heir

Confirm Access

Confirm you want to grant immediate access for 180 days

Heir Receives Email

Heir is immediately notified and can access your portfolio

Access Active

Heir has access for 180 days from approval

Security Features

Time-Delayed Access (Path 1)

Configurable waiting period (14-90 days)
Default 30-day waiting period prevents unauthorized access
Sufficient time to deny requests if you’re still active
You receive notifications throughout the waiting period

Email Notifications

For Heir-Initiated Requests:

Notification when access request is initiated
Reminders at 7, 14, and 21 days into waiting period
Final notification 24 hours before access is granted
All notifications include one-click denial link

For Pre-Approved Access:

Heir receives immediate notification when you grant access
No waiting period notifications

Custom Permissions Per Heir

Read-only: Heir can view items and collections only
Can Edit: Heir has full access to view, edit, and manage items & collections
Set when adding or editing heir
Cannot be changed while active access exists

180-Day Automatic Expiry

All granted access automatically expires after 180 days
Prevents indefinite access
Heirs can request renewal if still needed
You can revoke access anytime before expiry

Continuous Subscription Validation

System validates both users have Pro subscriptions
Access automatically revoked if either user downgrades
Prevents access after subscription lapses
Checked during request processing and access validation

Access Logging

All heir access sessions are logged in heir_access_sessions table
Audit trail of when heirs accessed your data
Helps you track emergency access usage

Setting Up Heir Access

Accessing Heir Settings

Navigate to storehouses.app/heir-access or:

Go to Dashboard
Click “Heir Access” in the sidebar
View the Heir Access configuration page

Adding a Designated Heir

Click '+ Add Heir'

Click the yellow “Add Heir” button

Enter Contact Information

Provide the heir’s details:

Full name (required)
Email address (required - must match their Storehouses account)
Relationship (spouse/child/parent/sibling/friend/other)
Notes (optional: why you’re designating them)

Choose Permission Level

Select access permissions:

Read-only: Can view items and collections (recommended)
Can Edit: Full access to view, edit, and manage items & collections

Save Heir

Click “Add Heir” to save the designation

The heir does NOT receive any notification when you designate them. They only receive communication if:

They initiate an access request (Path 1), or
You grant them immediate access (Path 2)

Validation Checks

When adding an heir, the system validates: ✅ Heir has a Storehouses account with that email ✅ Heir has an active Pro or Lifetime subscription ✅ You have an active Pro or Lifetime subscription ✅ Heir is not yourself ✅ Heir is not already designated ❌ If any validation fails, you’ll see an error message explaining the issue

Multiple Heirs

You can designate multiple heirs:

Each heir is independent
Each can have different permission levels
Each can initiate separate access requests
Unlimited number of designated heirs (Pro feature)

Common Configurations:

Primary: Spouse (Read-only or Can Edit)
Secondary: Adult Child (Read-only)
Tertiary: Executor/Attorney (Read-only)

Managing Designated Heirs

View Current Heirs

Your Heir Access page displays:

string

Full name of the designated heir

string

Contact email address (must match their Storehouses account)

string

Their relationship to you

badge

Read-only (blue badge)
Can Edit (yellow badge)

badge

No Access (gray badge): No active request or approval
Pending (yellow badge): Heir-initiated request in waiting period (shows days remaining)
Access Granted (green badge): Active access (shows expiry date)

string

Optional notes about this heir

Edit Heir Information

To update an heir’s details:

Click 'Edit'

Click the “Edit” button next to the heir

Update Details

Modify:

Full name
Relationship
Notes
Permission level

Save Changes

Click “Update Heir”

You cannot change the email address of an existing heir. If the heir’s email changes, remove them and add them again with the new email.

Remove a Designated Heir

To revoke heir designation:

Click 'Remove'

Click the red “Remove” button next to the heir

Confirm Removal

Confirm you want to remove this heir

What happens:

Heir designation is removed
If they have an active access request, it’s immediately canceled
If they have granted access, it’s immediately revoked
They receive a notification if access was active

The Access Request Process (Path 1)

How Heirs Request Access

When an already-designated heir needs access:

Visit Request Page

Navigate to storehouses.app/heir-access/request

Enter Account Holder Email

Enter your email address (the account holder)

Confirm Their Email

Enter their email address (must match designation)

Submit Request

Click “Request Access” to initiate the waiting period

What Happens After Request

Day 0: Request Initiated

You receive immediate email notification with one-click denial link
Heir receives confirmation their request is processing
Waiting period begins (based on your configured waiting period)

Day 7: First Reminder

You receive reminder email with denial link
Shows days remaining until auto-approval

Day 14: Second Reminder

Another reminder email with denial link
Urgency increases as approval approaches

Day 21: Third Reminder

Final regular reminder with denial link
Emphasizes approaching auto-approval

24 Hours Before Approval: Final Notice

Critical final notification
Last chance to deny if request is unauthorized
Includes countdown to auto-approval

Auto-Approval Day

If you haven’t denied: Request auto-approves
Heir receives “Access Granted” email
Access granted for 180 days
You receive notification that access was granted

If Denied

Request immediately canceled
Heir receives notification that access was denied
New waiting period required for future requests

Denying an Access Request

If you receive an heir access request notification: Option 1: One-Click Email Denial

Open any notification email
Click the “Deny Access” button
Confirm the denial on the website
Request is immediately canceled

Option 2: Deny from Dashboard

Go to storehouses.app/heir-access
Find the heir with “Pending” status
Click “Deny Request”
Confirm the denial

You can deny a request at ANY time during the waiting period, even seconds after it’s initiated.

Granting Immediate Access (Path 2)

How to Pre-Approve Access

To grant access without a waiting period:

Go to Heir Access Page

Navigate to storehouses.app/heir-access

Find Heir with No Access

Locate a heir with “No Access” status (no green “Grant Access Now” button if they already have access)

Click 'Grant Access Now'

Click the green button next to the heir

Confirm Access

Confirm you want to grant immediate access for 180 days

Access Granted

Heir receives email notification and can immediately access your portfolio

When to Use Pre-Approval

Good use cases:

Planned estate planning activities
Sharing access with a trusted family member for legitimate reasons
Medical emergencies where you’re still able to grant access
Collaborative portfolio management with a spouse

Not recommended for:

General emergency preparedness (use Path 1 instead)
When you want the security of a waiting period
Heirs you don’t completely trust

Permission Levels

Read-Only Access

What heirs can do:

View all items in the portfolio
See item details, descriptions, and notes
View uploaded images and documents
Access category-specific metadata
View current portfolio value and pricing
View purchase prices and market values
See collections and their contents
View storage locations
Export portfolio to PDF
Export data to CSV
Generate printed reports

What heirs CANNOT do:

Add, edit, or delete items
Modify account settings
Change email or password
Access billing information
Set up or modify alerts
Delete the account
Modify collections or locations
Create new share links
Invite other users
Change their permission level

Can Edit Access

Everything from Read-Only, PLUS:

Add new items to your portfolio
Edit existing item details
Delete items
Create new collections
Modify existing collections
Update item locations
Change item valuations
Upload images and documents

Only grant “Can Edit” permissions to heirs you absolutely trust. They will have nearly full control over your portfolio data (except account settings and billing).

Access Duration

Once granted (either path), heir access remains active until:

180 days pass (automatic expiration)
You revoke it manually
You delete your account
You remove the heir
Either user downgrades from Pro (access automatically revoked)

Access automatically expires after 180 days to prevent indefinite access. Heirs can request renewal if still needed by submitting a new access request.

How Heirs View Your Portfolio

Once an heir has been granted access, they can view your portfolio directly from their Collections page:

Heir Logs In

The heir logs into their own Storehouses account

Navigate to Collections

Go to the Collections page via the sidebar

Select Portfolio Tab

At the top of the Collections page, they’ll see tabs for:

Their own portfolio
Each heir portfolio they have access to (showing account holder’s name)

Browse Portfolio

Click a tab to view that portfolio’s collections and items

The URL updates to include a query parameter when viewing heir portfolios: /collections?portfolio=<requestId>. Heirs can bookmark this URL for quick access.

What Heirs See

When viewing your portfolio, heirs have access to:

Dashboard view with portfolio statistics
All items with full details, images, and metadata
Collections and their organization
Locations where items are stored
Secure Storage documents marked “Share with heirs” (if you’ve enabled this)

If you granted Can Edit permission, they can also add, edit, and delete items.

Revoking Access

Revoking a Pending Request

During the waiting period (Path 1): Option 1: Email Link

Click “Deny Access” in any notification email
Confirm denial

Option 2: Dashboard

Go to Heir Access settings
Find the pending request (yellow “Pending” badge)
Click “Deny Request”
Confirm denial

Revoking Granted Access

If an heir already has active access:

Go to Heir Access Settings

Navigate to storehouses.app/heir-access

Find Heir with Active Access

Look for green “Access Granted” badge

Click 'Revoke Access'

Click the red “Revoke Access” button

Confirm Revocation

Confirm you want to revoke access

Access Immediately Revoked

Heir loses portfolio access instantly and receives notification

Revoking access doesn’t remove the heir designation. They remain in your heirs list and can request access again in the future (Path 1) or you can grant immediate access (Path 2).

Email Notifications

Heir Access uses automated emails sent from heirs@storehouses.app:

For Account Holders

Heir Request Initial Email: Sent immediately when heir requests access
Heir Request Reminder (Day 7): First reminder during waiting period
Heir Request Reminder (Day 14): Second reminder during waiting period
Heir Request Reminder (Day 21): Third reminder during waiting period
Heir Request Final Notice: Sent 24 hours before auto-approval
Access Granted Notification: Sent when access is auto-approved

All emails include:

Heir’s name and email
Days remaining (for pending requests)
One-click “Deny Access” link
Link to manage heirs

For Heirs

Request Confirmation: Sent when they submit an access request
Access Granted Email: Sent when access is approved (auto or manual)
Access Pre-Approved Email: Sent when account holder grants immediate access
Access Denied Email: Sent when request is denied
Access Revoked Email: Sent when you revoke their active access

Cron Job Processing

Heir Access uses an automated background job to process requests: Endpoint: /api/cron/process-heir-requests Schedule: Every 6 hours (runs at 0:00, 6:00, 12:00, 18:00 UTC) Authentication: Requires CRON_SECRET environment variable Functions:

Processes pending heir-initiated requests only (not pre-approved)
Sends reminder emails at appropriate intervals
Auto-approves requests after waiting period
Sends access granted emails to heirs
Marks expired requests (>180 days)
Validates Pro subscriptions for both users
Auto-revokes access if subscriptions lapse

Pre-approved access (Path 2) bypasses all cron job processing and grants immediate access.

Best Practices

Choose Trusted Individuals

Select people you absolutely trust
Consider their technical capability
Ensure they understand their role
Discuss your wishes beforehand
Verify they have or can get Pro subscription

Inform Your Heirs

Let them know they’re designated
Explain the two paths to access (heir-initiated vs. pre-approval)
Provide them with your account email
Document the process in estate plans
Ensure they know about Pro subscription requirement

Use Appropriate Waiting Periods

30 days: Recommended for most users
14 days: If you have frequent portfolio access
60-90 days: If you travel extensively or have irregular access
Longer periods provide more security against unauthorized requests

Choose Permission Levels Carefully

Read-only: Default choice for most heirs (estate settlement, viewing only)
Can Edit: Only for heirs who need to manage your portfolio
Consider the heir’s technical ability
Think about their intended use case

Designate Multiple Heirs

Primary: Spouse or closest family member
Secondary: Adult child or trusted family member
Tertiary: Estate executor or attorney
Each provides backup if others cannot access
Multiple heirs prevent single point of failure

Review Regularly

Review designations annually
Update contact information as needed
Remove heirs who are no longer appropriate
Verify heirs still have Pro subscriptions
Adjust permission levels based on life changes

Document in Estate Plan

Include Heir Access info in will or trust
Inform executor about the feature
Document your account email
Explain the access request process
Note that both users need Pro subscriptions

Monitor Email

Keep your email account secure
Regularly check for access request notifications
Respond promptly to any unexpected requests
Add heirs@storehouses.app to contacts

Estate Planning Integration

How Heir Access Supports Estate Settlement

Asset Discovery

Heirs can identify all assets in your collection

Valuation

Access current and historical values for probate

Location Information

Find where physical assets are stored

Documentation

Export records for estate inventory and tax purposes

Distribution

Use collection organization to understand your intent

Working with Estate Professionals

Your designated heirs can share exported data with:

Estate attorneys
Accountants and tax professionals
Insurance agents
Appraisers
Auction houses
Financial advisors

Export data to PDF or CSV format for easy sharing with estate professionals. Heirs with “Can Edit” access can also create Share Links for professionals.

Troubleshooting

Can't Add Heir

Common issues:

Heir doesn’t have a Storehouses account → Have them create one first
Heir doesn’t have Pro subscription → They must upgrade to Pro
You don’t have Pro subscription → Upgrade to Pro or Lifetime
Email address typo → Double-check the email matches their account
Heir is already designated → Check your heirs list

Solution: Verify heir has Storehouses account with Pro and correct email address

Heir Can't Request Access

Common issues:

Email address doesn’t match designation
Your account email is incorrect
Heir is not actually designated
Previous request is still pending
Either user doesn’t have Pro subscription

Solution: Verify heir’s email in your settings and confirm they’re using the correct account email. Check both users have Pro.

Not Receiving Notifications

If you don’t receive access request emails:

Check spam/junk folders
Verify your account email is correct
Add heirs@storehouses.app to contacts
Check email settings in your account
Verify emails aren’t being filtered

Contact support immediately if you suspect an unauthorized request.

Can't Deny Request

If denial links aren’t working:

Log into your account directly
Navigate to Heir Access settings
Manually deny from the dashboard
Contact support if issues persist

Heir Has Access Issues After Approval

If a legitimate heir cannot access after approval:

Verify the waiting period has fully elapsed (Path 1)
Check their email for access instructions
Ensure they’re logging into the correct account
Verify both users still have Pro subscriptions
Check access hasn’t expired (180 days)
Contact support for assistance

Access Unexpectedly Revoked

Access is automatically revoked if:

180 days have passed since approval
Account holder downgraded from Pro
Heir downgraded from Pro
Account holder removed the heir
Account holder manually revoked access

Solution: Check both users’ subscription status. Heir can request renewal if still needed.

Feature	Heir Access	Share Links
Purpose	Emergency access	Voluntary sharing
Pro Requirement	Both users	Account holder only
Recipient Account	Required (with Pro)	Not required
Waiting Period	14-90 days or immediate	None
Access Request	Required (Path 1) or pre-approved (Path 2)	Not required
Duration	180 days max	Custom (temp or permanent)
Revocation	Instant	Instant
Notifications	Multiple during waiting period	None
Setup	Designate heir in advance	Create & share link
Best For	Estate planning, emergencies	Advisors, professionals
Edit Permissions	Configurable per heir	Configurable per link

Learn more about Share Links →

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do heirs need their own Pro subscription?

This dual-subscription requirement:

Prevents system abuse
Ensures serious, committed usage
Validates heir identity through paid account
Reduces frivolous or malicious access requests
Helps sustain the service for both users

Can I have multiple heirs?

Yes! You can designate unlimited heirs with a Pro subscription. Each heir:

Is independent
Has their own permission level
Can initiate separate access requests
Can be granted immediate access separately

What if I pass away during the waiting period?

The request will automatically approve after the waiting period expires, even if you cannot respond. This is the intended behavior - the waiting period provides security against unauthorized requests while ensuring access is eventually granted.

Can I extend the 180-day access period?

Access cannot be automatically extended, but:

Heir can submit a new access request (Path 1)
You can grant new immediate access (Path 2)
This ensures ongoing validation of both users’ Pro status

What happens if I downgrade from Pro?

If you downgrade to Free:

All active heir access is immediately revoked
Pending requests are canceled
Heirs receive notification
Heir designations are preserved
Access resumes if you re-upgrade to Pro

What happens if my heir downgrades from Pro?

If the heir downgrades:

Their active access is immediately revoked
They cannot submit new access requests
You cannot grant them immediate access
They must re-upgrade to Pro to regain access

Can I grant immediate access without the waiting period?

Yes! Use Path 2 (Pre-Approval):

Click “Grant Access Now” button next to any heir
Access is granted immediately for 180 days
No waiting period or notifications
Heir receives immediate email notification

What's logged in heir_access_sessions?

The system logs:

When heirs access your portfolio
Which heir accessed it
Timestamps of access
This provides an audit trail for security and estate documentation

Can heirs access my account settings or billing?

No. Even with “Can Edit” permissions, heirs cannot:

View or change account settings
Access billing information
Change your email or password
Delete your account
Modify heir access settings
Create new heirs

Next Steps

Set Up Heirs

Designate your trusted contacts

Upgrade to Pro

Unlock Heir Access feature

Share Portfolio

Create temporary share links

Export Data

Backup your portfolio

​Overview

​What is Heir Access?

​Why Heir Access Matters

Estate Planning

Emergency Preparedness

Digital Legacy

Insurance Claims

​Requirements

​How Heir Access Works

​Path 1: Heir-Initiated Request (With Waiting Period)

​Path 2: Account Holder Pre-Approval (Immediate Access)

​Security Features

​Setting Up Heir Access

​Accessing Heir Settings

​Adding a Designated Heir

​Validation Checks

​Multiple Heirs

​Managing Designated Heirs

​View Current Heirs

​Edit Heir Information

​Remove a Designated Heir

​The Access Request Process (Path 1)

​How Heirs Request Access

​What Happens After Request

​Denying an Access Request

​Granting Immediate Access (Path 2)

​How to Pre-Approve Access

​When to Use Pre-Approval

​Permission Levels

​Read-Only Access

​Can Edit Access

​Access Duration

​How Heirs View Your Portfolio

​What Heirs See

​Revoking Access

​Revoking a Pending Request

​Revoking Granted Access

​Email Notifications

​For Account Holders

​For Heirs

​Cron Job Processing

​Best Practices

​Estate Planning Integration

​How Heir Access Supports Estate Settlement

​Working with Estate Professionals

​Troubleshooting

​Comparison with Share Links

​Frequently Asked Questions

​Next Steps

Set Up Heirs

Upgrade to Pro

Share Portfolio

Export Data

Overview

What is Heir Access?

Why Heir Access Matters

Requirements

How Heir Access Works

Path 1: Heir-Initiated Request (With Waiting Period)

Path 2: Account Holder Pre-Approval (Immediate Access)

Security Features

Setting Up Heir Access

Accessing Heir Settings

Adding a Designated Heir

Validation Checks

Multiple Heirs

Managing Designated Heirs

View Current Heirs

Edit Heir Information

Remove a Designated Heir

The Access Request Process (Path 1)

How Heirs Request Access

What Happens After Request

Denying an Access Request

Granting Immediate Access (Path 2)

How to Pre-Approve Access

When to Use Pre-Approval

Permission Levels

Read-Only Access

Can Edit Access

Access Duration

How Heirs View Your Portfolio

What Heirs See

Revoking Access

Revoking a Pending Request

Revoking Granted Access

Email Notifications

For Account Holders

For Heirs

Cron Job Processing

Best Practices

Estate Planning Integration

How Heir Access Supports Estate Settlement

Working with Estate Professionals

Troubleshooting

Comparison with Share Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Next Steps