Guardians

Someone you trust. Access you control.

A Guardian is someone you trust, such as your partner, a family member or a friend. You choose the items they can access. Guardians are available on paid Lyff plans.

A role built on trust

Your Guardian is there if you need them.

A Guardian is someone you personally choose and trust. They can hold a role in your Lyff without being able to browse your vault. The Free plan does not include Guardians or sharing.

You decide which individual items, if any, they can see now and which items are set aside for possible Release Later.

Being a Guardian is not the same as having access to your vault.

Appointing someone as a Guardian does not unlock your information. Access only exists where you have deliberately allowed it.

Getting connected

A Guardian relationship is simple to set up.

Your chosen person becomes Active after accepting your invitation and completing MFA. Identity verification is only required if they later request Release Later.

01

You invite

Choose the person you trust and send them a Guardian invitation.

02

They accept

Your chosen person accepts the role through their own Lyff account.

03

They secure their account

They complete the required account security, including multi-factor authentication.

04

The role becomes Active

They can now hold the Guardian role. This still does not give them automatic access to your vault.

Clear boundaries

What a Guardian can and cannot do.

A Guardian can

Accept the Guardian role you have offered them.
Access individual items you deliberately Share Now with them.
Request items specifically set aside for them under Release Later.
Confirm their identity if they later submit a Release Later request.

A Guardian cannot

Browse your full vault.
See Private items.
Release information themselves.
Trigger an automatic release simply by making a request.
If Release Later is ever needed

A request does not mean information is released.

A Guardian can request only the Release Later items specifically set aside for them. Lyff follows a careful process before anything can be released.

How Release Later works

Nothing is shared straight away. If a Release Later request is made, Lyff follows a careful process first.

1

Request

Your Guardian signs in to their own Lyff account and requests items assigned to them for incapacity or passing.

2

Confirm identity

They complete the identity verification pathway provided by Lyff. This check happens when requesting release, not at appointment.

3

Provide documents

They provide the required certified evidence for the release condition.

4

Seven-day review

Once the required checks and evidence are accepted, you are notified by email and SMS and the seven-day Release Review Period begins.

5

Lyff review

After the waiting period, final human review and approval by a different manager are required. Only items assigned to that Guardian for the approved event are released.

You can sign in to stop an incorrect request during the review period. Identity verification and the end of the seven-day period do not automatically release anything. Private items are excluded from release.
Guardian FAQ

A few important things to know.

Does my Guardian need to verify their identity?

Not when they are appointed. A Guardian becomes Active after accepting the invitation and completing the required account security. If they later submit a Release Later request, Lyff asks them to confirm their identity as part of that process.

How does a Guardian confirm their identity?

When requesting release, the Guardian follows the verification instructions provided by Lyff. Available pathways include ConnectID where supported and an alternative document pathway for people who cannot use it, including international documentation.

Does appointing a Guardian give them access to my information?

No. A Guardian can only access information you deliberately Share Now with them or information that successfully completes the Release Later process. Private items remain private.

Can a Guardian release information themselves?

No. Release Later requests are reviewed by Lyff. The end of the seven-day period does not automatically release information.

Does Complete Duo give my partner access automatically?

No. Complete Duo covers two adults, each with their own private vault. Appoint your partner as a Guardian and choose the items you want to Share Now or assign for Release Later. Paying for a plan does not grant access.

Does my Guardian need my password, passphrase or Recovery Key?

No. Guardians access items through their own account and the permissions you set. Your account password and vault passphrase are for your own access. A Recovery Key alone cannot open your vault; recovery still requires your authenticated account and MFA.

Your information. Your choice.

Choose the people you trust.

Choose Complete, Complete Duo or Complete Circle to appoint Guardians and share selected information. Each adult keeps their own private vault and decides what stays Private, what is shared now and what is assigned for Release Later.