Guardians
The people closest to you, given exactly the access you choose.
A Lyff Guardian is someone close to you, a partner, an adult child, a sibling, a close friend, given access to the parts of your vault you choose to share with them.
What is a Lyff Guardian?
A Lyff Guardian is someone close to you, a partner, an adult child, a sibling, a close friend, given access to the parts of your vault you choose to share with them. Where a Lyff Custodian is a professional acting in a professional capacity, a Lyff Guardian is personal.
Only what they need, nothing more
Every item in your vault has its own Sharing Setting. Nominating a Lyff Guardian doesn't open your whole vault to them. It only gives them access to what you've specifically chosen to share, whether that's a Future Message for your kids or your account details for your partner.
When a Guardian gets access
You decide the timing for each item you share, straight away, from a date you choose, or only once the Lyff Release process has been completed. Set once, per item.
Who people usually nominate
- Partner or spouse
- Adult child
- Sibling
- Close friend
How many Guardians you get
You choose who to trust
You know this person best, so it's your decision who to nominate. Lyff doesn't vet or verify the people you choose. Our role is to carry out the access you've set up, exactly as instructed.
Personal
Lyff Guardian
Someone you trust personally — a partner, sibling, or close friend. Once they accept your invitation, they can see whatever you've placed in their Guardian folder: the documents, passwords, and instructions you've chosen to share with them. Everything else in your vault stays completely private. Full access only opens if Lyff's Inactivity Safeguard determines it's genuinely needed — for example, if you've gone quiet for an extended period and haven't responded to our check-ins.
- Must accept your invitation before anything is shared
- Sees only what's in their folder, day to day
- Full vault access opens only through the Inactivity Safeguard
- You can update what's shared or remove their access at any time
Professional
Lyff Custodian
A financial planner, solicitor, accountant, or other adviser you've formally engaged. Once they accept your invitation, they can see whatever you've placed in their Custodian folder, scoped to exactly what their engagement with you requires and nothing more. You choose which documents go in, and you can update or revoke their access at any time as the relationship changes.
- Must accept your invitation before anything is shared
- Sees only what's in their folder, day to day
- Access stays limited to the documents you've specified
- Coming soonUploading documents on your behalf by email
Not sure if you need a Guardian or a Custodian?
A Lyff Guardian is personal, a partner, sibling or close friend. If you're thinking about your solicitor, accountant or adviser instead, that's a Lyff Custodian. Either way, our Sharing & Permissions page explains exactly what each one can and can't see.
Guardians & Custodians
Side by side
The Inactivity Safeguard
A welfare check first, a handover second
Before any Guardian or Custodian access is ever confirmed, Lyff runs a careful, multi-step check. Nothing is released on a single missed email, and you can stop the process at any time just by logging in.
01
We check in with you
A gentle email, then a follow-up email and SMS over about two weeks.
02
We check in with your Guardian
If we still can't reach you, we ask your Guardian if they've heard from you.
03
We check in with your Custodian
If needed, your professional adviser is notified too, as a further check.
04
A human verifies before anything opens
A real person at Lyff confirms what's happened before any access is released.
You're always in control. Responding to any check-in, or simply logging in, stops the whole process and resets it immediately.
Even once access is confirmed, your Guardian or Custodian only ever sees what's in their folder — never your full vault. Access stays scoped to exactly what you've placed there for them.
Don't leave your family wondering.
We don’t know what tomorrow brings, start your vault and invite your partner to be a guardian. Share with them what you wish so they no longer have to wonder.