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📜 CareTabs Blog

The Step Everyone Forgets After Writing a Will

🔐 Why your will’s storage matters more than you think—and how to protect your family’s future.

✍️ By the CareTabs Team 🕐 6 min read 📅 December 2024

📜 Why Your Will’s Storage Matters More Than You Think

Creating a will is one of the most caring and responsible steps you can take for your family. It ensures your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected. But according to USA Today, even people who complete a will often neglect the next essential step—storing it securely and making it accessible when needed.

A Google Consumer Survey found that fewer than 30% of Americans have an up-to-date will. And of those who do, many simply leave it in a drawer, filing cabinet, or home safe—where it can be misplaced, damaged, or forgotten.

<30% of Americans have an up-to-date will
3–7% of estate value lost to probate
Months or years in probate court
⚠️ Paper fades. Safes flood. Families move. Without a clear storage plan, even the most thoughtful estate plan can fall apart when it matters most.

That’s why proper storage is not optional—it’s a critical part of estate planning.

⚠️ The Real Risk of Lost or Outdated Wills

If your original will can’t be found or multiple versions exist, your estate may end up in probate, where a court decides how to distribute your assets. Probate can take months or even years—and often consumes 3–7% of your estate’s total value, according to LegalClarity.

⚖️

“An inaccessible or lost will can lead to unnecessary legal costs, emotional stress, and outcomes that don’t reflect your wishes.”

— LawSafe
📄

Will Can’t Be Found

Estate goes to probate, court decides distribution

📑

Multiple Versions Exist

Legal disputes over which will is valid

💸

Probate Costs

3–7% of your estate’s total value

😢

Family Stress

Emotional burden during an already difficult time

📁 Common Storage Options (and What to Watch Out For)

🏠

At Home

Safe, drawer, or cabinet

✅ Free and easy access
⚠️ Risk of loss, fire, flood, or damage (LegalClarity)
👨‍⚖️

With an Attorney

Law firm storage

✅ Professionally secured
⚠️ Could become inaccessible if firm closes or relocates (LawSafe)
🏦

Bank Safety Deposit Box

Bank vault storage

✅ Highly secure
⚠️ Executors may face delays obtaining access (LegalZoom)
🏛️

Court or Will Registry

Official registration

✅ Legal proof of existence
⚠️ Not available in all states, hard to update (AARP)

💡 The Missing Piece

These methods protect paper, but not awareness or accessibility. If your family doesn’t know where your will is—or can’t get to it—it may as well not exist.

☁️ The Rise of Digital Vaults

Today, more families are turning to digital vaults—secure, encrypted cloud platforms that store wills, trusts, medical directives, and passwords in one protected place.

💡

“The best practice is to store your original in a fire-safe location and upload a digital version to a secure online vault.”

— LawSafe

This combination gives you the best of both worlds: physical security and digital accessibility.

🔒 Physical Storage Alone

  • Can be lost, damaged, or destroyed
  • May be inaccessible during emergencies
  • Family may not know where it is
  • Difficult to update

☁️ Physical + Digital Vault

  • Original protected, backup accessible
  • Available anywhere, anytime
  • Family knows exactly where to look
  • Easy to update and organize

✨ The Benefits of Digital Vaults Like CareTabs

🔒

Bank-Level Encryption

Keeps your most sensitive files safe with AES-256 encryption

👪

Unlimited Family Access

One shared CareTabs account covers the whole family—no per-person limits

🕒

Instant Accessibility

Loved ones can find what they need anytime, from anywhere

🔁

Easy Updates

Quickly replace or modify documents as life changes

💻 Modern assets need modern solutions: Digital vaults also make it possible to include modern digital assets—such as online accounts, crypto wallets, and cloud-stored photos—that traditional estate plans often overlook.

📋 How to Store Your Will Securely (CareTabs Style)

1

Upload Your Will

Add your will to CareTabs’ encrypted digital vault

2

Organize Related Documents

Tag healthcare directives, insurance policies, powers of attorney, and passwords

3

Invite Your Family

Add family members to your CareTabs account (unlimited members)

4

Secure Your Original

Keep your original paper copy in a fireproof safe or with your attorney

5

Review Regularly

Update your documents as life evolves

“Every time you upload a will, a password, or a care plan into CareTabs, you close the door on worry—and open the door to relief.”

🔐 How Secure Is CareTabs?

At CareTabs, your family’s security is our top priority. All files are protected using industry-leading security measures designed to safeguard sensitive medical, legal, and financial information.

🔐

AES-256 Encryption

Bank-level encryption for all files

🔑

Multi-Factor Authentication

Extra layer of account protection

☁️

Secure Cloud Infrastructure

Enterprise-grade hosting and backups

🚫

No Data Selling

We never sell, share, or monetize your data—period

To learn more about how your information is protected, visit our Security Page.

🛡️ Your Privacy Promise

Your documents stay private. Your control stays absolute.

💰 Why CareTabs Is Also Surprisingly Affordable

CareTabs was built to make organization and peace of mind accessible to every family, not just those who can afford expensive estate services.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

One Plan. Whole Household.

One affordable plan covers your entire household—giving everyone access to the same shared space for storing wills, care plans, and passwords.

See pricing at CareTabs.com →

💙 Why CareTabs Is the Modern Answer

📄

Traditional estate planning tools focus on paperwork.

→
❤️

CareTabs focuses on people.

CareTabs combines secure technology with compassionate design, helping families keep everything that matters—wills, healthcare plans, digital assets, and final wishes—safe, organized, and always within reach.

💙 True Peace of Mind

Because true peace of mind doesn’t come from checking a box.
It comes from knowing your loved ones will have everything they need, exactly when they need it.

Ready to protect your family’s future?

❤️ Start organizing with CareTabs today

Secure storage for wills, care plans, and everything that matters.

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