Post
Topic
Board Bitcoin Technical Support
Re: The dead man’s time lock
by
NotATether
on 22/03/2025, 19:06:07 UTC
OP_CLTV is another alternative for that scenario because it has the necessary feature to allow your key to spend the locked output before the locktime and allow another key [of the inheritor(s)] to spend it only after the locktime.

Example script:
Code:
    IF
        <Your Private key's Public key pair> CHECKSIG
    ELSE
        <Your Preferred inheritance date> CHECKLOCKTIMEVERIFY DROP
        <Inheritor's Public key> CHECKSIG
    ENDIF

The problem is I'm not aware of any user-friendly implementation of that script in famous bitcoin wallets.
One option I can think of is to utilize Bitcoin Core's "sh" or "wsh" descriptor and "miniscript" to import it to a watch-only wallet.

Touching descriptors and miniscript to make a DIY dead man's switch is really dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. It can cause a total loss of funds in dramatic Wile E. Coyote fashion.

I'm not saying that to scare anyone, but it is much better to simply use a third party guarrantor/trustee. I wouldn't even trust random companies for something this sensitive.