FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions? You're in the right place.
Everything you need to know about Crumdex, Version 1 and how it works
What is Crumdex?
Crumdex is a personal index of the important things people should know exist if you're no longer able to tell them yourself. It helps your trusted people know what exists, where to look and where to begin - without storing passwords, documents or sensitive financial information.
What is a Crum?
A Crum is a simple record that points someone in the right direction.
For example:
"I have a Hargreaves Lansdown account."
"My original Will is stored in the filing cabinet in the study."
"My life insurance is with Aviva."
A Crum isn't the document itself. It's the breadcrumb that helps someone know where to begin
What information should I add?
Start with the things that could otherwise be overlooked.
Examples include:
Investment platforms
Cryptocurrency
Workplace pensions
Life insurance
Premium Bonds
Your Will
Financial adviser
Accountant
Solicitor
Airline miles
As your life changes, you can simply add new Crums.
How is my information protected?
Can I start small?
Absolutely.
Most people begin with just a handful of Crums and build their Crumdex over time. Even a few well-placed Crums can make a significant difference if they're ever needed.
Is Crumdex a password manager?
No.
Crumdex isn't designed to store passwords, login details or sensitive financial information. Instead, it records what exists, where to look and who to contact.
Should I upload documents?
No.
Rather than uploading important documents, simply record where they're safely stored.
For example, instead of uploading your Will, record where the original can be found.
Can my trusted people see my information now?
No.
During your lifetime, your trusted people don't have access to your Crums.
They simply know that you've created a Crumdex and that it exists if it's ever needed.
Does Crumdex replace a Will?
No.
A Will remains one of the most important parts of planning ahead.
Crumdex simply helps ensure the people dealing with your affairs know that your Will exists and where the original can be found.
Does Crumdex replace my solicitor or financial adviser?
No.
Crumdex complements professional advice.
It helps your trusted people identify the professionals you already work with, making it easier for them to know who to contact.
Who should I choose as my trusted people?
Choose the people you would want to know your Crumdex exists if they ever needed to help administer your affairs.
Many people choose a spouse, adult child, close family member or trusted friend.
Why is Version 1 free?
Our priority is to build the best possible product alongside our earliest users.
During Version 1, every current feature is included and no payment is required.
Will I be charged automatically when Version 1 ends?
No.
If paid plans are introduced in the future, we'll always give you advance notice before anything changes.
Can I update my Crumdex?
Yes.
You can update your Crumdex whenever you like.
Whether you open a new account, change adviser, move your Will, or simply remember something you'd forgotten to add, updating your Crumdex only takes a moment.
Your Crumdex should evolve as your life does.
What happens if I forget to update my Crumdex?
Life changes, and it's easy to forget to update important information.
That's why Crumdex will send you a simple annual reminder to review your Crums, making it easy to keep your index up to date.
If you've forgotten to add or update something, you can simply make the changes whenever you sign in.
Why wouldn't my family already know all of this?
It's a common assumption - but life is more complicated than that.
Accounts are opened and closed, pensions are forgotten, investments move between providers, cryptocurrency may only exist online, and important documents are often stored in different places.
The people closest to you usually know pieces of the puzzle, but rarely the whole picture.
Crumdex helps bring those pieces together by leaving a clear trail instead of a mystery.
What happens if I pass away or lose mental capacity?
When you create your Crumdex account, you can nominate one or more Trusted People. These are the people you have instructed Crumdex to normally release your recorded information to following your death or verified loss of mental capacity.
If something happens to you, your Trusted Person (or another person with a legitimate interest) should contact Crumdex and let us know.
Before releasing any information, we will carry out our verification process. We may require whatever evidence and documentation we reasonably consider appropriate, depending on the circumstances. This may include evidence of death or loss of mental capacity, proof of identity and, where relevant, probate or other legal documentation.
If we are satisfied that our verification requirements have been met, we will normally release a copy of the information you recorded in your Crumdex account to your nominated Trusted Person.
If your Trusted Person has died, cannot be identified or verified, cannot be contacted, declines to receive the information, or there are other exceptional circumstances, Crumdex may release the information to another appropriately verified person if we reasonably consider it appropriate to do so.
If there are competing claims, inconsistent documentation, suspected fraud or we are otherwise not reasonably satisfied that our verification requirements have been met, we may refuse or delay releasing any information until the matter has been resolved.
Your Trusted Person does not gain ownership of your assets or any legal rights to your estate simply because you nominated them. Crumdex’s role is simply to verify the request and, where appropriate, securely release the information you chose to record in accordance with your instructions, our Terms & Conditions and our legal obligations.
In some cases, verification and administration fees may apply. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions for further information.
Why doesn’t Crumdex automatically know if I’ve passed away or lost mental capacity?
Crumdex is not a monitoring service and does not use a “kill switch” or automatically detect whether you have passed away or lost mental capacity.
Instead, if something happens to you, your Trusted Person (or another person with a legitimate interest) should contact Crumdex. We will then carry out our verification process before deciding whether to release your recorded information.
We believe this is a safer and more reliable approach. Automatic systems can fail, trigger incorrectly or rely on information that is incomplete or out of date. By requiring someone to contact us and independently verifying the circumstances, we can help ensure that information is released only when it is appropriate to do so.
This approach also means you remain in full control of your Crumdex account throughout your lifetime unless and until we are reasonably satisfied that the conditions for release under our Terms & Conditions have been met.