Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about LegacyShield.
What is LegacyShield?
LegacyShield is a secure, encrypted document vault for your most important files — passports, wills, insurance policies, and more. It uses zero-knowledge encryption, meaning only you can access your documents. Not even we can see them.
What does "zero-knowledge encryption" mean?
Your files are encrypted on your device before they ever leave your browser. The encryption key is derived from your password, which we never store or transmit. This means we literally cannot access your documents — even if compelled by a court order.
Can I reset my password if I forget it?
No — and that’s by design. Your password is the only way to derive the encryption key that protects your files. We don’t have a copy, so we can’t reset it. We strongly recommend using a password manager and setting up emergency access as a safety net.
What is emergency access?
Emergency access lets you designate a trusted person (like a spouse or family member) who can access your documents using a special unlock phrase. If something happens to you, they can retrieve your important files through the emergency portal — read-only, no modifications.
Is my data stored in the EU?
Yes. All data is stored on European-owned infrastructure (Hetzner, Germany/Finland). Unlike AWS or Google Cloud EU regions, Hetzner is a German company not subject to the US CLOUD Act. Your data stays under EU jurisdiction.
What happens if LegacyShield shuts down?
Your files are encrypted on your device. Even if our servers go offline, your locally cached encryption keys and any downloaded files remain yours. We’re also exploring data export features so you can always take your documents with you.
How is this different from Dropbox or Google Drive?
Dropbox and Google Drive can access your files — they hold the encryption keys. LegacyShield uses client-side, zero-knowledge encryption: your files are encrypted before upload, and only you hold the key. We also offer emergency access for loved ones, which no major cloud storage provider does.
Is LegacyShield free?
Yes! The free plan includes 3 documents, emergency access, and 1 emergency contact — with full zero-knowledge encryption and EU hosting. Invite friends to earn up to 25 documents free! The Pro plan ($10/month) gives you 100 documents, 5 emergency contacts, and priority support.
What file types can I upload?
You can upload any file type — PDFs, images, Word documents, spreadsheets, and more. We support preview for PDFs and images directly in the browser.
Who can see my documents?
Only you — and anyone you explicitly grant emergency access to via your unlock phrase. Our team cannot see your files, file names, or any content. We can only see basic account metadata (email, plan, storage usage).
Still have questions? Get in touch