> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.archivecircle.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Trusted contacts

> Learn what trusted contacts do and how they activate recovery shares.

Trusted contacts help Eternum verify your status and release recovery shares after death verification. They do not receive vault plaintext.

## Responsibilities

Trusted contacts can:

* Receive check-in escalation emails
* Confirm death or contest a false alarm
* Upload evidence during verification
* Activate and later release their assigned recovery share

They cannot:

* Read your vault items
* Recover your vault alone
* Release shares before death verification allows it

## Activation flow

<Steps>
  <Step title="You add a trusted contact">
    Eternum sends an email telling them they were added.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You assign a recovery share">
    Share assignment creates a portal link for that trusted contact.
  </Step>

  <Step title="They enter the bootstrap key">
    The bootstrap key is shared out-of-band. It unlocks the initial encrypted share.
  </Step>

  <Step title="They set a passphrase">
    The contact protects their private key locally with a passphrase.
  </Step>

  <Step title="They become active">
    Once activated, their share can be released later if verification completes.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Contact limits by plan

| Plan   | Trusted contacts |
| ------ | ---------------- |
| Seed   | 2                |
| Legacy | 5                |
| Estate | Unlimited        |

<Info>
  Use contacts who are likely to respond and who do not share the same email account or device access.
</Info>