How Proof-of-Life Check-Ins Work

What Is a Proof-of-Life Check-In?

A proof-of-life check-in is a simple periodic email that asks you one question: Are you still there? Clicking the confirmation link — or logging into your account — is all it takes to answer. The name sounds clinical, but the concept is straightforward: the platform stays quiet unless it stops hearing from you.

This mechanism is sometimes called a dead man's switch in technical circles. We prefer "check-in" because that is what it really is — a lightweight routine, much like renewing a subscription, that keeps your account in an active, holding state. Nothing happens while you keep responding.

Step-by-Step — How the Process Works

The full cycle is designed with multiple layers of caution. Here is exactly what happens from the moment you activate your account:

1. 1
   Check-in email arrives in your inbox

   When email delivery is enabled, check-in emails follow the interval saved in your settings. The link opens a confirmation form; merely opening the link does not confirm that you are alive. You must submit the form.

2. 2
   You respond — the cycle resets

   You submit the email confirmation form or complete a manual check-in in your account. The system saves your confirmation and resets the check-in cycle. Simply opening a link or signing in is not a substitute for completing the check-in.

3. 3
   No response — a reminder is sent

   With email delivery enabled, the schedule calls for reminders at days 7 and 14 after the unanswered check-in, then an escalation warning at day 21. These are scheduled attempts, not a guarantee that email reaches your inbox.

4. 4
   Still no response — emergency contact is alerted

   At day 22, the schedule calls for an alert to your registered emergency contacts. They can explicitly report that you are alive or that you have died. They should only submit information they know to be accurate; uncertainty or non-response does not authorize delivery.

5. 5
   Explicit death confirmation — waiting period and delivery checks

   An emergency contact must explicitly report your death before posthumous delivery can become eligible. A 48-hour waiting period follows. Delivery also requires the relevant account, upload, recipient and schedule checks to pass. Without confirmation, the account reaches a review hold at day 29; silence does not release messages.

How Often Do Check-Ins Happen?

Choose a check-in interval in your account settings that you can reliably maintain. The saved interval controls when the next check-in becomes due. Review it whenever your availability or contact details change.

Before an extended period offline, review your saved interval and complete a check-in if appropriate. Tell your emergency contacts about your plans. Do not assume there is a separate holiday-pause feature.

What Happens If You Miss One?

Missing a single check-in does not trigger anything irreversible — and that is by design. Life is unpredictable: phones break, inboxes get buried, and people go on holiday without remembering to tell their calendar. The system accounts for this reality with a deliberate, multi-step escalation rather than a hair-trigger response.

The escalation sequence gives you and your emergency contacts opportunities to respond. No response at every step still leaves delivery blocked. Explicit death confirmation, the 48-hour waiting period and the remaining eligibility checks are required; annual messages also wait for their configured date.

Who Are Emergency Contacts and What Do They Do?

An emergency contact is a trusted person you designate during setup. This is typically a close friend, adult family member, or someone who would realistically know if something serious had happened to you.

Emergency contacts are asked to report whether you are alive or have died, using explicit confirmation. They must not guess. If they cannot verify your situation, messages remain blocked. This role is separate from being a message recipient; an escalation alert does not give them access to your videos.

We strongly recommend telling your emergency contact in advance that they have been named. A brief, honest conversation — "I use a service that contacts you if I stop checking in for a while" — removes all confusion and ensures they know how to respond if the moment ever comes.

Important Boundaries — What the Platform Does Not Do

Transparency is essential. Here is a clear statement of what MyFinalVideo does not do, so you can set accurate expectations:

• Does not verify legal death. The delivery flow relies on an emergency contact’s explicit report and subsequent checks. It does not independently validate that report against death certificates, hospitals or official registries.
• Does not contact hospitals or emergency services. MyFinalVideo is a personal communication platform, not a medical or emergency service. It will never contact emergency services on your behalf and is not a substitute for a medical alert system.
• Does not guarantee a specific delivery time. While the platform dispatches messages promptly once all conditions are met, no exact delivery moment is guaranteed. Factors such as recipient email filters or service interruptions are outside our control.
• Does not provide legal or estate planning advice. MyFinalVideo stores and delivers personal messages. It is not a legal service and does not replace a will, an estate plan, or a power of attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions