How to claim an inheritance

Depending on your inheritance plan package, you can choose to claim with Nunchuk service or recover it yourself.

01. Prepare Materials

Have the Magic Phrase ready, along with the inheritance key shared by the plan owner: a hardware signer loaded with it, its 12 or 24-word seed phrase, or the Backup Password for its encrypted backup.

02. Download App and Create Account

Download the Nunchuk app from the App Store (IMPORTANT: please verify that the app was developed by Nunchuk). The claimant should sign up for their own account, separate from the owner's.

03. Initiate the Claim

Sign in to the claimant's account on the mobile app. Go to the Services tab and tap Claim an inheritance. Enter the Magic Phrase first, then prove you hold the inheritance key:

Option A: Use a Hardware Signer (Recommended for Security) If the inheritance key is not already on a device, load its 12 or 24-word seed phrase onto a compatible hardware signer. Select the device type when asked, then follow the prompts to connect it and sign.
Option B: Import Directly as Software Key (Convenient) Select Software and carefully enter the 12 or 24-word seed phrase into the app. (⚠️ Security Caution: Ensure you are in a secure, private location. This method is convenient but temporarily exposes the key to your mobile device.)
Option C: Backup Password If the plan includes an encrypted backup (Tapsigner or Coldcard), enter the Backup Password instead.

04. Complete the Process

Follow the instructions for claiming. Some hardware signers need the wallet registered on the device before they can sign; the app guides you through it. If the original subscription has expired, a maintenance fee of 0.3% (of the wallet balance) will apply.

01. Prepare Materials

Prepare the wallet configuration file (BSMS) if available, along with the Inheritance Key (the 12 or 24-word seed phrase) shared by the inheritance plan owner.

02. Download and Verify the Application

You will need the Nunchuk application (mobile or desktop) to reconstruct the wallet and sign the transaction. You have two options for obtaining the software:

Option A: Official App Stores (Convenient) Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. (IMPORTANT: Verify that the app developer is listed as "Nunchuk".)
Option B: Open Source (Sovereign Backup) If the official stores are unavailable, or if you prefer to use the open-source version, download the desktop or Android (APK) versions directly from our official GitHub repositories below.

Desktop app releases: github.com/nunchuk-io/nunchuk-desktop/releases
Android app releases: github.com/nunchuk-io/nunchuk-android/releases

⚠️ Security Note: When downloading from GitHub, it is strongly recommended that you verify the PGP signatures of the release files to ensure authenticity and security.

03. Recover the Wallet

On the Nunchuk app, go to Home → Add wallet → Recover existing wallet → Recover using BSMS/descriptors.

Follow the prompts to import your BSMS file. This reconstructs the wallet configuration (the "map" to the funds).

Recover the wallet using BSMS in the Nunchuk app — Recover using BSMS

04. Add the Inheritance Key

Navigate to the Keys tab and tap Add key. You must now connect the Inheritance Key using the seed phrase you prepared in Step 1. Choose one of the following methods:

Option A: Use a Hardware Signer (Recommended for Security) First, load the 12 or 24-word seed phrase onto a compatible hardware signer according to the manufacturer's instructions. Then, select the appropriate device type (e.g., Coldcard, Ledger, Jade) on the "Add key" screen and follow the instructions to connect the device. Some hardware signers may require you to register the wallet on the device before it can be used to sign. If this step is needed for your device, navigate to: Wallet details → View wallet config → More menu → Export wallet configuration. (ℹ️ Note: Depending on the hardware signer model and its connection type (e.g., NFC, QR, USB), you may need to use the Nunchuk desktop application instead of the mobile app to add the key.)
Option B: Import Directly as Software Key (Convenient) Select Software on the "Add key" screen and carefully enter the 12 or 24-word seed phrase directly into the app. (⚠️ Security Caution: Ensure you are in a secure, private location. This method is convenient but temporarily exposes the key to your mobile device.)