Legal & Elder Care

A Digital Legacy and Data Sovereignty Platform

Governing Principles: Freedom · Individual Rights · Equality

"Instead of just lived and died and dates, it becomes a rich tapestry."

[Part 1: Legal Workflows](#part-1-legal-workflows)
[1. Will & Testament Builder](#1-will--testament-builder)
[2. Advance Directive / Living Will](#2-advance-directive--living-will)
[3. Digital Asset Instructions](#3-digital-asset-instructions)
[4. Smart Contract Execution](#4-smart-contract-execution)
[5. Jurisdiction Handling](#5-jurisdiction-handling)
[6. Accessibility](#6-accessibility)
[Part 2: Elderly Care Companion](#part-2-elderly-care-companion)
[7. The Companion Presence](#7-the-companion-presence)
[8. Daily Care Tracking](#8-daily-care-tracking)
[9. Advocacy Functions](#9-advocacy-functions)
[10. Family Connection Layer](#10-family-connection-layer)
[11. Legacy Building](#11-legacy-building)
[12. Decline Detection](#12-decline-detection)
[13. End-of-Life Support](#13-end-of-life-support)
[Part 3: The Economic Layer](#part-3-the-economic-layer)
[14. Paying Elderly Users](#14-paying-elderly-users)
[Appendix: Design Principles](#appendix-design-principles)

# Part 1: Legal Workflows

1. Will & Testament Builder

Philosophy

Most people die without a will — not because they don't care, but because the process is intimidating, expensive, and feels morbid. Headstone reframes this: making a will is an act of love. It's how you protect the people you care about and make sure your wishes are honored.

The AI doesn't present a form. It has a conversation.

Conversational Flow

The AI begins gently, establishing trust before any legal questions:

Opening:

"Before we start, I want you to know — there are no wrong answers here. Everything you tell me is private. We're just going to talk about what matters to you, and I'll help turn that into something official. This usually takes about 20–30 minutes, but we can stop and come back anytime. Ready?"

Stage 1: Identity & Orientation

AI: What's your full legal name?
AI: And what's today's date? (If unsure: "That's okay, I can fill that in.")
AI: Where do you live — city and state/country?
AI: How old are you?
AI: Are you married or in a domestic partnership?
AI: Do you have any children? (biological, adopted, or stepchildren)

Edge case: blended families

"You mentioned you have children from a previous relationship. I want to make sure we get this right — which children do you want to include in your will? You can include all of them, some, or none. This is your choice."

Edge case: unmarried partners

"You mentioned a partner. Are you legally married or in a registered domestic partnership? This matters because without a will, the law may not recognize your partner's right to inherit anything. Let's make sure they're protected."

Stage 2: What You Own

The AI helps people inventory assets without jargon:

AI: Let's talk about what you want to leave behind. Do you own a home or any property?
AI: Do you have bank accounts, savings, or investments?
AI: Do you have a car or other vehicles?
AI: Do you have life insurance? Do you know if it already has a named beneficiary?
AI: Do you have any retirement accounts (like a 401k or pension)?
AI: Any other things of value — jewelry, art, collectibles, a business?
AI: Do you have anything online — like cryptocurrency, PayPal, or digital accounts with money in them?

Note: The AI explains "beneficiary" the first time it uses it:

"A 'beneficiary' just means the person who receives something. Like if you have a life insurance policy, you probably already named someone to get that money — that person is the beneficiary."

Stage 3: Who Gets What

AI: Now let's talk about who you'd like to leave things to. Who are the most important people in your life?
AI: Is there one person you'd like to be in charge of carrying out your wishes? This person is called an "executor." They don't need legal training — they just need to be trustworthy and organized.
AI: Is there a backup person in case your first choice can't do it?
AI: For your home — who would you like to inherit it?
AI: For your bank accounts — same person, or someone different?
AI: Is there anything specific you want to leave to a particular person? Like a ring, a car, or a piece of furniture?
AI: Is there anyone you specifically want to make sure does NOT inherit anything from you?

Edge case: no living relatives

"If you don't have family you want to leave things to, that's completely okay. You can leave everything to a friend, a caregiver, a charity, or a combination. Who or what cause has meant the most to you in your life?"

Edge case: charitable giving

"Would you like to leave anything to a charity or cause? Even a small amount can make a real difference. Is there a cause close to your heart — a church, a hospital, an animal shelter, anything like that?"

Stage 4: Children & Guardianship

AI: Do any of your children still live at home or depend on you?

This page summarizes the full specification. See the full document for complete details.