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Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone see my information after it has been entered?
No one can view any data that you enter or any files that you upload. When you enter sensitive personal information through a data entry screen it is encrypted before being stored in the vaulting server database. When you upload a file it is also encrypted before being stored on the vaulting server. Data is encrypted using a proprietary 256-bit encryption algorithm. If you voluntarily give read-only access to a trusted party, that person will be able to selectively read information that you entered.
A read-only user cannot modify any data under any circumstance.
Upon your request, Estate ++ can release information to trusted parties in case of your death or incapacity. Please read our Information Release Policy to find out more.
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How do I get started?
Estate ++ realizes that conducting a thorough inventory can be a lot of work. This website contains a great deal of information on planning for death, incapacity, theft, and disaster. Probably the most important information is located in the Learning Center under the topic “Arranging Your Final Affairs”. We also provide a comprehensive Preparation Guide to help you gather the relevant information needed to accurately complete your inventory. A link to this guide is available at the top of every screen after you login to the Estate ++ vaulting server.
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How long will it take to enter all of my information?
This depends on the size of your estate. Since this task can be somewhat tedious, we recommend that you divide the work into smaller pieces. Start by uploading your estate documents, passports, and driver’s license. If you will be traveling soon, make sure to enter information about your credit cards, insurance policies, and award programs. Next enter information about your life and legacy including personal bequests, funeral arrangements, cemetery arrangements, and final wishes. Finish off with information about your family members, bills, expenses, investments, and personal property. The Quick Reference located in the Learning Center and at the end of the Preparation Guide can help you quickly gather the information you need.
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How do I upload a document?
The document must first be in electronic format. Simple documents, such as a passport or driver’s license, can be scanned into a JPG file. If you don’t have a scanner we can upload your paper documents for you using our fax upload service. Estate ++ accepts the following file types for upload: JPG, GIF, DOC, XLS, PPT, TXT, and PDF. From the Estate ++ menu click on the “Uploaded Documents” menu item located under “In Case Of Emergency”. Navigate to the document add screen from there. The “Browse” button allows you to look for files on your computer. Documents can be categorized as medical directives for distribution to medical professionals.
Estate ++ supplies you with a set of standard folders such as Medical, Legal and Family.
Folders can be added and deleted as needed to meet your own personal preferences.
An example is located in the Estate ++ Tutorial available from the Learning Center.
We also suggest that you review the upload example that shows you exactly how much information you can upload.
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What information do I need before placing a support call?
Anytime you call Estate++ you need to supply your member number and PIN. This information is located on your membership card. You can view your membership card by logging into the Estate++ vaulting server and navigating to:
Account Management -> Membership Card
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How does your fax upload service work?
Documents received through our toll-free fax line are converted to PDF and uploaded to your estate. You can find the toll-free number and a copy of the fax cover page at the bottom left side of every Estate++ screen. The number is not publicly available for security reasons. You must supply your member number, PIN, the document title on the fax cover page. You must also indicate if the document is a medical directive. An Estate++ administrator will quickly review the document for legibility and upload it to your estate.
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Can you release my information to trusted parties after my death or incapacity?
Upon your request, Estate ++ can release your information to trusted parties in case of your death or incapacity. Please read our Information Release Policy to find out more.
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How do I make changes to information that I entered incorrectly?
Navigation within the Estate ++ system works like this:
- Data for a specific topic within an estate is accessed from the menu located on the left side of the screen
- Example: Bank Accounts are accesed from the Income & Investments menu
- Data within the topic is presented as a list of items
- Example: The Bank Account menu item navigates to a list of bank accounts
- Data within the topic is presented as a list of items
- Example: The Bank Account menu item navigates to a list of bank accounts
- An item is edited or deleted directly from the list
- Example: Information about a bank account can be edited from the list
- Example: A Bank Account can be deleted from the list
- An item is added to the list from a link located directly below the left side menu
- Example: A new Bank Account is added from the link
- A user can return to the list from any add, edit, or delete screen from a link located directly below the left side menu
- Example: Return to the Bank Account list after entering a new Bank Account
For more details, please review the Estate++ Tutorial available from the Learning Center.
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Is a copy of my uploaded will valid for probate purposes?
If your will is lost or destroyed, the copy of your will uploaded into Estate++ can be submitted to probate court. However, depending on specific state law, submitting just a copy of your will may be insufficient. In addition to the copy, you may also need to have witnesses who can state that the copy is, in fact, a copy of your original will.
When you upload an important document (such as your will) into Estate++ you must explicitly acknowledge that the document is truly a valid copy of the original. Estate++ also creates a digital signature for each uploaded document. When you download a document, this signature is used to verify that what you are downloading is indeed exactly what you uploaded.
Estate++ also sends you a quarterly reminder to remove or update copies of any revoked legal documents, which helps to substantiate the originality of your legal documents.
If needed, the management of Vaulting Systems International will give testimony (in the form of an affidavit or declaration of authenticity) that the uploaded copy of your will is an exact copy of the original. However, in order to avoid probate issues, we recommend that you have a fully funded revocable trust and assets with named beneficiaries wherever possible. For details on how to avoid probate issues in your specific situation please contact an attorney who specializes in estate planning.
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Why do I get an HTTP Error 403 when trying to access the vaulting server?
The complete error message is:
The page must be viewed over a secure channel
HTTP Error 403.4 - Forbidden: SSL is required to view this resource
Information is routed through an encrypted connection between your browser and the Estate++ vaulting servers, known as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). These servers cannot be accessed through an unsecured connection. You must type https:// (s after http) at the beginning of the vaulting server address.
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Why does my browser redirect me to the login page while I am editing my estate?
This is a security feature of Estate++. Your browser is forced to logout after 15 minutes. This protects your data in case you leave your computer logged in while leaving it unattended.
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Why aren’t recently typed text entries (such as information in forms and search queries) remembered by my browser?
This is a security feature of Estate++.
Newer browsers include a feature called AutoComplete that keeps track of information that you've recently typed. As you type new information, AutoComplete tries to anticipate what you are typing and offers possible matches. You save time because you don't have to type in the full information. This feature also stores sensitive personal and financial information which can be viewed by anyone using the same computer. Estate++ prevents others from viewing your previously entered text entries by disabling AutoComplete on all web pages.
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What is a fraud-resistant password?
Fraud-resistant password rules force a user to create a password that is not easy to remember and difficult to duplicate. Your data is more secure because the chance of someone guessing your password is almost non-existent. The Estate ++ vaulting servers enforce the following fraud-resistant password rules:
- Passwords must contain between 8-26 characters with one or more letters (A-Z a-z), one or more numbers (0-9), and one or more of the following special characters _-=+!@#$%&*)(?
- Passwords stored within Estate++ are encrypted.
- Passwords expire after 60 days. Your login id is locked after 3 grace login attempts if your expired password is not changed.
- Your login id is locked after 3 failed login attempts.
- Forgotten passwords can be reset only after answering a series of challenge questions.
- Your login id remains locked until you notify our support team.
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What is encryption?
Encryption is the process of converting data into a form that is not understood by unauthorized people. Information can be masked, scrambled, or mathematically transformed. Estate++ protects sensitive personal data, such as credit card numbers and financial account numbers, by using a proprietary 256-bit encryption algorithm. Your data is encrypted before it is stored in the Estate++ database. All documents uploaded to the Estate++ vaulting server are also encrypted using the same proprietary algorithm. All connections between your browser and the Estate++ vaulting servers are also encrypted by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer).
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Will you be offering secure access supported by hardware authentication tokens?
Estate++ was developed in response to the need for reliable access to information for estate settlement and emergency purposes. If disaster strikes, a hardware authentication token is susceptible to the same vulnerabilities as any other physical possession. At best, if your hardware authentication token is lost you will have to pay a fee and wait for a new one to be delivered to you. If you keep your hardware authentication token at home, it can be destroyed by natural disaster and will be harder to replace if there is no place to send it to. Even worse, if you keep your hardware authentication token in your pocket or purse, it can be stolen or replaced with a fake version. How long will it be before you notice that the token is missing? If a thief knows how to use it, all of your valuable information is theirs for the taking. If you die or become incapacitated, will trusted parties who need access to your legal documents know where to find your hardware authentication token and how to use it? Estate++ uses layered authentication which requires verification of personal information that only you know, information that can’t be lost or stolen because it is stored in your memory.
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Does my browser need any special settings to access the vaulting server?
Your browser must support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) with 128-bit encryption. Most browsers support this.
Estate ++ works best with:
- Adobe Reader 7.0 or above
- Internet Explorer 6.0 or above
- Firefox 2.0.0.7 or above
If you are using Internet Explorer please make sure that you set one of the following:
- The Privacy Settings for the Internet Zone must be "Medium High" or less
OR
- The Estate++ vaulting server address must be added as a Trusted Site
If you are using Firefox please make sure that you set one of the following:
- The Privacy Settings must be set to "Accept cookies from sites"
OR
- The Estate++ vaulting server address must be added as an Exception to always allow cookies
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Does my browser need any special settings to view the tutorial videos?
If you choose to view the Estate++ tutorials, you should also install the latest versions of Adobe Flash Player, Windows Media Player, and Apple QuickTime Player. You will also need the latest version of the browser plug-ins for Windows Media Player and Apple QuickTime Player
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