The Three Copies Rule: Why We Deliver Every Packet in Triplicate
One copy for the holder, one for the executor, one in our archive — a practice born from a single lost binder in 2018.
In 2018, a client called us in distress. The sole copy of her estate handover packet had been destroyed in a kitchen flood. Rebuilding it required three additional visits and cost nearly as much as the original engagement. After that incident, we adopted the three copies rule for every packet we produce.
Copy One: The Estate Holder
This copy stays with the person who commissioned the work. It should live in a fire-resistant document box or safe, separate from the everyday filing cabinet where original deeds might also be stored. The packet is a guide and index — not a replacement for original documents.
Copy Two: The Designated Executor
We deliver this copy directly to the named executor, with the estate holder’s written permission. The executor should store it without opening it until needed. Knowing where the packet lives — and that it exists — is the entire point.
Copy Three: Our Office Archive
We retain one copy in our climate-controlled archive for twelve months after delivery at no additional charge. Extended storage is available for ₩120,000 per year. This copy exists solely as a recovery option if both client-held copies are lost or damaged.
Why Not Digital?
We provide encrypted USB drives as a supplement, not a substitute. USB ports fail. File formats become unreadable. Cloud accounts require passwords that heirs may not possess. A bound packet on a shelf requires no login.