Phase 1: Data Format Specification

Introduction to Data Format Phase

Phase 1 of WIA-LEG-006 establishes the fundamental data structures that enable interoperable digital asset inheritance across all platforms, blockchains, and legal systems. Just as HTML provides a universal format for web pages and JSON enables data exchange between applications, the WIA-LEG-006 data format creates a lingua franca for digital inheritance planning.

This chapter provides comprehensive technical specifications for implementing Phase 1, including JSON schemas, field definitions, validation rules, and real-world examples. Developers, wallet providers, and estate planning platforms can use these specifications to build compatible inheritance solutions.

Core Data Model

Inheritance Plan Structure

Every digital asset inheritance plan in WIA-LEG-006 follows a standardized hierarchical structure:

{
  "wiaStandard": "LEG-006",
  "version": "1.0",
  "inheritancePlan": {
    "planId": "unique-identifier",
    "metadata": { },
    "owner": { },
    "assets": [ ],
    "beneficiaries": [ ],
    "distribution": { },
    "triggers": [ ],
    "legal": { },
    "execution": { }
  },
  "signatures": [ ]
}

Metadata Section

The metadata section contains administrative and descriptive information about the inheritance plan:

"metadata": {
  "created": "2025-01-15T10:30:00Z",
  "lastModified": "2025-01-20T14:45:00Z",
  "version": "1.2",
  "previousVersionHash": "0x7f9fade1c0d57a7af66ab4ead79fade1c0d57a7af66ab4ead7c2c2eb7b11a91385",
  "title": "John Doe Digital Asset Estate Plan",
  "description": "Comprehensive plan for crypto, NFTs, and digital real estate",
  "jurisdiction": "US-CA",
  "language": "en-US",
  "currency": "USD",
  "tags": ["cryptocurrency", "nft", "metaverse"],
  "confidentiality": "private",
  "encryption": {
    "algorithm": "AES-256-GCM",
    "keyDerivation": "PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256",
    "encryptedFields": ["assets.*.access", "beneficiaries.*.contact"]
  }
}

Field	Type	Required	Description
created	ISO 8601	Yes	Plan creation timestamp (UTC)
lastModified	ISO 8601	Yes	Most recent update timestamp
version	String	Yes	Plan version number (semantic versioning)
previousVersionHash	Hex String	No	SHA-256 hash of previous version for audit trail
jurisdiction	ISO 3166-2	Yes	Primary legal jurisdiction code
encryption	Object	Conditional	Encryption details if sensitive fields are encrypted

Owner Section

The owner section identifies the individual or entity creating the inheritance plan:

"owner": {
  "identity": {
    "did": "did:wia:owner:7f9fade1c0d5",
    "legalName": "John Robert Doe",
    "dateOfBirth": "1975-06-15",
    "nationality": "US",
    "taxId": "encrypted-SSN-hash",
    "biometricHash": "sha256-fingerprint-template"
  },
  "contact": {
    "email": "john.doe@example.com",
    "phone": "+1-555-0123",
    "address": {
      "street": "123 Main Street",
      "city": "San Francisco",
      "state": "CA",
      "postalCode": "94102",
      "country": "US"
    }
  },
  "authentication": {
    "methods": ["biometric", "hardware-key", "password"],
    "mfa": true,
    "recoveryContacts": ["alice.smith@example.com", "bob.johnson@example.com"]
  },
  "legal": {
    "capacity": "full",
    "powerOfAttorney": "did:wia:attorney:abc456",
    "guardian": null
  }
}

Assets Section

The assets section is the most complex part of the data format, accommodating diverse digital asset types:

Cryptocurrency Asset Example

{
  "assetId": "asset-crypto-001",
  "type": "cryptocurrency",
  "classification": "primary-holding",
  "cryptocurrency": {
    "symbol": "BTC",
    "fullName": "Bitcoin",
    "network": "mainnet",
    "amount": "2.45678",
    "walletType": "hardware",
    "walletProvider": "Ledger",
    "addresses": [
      {
        "address": "bc1qxy2kgdygjrsqtzq2n0yrf2493p83kkfjhx0wlh",
        "type": "P2WPKH",
        "balance": "1.23456",
        "derivationPath": "m/84'/0'/0'/0/0"
      },
      {
        "address": "bc1qar0srrr7xfkvy5l643lydnw9re59gtzzwf5mdq",
        "type": "P2WPKH",
        "balance": "1.22222",
        "derivationPath": "m/84'/0'/0'/0/1"
      }
    ]
  },
  "access": {
    "method": "multi-sig",
    "requiredSignatures": 2,
    "totalKeys": 3,
    "keyShares": [
      {
        "shareId": 1,
        "holder": "owner",
        "location": "Ledger Nano X - Serial ABC123"
      },
      {
        "shareId": 2,
        "holder": "did:wia:executor:xyz789",
        "location": "Encrypted cloud backup"
      },
      {
        "shareId": 3,
        "holder": "did:wia:custodian:trust456",
        "location": "Professional custodian vault"
      }
    ],
    "seedPhraseBackup": {
      "method": "shamir-secret-sharing",
      "threshold": 3,
      "totalShares": 5,
      "shareLocations": ["safe-deposit-box-1", "attorney-vault", "family-member-1", "family-member-2", "backup-trustee"]
    }
  },
  "valuation": {
    "acquisitionCost": {
      "amount": 50000,
      "currency": "USD",
      "date": "2020-03-15"
    },
    "currentValue": {
      "amount": 125000,
      "currency": "USD",
      "asOf": "2025-01-15",
      "source": "CoinGecko API"
    },
    "taxBasis": "FIFO"
  },
  "metadata": {
    "description": "Primary Bitcoin holdings for retirement",
    "priority": "high",
    "notes": "Check address balances quarterly",
    "attachments": ["acquisition-records.pdf", "tax-lot-tracking.xlsx"]
  }
}

NFT Asset Example

{
  "assetId": "asset-nft-001",
  "type": "nft",
  "classification": "collectible",
  "nft": {
    "blockchain": "Ethereum",
    "standard": "ERC-721",
    "contractAddress": "0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595f0bEb",
    "tokenId": "12345",
    "ownerAddress": "0x1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef12345678",
    "metadata": {
      "name": "CryptoPunk #12345",
      "description": "One of 10,000 unique collectible characters",
      "image": "ipfs://QmX7KwXNFjKj8w3nQGxBvCvqV2zxK9yDhXjL8pTvWqRsN5",
      "attributes": [
        {"trait_type": "Type", "value": "Alien"},
        {"trait_type": "Accessory", "value": "3D Glasses"}
      ],
      "externalUrl": "https://cryptopunks.app/cryptopunks/details/12345"
    },
    "provenance": [
      {"from": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000", "to": "0xabc...", "date": "2017-06-23"},
      {"from": "0xabc...", "to": "0x1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef12345678", "date": "2021-08-15", "price": "95 ETH"}
    ]
  },
  "valuation": {
    "acquisitionCost": {"amount": 285000, "currency": "USD", "date": "2021-08-15"},
    "currentValue": {"amount": 320000, "currency": "USD", "asOf": "2025-01-15", "source": "OpenSea floor price"},
    "appraisal": {"value": 350000, "appraiser": "Certified NFT Appraiser Inc.", "date": "2024-12-01"}
  },
  "rights": {
    "copyright": "retained by creator (Larva Labs)",
    "commercialUse": "permitted under CryptoPunks license",
    "transferable": true,
    "royalties": {"percentage": 0, "recipient": null}
  }
}

Digital Real Estate Example

{
  "assetId": "asset-land-001",
  "type": "digital-real-estate",
  "classification": "investment",
  "metaverseProperty": {
    "platform": "Decentraland",
    "parcels": [
      {"coordinates": {"x": 142, "y": -89}, "size": "1x1", "landId": "0x..."},
      {"coordinates": {"x": 143, "y": -89}, "size": "1x1", "landId": "0x..."}
    ],
    "totalArea": "2 parcels",
    "blockchain": "Ethereum",
    "contractAddress": "0xf87e31492faf9a91b02ee0deaad50d51d56d5d4d",
    "tokenIds": ["11523", "11524"],
    "developments": [
      {
        "type": "art-gallery",
        "name": "Digital Art Showcase",
        "description": "3D gallery featuring digital art collection",
        "builderCredit": "MetaArchitects Studio",
        "files": ["scene.json", "models/gallery.glb"]
      }
    ]
  },
  "valuation": {
    "acquisitionCost": {"amount": 25000, "currency": "USD", "date": "2022-05-10"},
    "currentValue": {"amount": 78000, "currency": "USD", "asOf": "2025-01-15"},
    "revenueStream": {"monthlyRental": 500, "currency": "MANA", "usdEquivalent": 200}
  },
  "access": {
    "platformAccount": {
      "username": "johndoe_dcl",
      "email": "john.doe@example.com",
      "wallet": "0x1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef12345678"
    },
    "buildPermissions": "owner-only"
  }
}

Beneficiaries Section

The beneficiaries section defines who will receive assets and under what conditions:

"beneficiaries": [
  {
    "beneficiaryId": "ben-001",
    "identity": {
      "did": "did:wia:beneficiary:alice123",
      "legalName": "Alice Marie Smith",
      "relationship": "daughter",
      "dateOfBirth": "2000-03-22",
      "contact": {
        "email": "alice.smith@example.com",
        "phone": "+1-555-0124"
      }
    },
    "allocation": {
      "percentage": 50,
      "specificAssets": ["asset-crypto-001", "asset-nft-001"],
      "residualShare": 50
    },
    "conditions": {
      "ageRequirement": 25,
      "educationMilestone": "college-graduation",
      "trustStructure": {
        "type": "spendthrift-trust",
        "trustee": "did:wia:trustee:professional789",
        "distributionSchedule": [
          {"age": 25, "percentage": 25},
          {"age": 30, "percentage": 25},
          {"age": 35, "percentage": 50}
        ]
      }
    },
    "contingent": {
      "primary": true,
      "alternates": ["ben-002", "ben-003"],
      "failureConditions": ["predeceased", "disclaimed", "incapacitated"]
    }
  },
  {
    "beneficiaryId": "ben-002",
    "identity": {
      "did": "did:wia:beneficiary:bob456",
      "legalName": "Robert James Johnson",
      "relationship": "son",
      "dateOfBirth": "2003-11-08"
    },
    "allocation": {
      "percentage": 40,
      "specificAssets": ["asset-land-001"],
      "residualShare": 40
    },
    "conditions": {
      "ageRequirement": 21,
      "noTrust": true
    }
  },
  {
    "beneficiaryId": "ben-003",
    "identity": {
      "type": "charitable-organization",
      "legalName": "Digital Divide Foundation",
      "taxId": "EIN-12-3456789",
      "charityRegistration": "501(c)(3)",
      "wallet": "0xCharity123456789abcdef"
    },
    "allocation": {
      "percentage": 10,
      "residualShare": 10
    },
    "purpose": "Promoting cryptocurrency education in underserved communities"
  }
]

Distribution Logic

The distribution section specifies how assets are allocated among beneficiaries:

"distribution": {
  "method": "mixed",
  "rules": [
    {
      "ruleId": "rule-001",
      "type": "specific-bequest",
      "asset": "asset-crypto-001",
      "beneficiary": "ben-001",
      "condition": "age >= 25"
    },
    {
      "ruleId": "rule-002",
      "type": "percentage-split",
      "assets": ["asset-nft-*"],
      "beneficiaries": [
        {"id": "ben-001", "percentage": 60},
        {"id": "ben-002", "percentage": 40}
      ]
    },
    {
      "ruleId": "rule-003",
      "type": "residual",
      "beneficiaries": [
        {"id": "ben-001", "percentage": 50},
        {"id": "ben-002", "percentage": 40},
        {"id": "ben-003", "percentage": 10}
      ]
    }
  ],
  "simultaneousDeath": {
    "presumption": "beneficiary-predeceased",
    "survivorshipPeriod": "30 days"
  },
  "taxOptimization": {
    "strategy": "marital-charitable-split",
    "estateTaxExemption": 13610000,
    "jurisdiction": "US-Federal"
  }
}

Trigger Mechanisms

Multiple trigger types can be configured to initiate inheritance:

"triggers": [
  {
    "triggerId": "trigger-001",
    "type": "dead-mans-switch",
    "inactivityPeriod": 365,
    "unit": "days",
    "checkInMethod": "biometric-app",
    "notificationSchedule": [
      {"beforeTrigger": 60, "recipients": ["owner"], "method": "email"},
      {"beforeTrigger": 30, "recipients": ["owner", "executor"], "method": "sms"},
      {"beforeTrigger": 7, "recipients": ["owner", "executor", "ben-001"], "method": "certified-mail"}
    ],
    "gracePeriod": 14,
    "resetOnActivity": true
  },
  {
    "triggerId": "trigger-002",
    "type": "oracle-verified",
    "oracle": {
      "type": "death-certificate",
      "provider": "Vital Statistics Oracle Network",
      "apiEndpoint": "https://oracles.wia.gov/vital-stats",
      "requiredConfirmations": 3,
      "verificationMethod": "multi-jurisdiction-consensus"
    }
  },
  {
    "triggerId": "trigger-003",
    "type": "manual-executor",
    "authorizedParties": ["did:wia:executor:xyz789"],
    "requiredSignatures": 2,
    "signatories": ["executor", "attorney"],
    "documentationRequired": ["death-certificate", "letters-testamentary"]
  }
],
"triggerLogic": {
  "operator": "OR",
  "minimumConfidence": 0.95,
  "disputeResolution": {
    "arbitrator": "WIA Dispute Resolution Service",
    "appealPeriod": 30
  }
}