These are real events reported by major news outlets. In each case, a system like Break Glass could have changed the outcome — by ensuring the right people had access to the right information at the right time.
A widow wrote to Dear Abby that her husband died suddenly and it took her over four months to decipher his online accounts. She couldn't pay basic household bills during those months. His contacts were uncooperative — some even cruel.
Chicago Sun-TimesA payload titled "How to keep the household running" — listing every recurring bill, when it's due, which account it auto-pays from, and the customer service number to call if something stops working. Not credentials, but a checklist your partner can follow on day one.
An unconscious patient's wife and children wanted to continue life support, but the hospital claimed authority to disconnect the ventilator because the patient had no advance directive or power of attorney on file. The case helped drive California legislation requiring hospitals to consult next of kin.
California HealthlineAn "Incapacitated" scenario containing: where the advance directive is filed, who has healthcare power of attorney, the primary doctor's name and number, current medications, allergies, medical history, and health insurance details. Released immediately when a family member triggers the plan.
Rachel Thompson spent three years in court battling Apple to access family photos and wedding footage stored in her late husband Matthew's iCloud account. Despite being the legal executor of his estate, Apple refused access until a 2019 court order compelled it.
ABC MoneyA payload with instructions: "Set yourself as my Apple Legacy Contact (Settings > Apple ID > Legacy Contact). My iCloud email is [X]. If you can't get in, contact [estate lawyer name] who has a court order template ready." Instructions to prevent the problem, plus a backup plan if it happens anyway.
Leslie Milk's husband Benjamin died after a glioblastoma diagnosis. Despite 46 years of marriage, Leslie couldn't answer security questions on their joint email. GEICO raised her auto insurance the moment they learned she was widowed. Citibank cancelled her credit card. Bill pay silently stopped working.
WashingtonianA payload listing every bank, insurer, and utility — with account numbers and phone numbers. "Call GEICO at [number], policy under Benjamin's name, policy number [X]. Tell them you're the surviving spouse before they find out from the death certificate." A map your partner can act on immediately.
When Paul died unexpectedly, his wife Rebecca couldn't get into his phone, leaving her locked out of personal photos, financial accounts, smart home systems, and critical estate information. Companies refused access without legacy contact designation.
Deseret NewsA "Death" scenario containing device access instructions, password manager recovery guides, and a list of every account with who to call — encrypted and released only to the designated spouse when a trusted contact confirms the situation.
Alice Stone Nakhimovsky, a retired university professor, was caught completely unprepared when her husband Alexander died unexpectedly. She spent days trying to decipher his financial spreadsheets and had no understanding of the documents he had maintained throughout their marriage.
International Business TimesA payload titled "Our financial life, explained" — not account credentials, but a plain-English guide: "We bank at [X] and [Y]. Our financial advisor is [name] at [number] — call them first. Tax returns are filed by [accountant name]. Life insurance is policy [number] with [company]. Here's how to read the spreadsheet."
Carla Valpeoz, 35, a legally blind solo traveler, went missing in Peru in 2018 after hiking Machu Picchu. Her family only realized something was wrong when she missed her flight home a week later. Her father spent months walking house-to-house in remote Andes towns with flyers.
CBS NewsA "Missing" scenario containing: full itinerary and accommodation bookings, travel insurance policy number, US Embassy contact, last known location sharing link, names and numbers of travel companions, and passport number. The kind of document a parent could act on within hours instead of weeks.
John Barnett, a former Boeing quality control manager, was found dead in 2024 while giving depositions in his whistleblower retaliation case. A second Boeing whistleblower, Joshua Dean, died weeks later. Both had flagged safety defects.
NPRA safety check-in that auto-releases evidence packages to lawyers, journalists, and regulatory contacts if the whistleblower stops checking in. The evidence survives even if the whistleblower doesn't.
The people in these stories didn't plan for the worst case. Break Glass exists so you can.
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