Domain names rarely live in one place. A few sit in one registrar, others were bought years ago and forgotten, login details are spread across accounts, and no one else knows how it all fits together. That setup works until something interrupts access, and then recovery depends on whether anyone can even find or control what exists.
The Domain Estate Planning Assessment turns that risk into a structured review. It walks through the parts of domain name ownership that determine whether your portfolio can actually be accessed, transferred, and preserved when it matters.
Turning Ownership Into a Scored System
The tool is built as a 16-question assessment, grouped into four categories:
- Documentation
- Security
- Legal Planning
- Succession
Each category carries equal weight, contributing to a total score out of 100. As you move through the questions, answers are mapped to point values, which makes the result measurable instead of subjective.
Progress is tracked in real time, and each response immediately contributes to the final readiness grade.
How the Questions Are Structured
Each question presents three levels of readiness:
- fully covered (documented and accessible)
- partially covered (known but incomplete or informal)
- uncovered (not set up or unknown)
This structure reflects how domain management usually exists in practice. Many setups are mostly handled, though gaps appear when access, ownership, or instructions are tested.
The scoring captures those gaps instead of treating everything as binary.
What Each Category Measures
Documentation
This section looks at whether your domain name portfolio is actually recorded and traceable.
It checks:
- whether all domains are listed in one place
- whether registrar details are documented
- whether login credentials are stored in a way someone else can access
The focus is on visibility. If no one can locate or understand the portfolio, recovery becomes guesswork.
Security
This section evaluates how well your domain names are protected against loss or lockout.
It covers:
- two-factor authentication across registrar accounts
- dependency on a single email address
- domain locking status
- recovery paths if access is lost
The goal is to identify points where access could fail, especially under conditions where the original owner is unavailable.
Legal Planning
This section connects domain names to formal ownership structures.
It looks at:
- whether domains are explicitly listed in a will or trust
- whether legal authority over digital assets is documented
- whether professional advice has been considered
This determines whether ownership can legally transfer, not just technically.
Succession
This section focuses on what happens next.
It evaluates:
- whether a specific person is responsible for the domains
- whether they know what to do
- whether renewal, transfer, and valuation are understood
The emphasis is on execution. Knowing the domains exist is not enough without clear instructions.
How the Score Is Calculated
Each category contributes up to 25 points.
The final output is a readiness grade, such as:
- fully covered
- partially covered
This reflects how complete the setup is across all four areas, not just one.
A category breakdown shows exactly where points were gained or lost, making the weak spots visible immediately.
Identifying Gaps That Actually Matter
The tool highlights specific questions where points were lost and labels them by severity.
- critical gaps → areas that can directly lead to loss of control
- improvements → areas that increase resilience but are not immediate risks
Each gap is tied to a concrete scenario, such as:
- inability to recover accounts
- domains expiring without renewal
- ownership not transferring legally
This shifts the output from a score to a set of actionable risks.
Real-World Risk Layer
The assessment includes real examples of domain name loss tied to missing planning steps.
These cases show how portfolios with significant value can be lost through:
- expired domains
- lack of access
- missing instructions
The examples connect abstract risks to actual outcomes, which makes the gaps easier to prioritise.
Recommended Actions Based on Your Setup
After scoring, the tool generates a set of next steps grouped by category:
- security fixes (2FA, independent email, locking)
- legal updates (listing domains, structuring ownership)
- succession steps (assigning responsibility, documenting process)
Each recommendation is tied directly to your answers, so the output reflects your specific setup rather than a generic checklist.
Output and Usability
The final result includes:
- overall readiness score
- category breakdown
- identified gaps
- recommended actions
- option to download a PDF report
Everything runs client-side, with no data stored or transmitted, which matters given the sensitivity of account and ownership information.
What the Tool Is Actually Doing
It converts a scattered, informal setup into a structured system of access, control, and transferability.
Instead of asking whether domains are “managed,” it checks whether:
- they can be found
- they can be accessed
- they can be transferred
- they can be maintained over time
Why Founders Should Use It
Domain names often sit outside formal planning, even when they carry real value. The problem shows up when access is needed quickly and no one knows where to start.
Running the assessment surfaces those weak points early, while changes are still simple to make. It gives a clear view of whether the portfolio can survive a disruption without relying on guesswork or recovery attempts.
Run the Assessment
Answer the 16 questions and see how your domain name setup holds up across documentation, security, legal planning, and succession.
The result shows where control is solid and where gaps could turn into loss, along with the steps needed to close them.
Founders evaluating stronger naming options can also post a request and review domains aligned with the next stage of their company’s growth.