> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usmewe.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Add Guardians

> Build your trust network with guardians

# Add Guardians

Guardians are trusted contacts who can help with account recovery and boost your Trust Score.

## What Are Guardians?

Guardians serve two purposes in usmewe:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Trust Score Boost" icon="star">
    Each guardian adds **+5 points** to your Trust Score (max 3 guardians = +15 points)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Social Recovery" icon="shield">
    Guardians can help recover your account or approve large withdrawals from Social Vault
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Who Should Be Your Guardians?

Choose people who:

* You trust completely
* Are responsive and reachable
* Understand crypto basics
* Will be available long-term

<Tip>
  Good guardian choices: close friends, family members, trusted colleagues.
</Tip>

<Warning>
  Never add strangers as guardians. They could potentially assist in compromising your Social Vault.
</Warning>

## How to Add a Guardian

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Settings">
    Navigate to **Dashboard** > **Settings** > **Guardians**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Add Guardian">
    Click the **Add Guardian** button
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter Their Wallet Address">
    Enter your guardian's wallet address:

    ```
    0x1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef12345678
    ```

    Or have them scan a QR code from their usmewe app
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send Invitation">
    Click **Send Invitation**. They'll receive a notification to accept.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for Acceptance">
    Your guardian must accept the invitation for it to become active.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Guardian Status

| Status       | Meaning                                 |
| ------------ | --------------------------------------- |
| **Pending**  | Invitation sent, waiting for acceptance |
| **Active**   | Guardian accepted and is active         |
| **Declined** | Guardian declined the invitation        |
| **Removed**  | Guardian was removed                    |

## Accept a Guardian Request

If someone wants you to be their guardian:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Check Notifications">
    You'll receive a notification: "Alice wants you to be their guardian"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the Request">
    Make sure you know and trust the person
  </Step>

  <Step title="Accept or Decline">
    * **Accept**: You become their guardian
    * **Decline**: Request is rejected
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Guardian Responsibilities

As a guardian, you may be asked to:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Approve Large Withdrawals" icon="check">
    If the user has a Social Vault, large withdrawals need guardian approval.

    You'll receive a notification with:

    * Amount requested
    * Recipient address
    * Time to approve

    **Only approve if you've verified with the user directly!**
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Assist with Recovery" icon="rotate">
    If the user's Social Vault is locked (possibly under duress), guardians can initiate recovery.

    This is a serious action - only proceed if you're certain it's legitimate.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Alert to Suspicious Activity" icon="bell">
    If you notice suspicious activity on their account, contact them immediately.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Remove a Guardian

To remove a guardian:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Guardians**
2. Find the guardian you want to remove
3. Click **Remove**
4. Confirm the removal

<Note>
  Removing a guardian reduces your Trust Score by 5 points.
</Note>

## Guardian Limits

| Aspect                         | Limit           |
| ------------------------------ | --------------- |
| Maximum guardians              | 3               |
| Trust Score bonus              | +5 per guardian |
| Max Trust Score from guardians | +15             |

## Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Choose Diverse Guardians" icon="users">
    Don't put all guardians in the same location or circle. If something happens to that group, you want alternatives.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Verify Directly" icon="phone">
    If you receive an approval request as a guardian, always verify with the person directly (call, text, in person).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Keep Contact Info Updated" icon="address-book">
    Make sure you can reach your guardians through other channels if needed.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Review Periodically" icon="calendar">
    Check your guardian list every few months. Remove any you've lost trust in.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can guardians access my funds?">
    No. Guardians cannot access your funds directly. They can only approve withdrawals you initiate from Social Vault.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if a guardian goes offline?">
    Social Vault requires a threshold (e.g., 2-of-3). As long as enough guardians are available, you're fine.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I be a guardian for multiple people?">
    Yes. There's no limit to how many people you can be a guardian for.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do guardians need USDC?">
    No. Being a guardian is free. Approving requests requires only a signature (no gas).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Trust Score Impact

| Guardians | Trust Score Bonus |
| --------- | ----------------- |
| 0         | +0                |
| 1         | +5                |
| 2         | +10               |
| 3         | +15 (max)         |

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Setup Social Vault" icon="vault" href="/guides/users/setup-social-vault">
    Use guardians for security
  </Card>

  <Card title="Request a Loan" icon="hand-holding-dollar" href="/guides/users/request-loan">
    Use your improved Trust Score
  </Card>
</CardGroup>