Leaving an abusive relationship is statistically one of the most dangerous times for a survivor, and having a safety plan — with documents, emergency contacts, and financial details organized in advance — makes a measurable difference. But that same information, if discovered on your phone before you're ready, can escalate the danger you're trying to leave. Advocates consistently recommend building this plan with a domestic violence organization or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, which can help tailor a plan to your specific circumstances.
What an Escape Plan Typically Includes
- Important documents: Photos or scans of IDs, birth certificates, lease agreements, and financial statements.
- Emergency contacts: Numbers for shelters, advocates, and trusted friends or family who are not connected to your abuser.
- Financial information: Records of a separate savings account, if you have started one, or a budget for the first weeks after leaving.
- A timeline or checklist: Notes about when and how you plan to leave, which is often the most sensitive piece of information you can have.
Why This Information Can't Live in Notes or Photos
An abuser who checks your phone regularly, or has installed monitoring software, can find a note titled "plan" or a folder of scanned documents within seconds. Even a vague file name doesn't help if the content itself is visible the moment the file is opened.
Keeping Your Plan Genuinely Hidden
Stash disguises itself as a calculator, fitness tracker, or music player on your home screen, with your actual files locked behind AES-256 encryption and a passcode your abuser has never seen. There is no visible "vault" icon or app name that would draw attention if someone scrolls through your apps.
Storing Documents Without a Paper Trail
Scan or photograph documents, import them into Stash, and delete the originals along with anything in Recently Deleted. Because Stash stores everything on-device with no cloud sync, there is no account or backup elsewhere that could reveal the plan if your abuser has access to shared cloud storage.
A Decoy Vault for Worst-Case Moments
If you are ever forced to unlock the app, a separate decoy passcode opens a version of the vault containing only harmless, pre-loaded content, keeping your actual plan invisible.
Working With an Advocate
A local domestic violence advocate can help you think through device safety alongside your broader plan, including whether a separate, abuser-unknown device might be part of your specific situation. The Hotline can connect you with local resources at 1-800-799-7233.
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