Estate Guides
Clear, practical answers for the paperwork that follows a loss — written in plain language, organized by the questions families actually ask.
What to Do When Someone Dies
A complete, phase-by-phase checklist — from the first 72 hours through settling the estate — that you can save as your own personalized action plan.
Read the guide →How to Get a Death Certificate
Where to order, what it costs, and how many copies you need — for all 50 states and Washington D.C.
Read the guide →How to Notify a Bank, Broker, or Insurer
Exact contact info, required documents, and a ready-to-send letter for notifying major banks, brokerages, and insurance companies of a death.
Read the guide →Estate Settlement Questions, Answered
Plain-language answers to specific questions executors ask most: closing accounts, canceling subscriptions, inherited retirement accounts, and life insurance claims.
Read the guide →How Probate Works in Your State
Small-estate affidavit limits, simplified-probate thresholds, creditor-claim deadlines, and the court that handles it — for every state and Washington D.C.
Read the guide →