Everything we've published on first 500 hours.
23 articles
Managing a deceased person's home means keeping the mortgage current, the insurance active, and the property maintained while the estate is settled, then deciding whether to keep, sell, or transfer it
Distributing assets and closing an estate is the final stage of administration, where the executor pays all remaining debts and taxes, distributes what is left to the beneficiaries according to the wi
As a general rule, family members are not personally responsible for a deceased relative's debts; those debts are paid from the deceased person's estate, and if the estate cannot cover them, they usua
When someone dies, a final individual income tax return generally must be filed for the year of death, and depending on the estate there may also be an estate income tax return and, for very large est
Preventing family conflict during estate settlement comes down to transparent communication, clear process, fair division of sentimental items, and bringing in a neutral party before tensions harden,
Handling a deceased person’s vehicle means locating the title, notifying the DMV and insurer, and then transferring the car to an heir or selling it, with the exact process depending on how the vehicl
Canceling a deceased person’s subscriptions means finding every recurring charge across streaming, software, memberships, and services, then canceling or transferring each one, because these charges c
Claiming benefits after a death means finding every life insurance policy and applying for the survivor benefits the family is owed from Social Security, the VA, pensions, and employers, all of which
Preventing identity theft after a death means promptly notifying the three credit bureaus to flag the file as deceased, securing financial accounts, limiting personal details in public notices, and wa
When someone who cared for children, dependents, or pets dies, the immediate priority is to ensure those dependents are safe and cared for right away, then to confirm longer-term guardianship through
Notifying a deceased person’s employer does two things: it formally reports the death, and it opens the door to benefits the family is owed, including final pay, unused PTO, employer-provided life ins
An estate inventory is a complete, organized list of everything the deceased person owned and owed, including accounts, property, investments, valuables, digital assets, and all debts, and it is the f
In the first weeks after a death, families can usually cover funeral and living costs through joint or payable-on-death accounts, life insurance advances, funeral-specific funds, and assistance progra
Coordinating help after a loss means turning the wave of “let me know if you need anything” into a concrete, managed list of tasks, meals, and support, so that help genuinely reduces the family’s burd
Securing a loved one’s digital life means preserving access to their phone, computer, email, and accounts quickly, before devices lock or data is wiped, so the family does not permanently lose photos,
An obituary is a short published notice that announces a death, honors the person’s life, and shares service details, and writing one well means capturing who they were while deliberately leaving out
Most families need around ten certified copies of the death certificate, because banks, insurers, government agencies, and asset transfers each typically require their own original. Certified copies a
Finding the will and gathering essential documents is a foundational early task, because the will names the executor and directs the estate, and documents like the death certificate, identification, i
After a death is pronounced, you choose how the body will be cared for, by selecting a funeral home or crematory, activating a body or organ donation plan, and arranging transport of the body from the
Securing a home after a death means locking and protecting the property, safeguarding valuables, cash, documents, and digital devices, collecting the mail, and preventing anyone from removing items un
Announcing a death works best in concentric circles: tell the closest family and friends personally and first, designate one person to help spread the news, and hold any public or social media announc
In the first hour after a death, the only essential steps are to get a legal pronouncement of death, contact the right people for the setting you are in, and avoid moving or removing anything until yo
Arranging a funeral or cremation means choosing the type of service you want, selecting a provider, and booking the details, and federal law gives you the right to see itemized prices and buy only wha
