Articles
Explore in-depth guides, practical tips, and expert insights on everything from funeral planning to navigating grief
Managing Social Media and Online Accounts After Someone Dies: A Practical Guide
Facebook birthday notifications don't stop when someone dies, and locked phones can trap years of family photos. This guide provides immediate triage steps to prevent financial drain and impersonation, plus a simple pre-planning checklist—Apple Legacy Contacts and Google Inactive Account Manager—to spare your family weeks of bureaucratic frustration.
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Social Security Death Benefits: What They Are and How to Claim Them
Social Security provides two death benefits: a one-time $255 payment (two-year deadline) and monthly survivors benefits based on your loved one's earnings. The costliest mistake is waiting to apply—benefits start from your application date, not the death, and every month of delay is money lost forever. You must file by phone or in-person (no online option), but eligibility is often broader than expected for spouses, ex-spouses, children, and dependent parents.
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How to Get a Death Certificate (and How Many Copies You'll Need)
Most families need 8-12 certified death certificates to settle an estate, but you must order them from the jurisdiction where the death occurred—not where the person lived. This guide breaks down state-specific requirements, typical costs of $5-30 per copy, processing timelines, and common mistakes that cause frustrating delays when you run short mid-process.
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Closing Accounts and Notifying Organizations After a Death: A Practical Checklist
This guide breaks down overwhelming post-death paperwork into four manageable phases. Start by ordering 10-20 certified death certificates and reporting the death to Social Security within 72 hours to stop benefits and prevent fraud, then follow the timeline for closing accounts, filing insurance claims, and handling taxes.
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Understanding Probate: When It's Required and How It Works
Most estates can avoid full probate using a simple two-gate test: if assets don't automatically transfer to beneficiaries, check whether their total value falls under your state's small-estate threshold, which can exceed $200,000 in some states. The guide details which assets count, state-specific shortcuts, and the step-by-step process when court supervision is required.
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State-by-State Cremation Regulations and Requirements: What Varies, What's Required Everywhere, and How to Check Your State
While six cremation requirements apply in every state, critical details like 24-72 hour waiting periods, who can authorize the process, and whether you must hire a funeral director vary dramatically. Nine states legally require funeral director involvement, but most allow families to file paperwork themselves—if the crematory agrees.
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Veterans Burial Benefits: What's Available and How to Apply
Fewer than half of eligible families claim VA burial benefits, which include free national cemetery burial, headstones and flags, plus cash reimbursements up to $978 or $2,000. This practical guide clarifies exact eligibility rules, required documents (DD-214, death certificates, itemized receipts), and critical deadlines like the 2-year limit for most claims. Get step-by-step instructions for scheduling burial and securing reimbursements to ensure you receive the benefits your veteran earned.
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