The first steps, in the days right after a death.
A Chicago checklist for what to do when someone dies: when the Cook County Medical Examiner is involved, how to order certificates, and where to file probate.
8 min readAn Illinois-specific checklist for the first 14 days after a death: county clerk death certificates, notifying Social Security, and the small estate affidavit.
8 min readA eulogy doesn't need to be perfect — it needs to be true. This guide walks you through writing one from scratch: what to include, how long it should be, how to find the right stories, and how to get through it on the day.
8 min readA celebration of life is a memorial gathering focused on honoring who someone was rather than mourning their death. It can happen days, weeks, or months after death — wherever and however the family chooses.
8 min readA practical guide to funeral etiquette: what to wear, what to say to the family, how to behave at different types of services, whether to bring flowers or food, and how to support people who are grieving.
7 min readA day-by-day and week-by-week funeral planning timeline — what needs to happen immediately after a death, what can wait until week one, and what the first month of estate administration looks like.
8 min readLearn how to cancel subscriptions after a death — what accounts to look for, what documents you'll need, and how to stop recurring charges before they accumulate.
5 min readLearn how to write an obituary that honors a life well — what to include, how to structure it, and how to navigate word counts, tone, and publication logistics.
6 min readLearn how to plan a memorial service — from choosing a venue and format to personalizing the program, logistics, and what to expect on the day itself.
7 min readLearn how to notify an employer of an employee's death — who to contact, what information to provide, and what benefits and final pay the family may be owed.
5 min readWhen someone dies, the immediate steps are: contact a doctor or hospice nurse to certify the death, notify close family, and call a funeral home within 24 hours. You do not need to have everything figured out first. This guide walks through each decision in the order it matters — calmly and without overwhelm.
8 min readA printable, step-by-step checklist of every task that needs to happen in the first three days — with clear guidance on what can safely wait.
3 min read