When 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 readA timeline of what actually has to happen after a death, in order: the first 24 hours, arrangements in days 2 to 7, and the estate and financial work that begins in weeks 2 to 4.
8 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 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 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 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 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 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 a veteran dies, disability compensation stops — it does not transfer to the spouse. But a surviving spouse may qualify for DIC, Survivors Pension, health care, and education benefits. Here is what each one requires.
9 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 readEmail is the master key to other accounts. Learn how to close an email account after a death, what Google, Microsoft, and Apple require, and why it comes last.
7 min readSomeone has died in Illinois. What has to happen today, what can wait, and how Illinois handles death certificates, the will, and small estates in the first 14 days.
9 min readA Chicago-specific walkthrough: when the Cook County Medical Examiner takes the case, how to order certificates from the county clerk, and where probate is filed in Cook County.
8 min read