A calm, ordered path through probate
First, take a breath. Then we take the next step together.
Probate, paperwork, and a dozen agencies, usually on the worst week of your year. We turn it into clear, state-specific steps you can do at your own pace, in plain language.
Free to read. No account. No legal advice.
Within the first two weeks, order at least ten certified death certificates, secure the home, locate the will, and notify Social Security. Probate, if needed, opens in the county where your relative lived. Timelines vary by state, from a few weeks for small estates to a year or more for contested ones.
How this works
Three quiet steps, in your own time
- 1
This week
Stabilize the basics
Order certified death certificates, secure the home and mail, find the will, and notify Social Security. We list the exact number of copies and who to call.
- 2
This month
See what your state requires
Some estates skip probate entirely. We show your state's threshold, the right court, and which forms apply, so you know before you hire anyone.
- 3
When you are ready
Work the long list, calmly
Title transfers, accounts, subscriptions, taxes. One item at a time, with templates and the agencies that handle each piece.
What we are
- A plain-language guide to settling an estate in the US
- State-specific thresholds, forms, and timelines
- Free to read, with no account and no email wall
What we are not
- A law firm, and not your lawyer
- A funeral, hospice, or grief service
- A place that sells your information
By state
Probate, state by state
Thresholds, forms, and timelines vary widely. Start with the state where your relative lived.
All 50 states covered. See the full list.
Guides
Plain-language answers
Probate checklist: every step after a death
Step by step probate checklist for executors. What to file, in what order, and how to avoid the common delays.
Do I need probate? How to tell in 5 minutes
Not every estate goes through probate. Use this decision guide to see whether your situation qualifies for a small estate shortcut.
Stop mail for a deceased person: a clear guide
How to stop junk mail, prescription mail, and credit offers sent to a deceased relative. Free and paid options compared.
What to do when someone dies: full checklist
The first 24 hours, the first two weeks, the first six months. A clear timeline of what to handle after a death.
How many death certificates do you need?
Most families need eight to twelve certified copies. Where to order them, what they cost, and which agencies require originals.
The first week after a death: day by day
A calm day-by-day plan for the first seven days. Pronouncement, certificates, funeral home, and securing the home and accounts.
Funeral planning checklist: a step by step guide
How to plan a funeral or memorial without overpaying. Required choices, optional services, and what FTC rules entitle you to.
How to write an obituary: structure and examples
A short, dignified obituary template with the facts newspapers and funeral homes need, plus pricing and submission tips.
Secure the home of a deceased relative: a checklist
Lock, insure, and inventory the home in the first week to prevent loss and protect the estate from break-ins or family conflict.
Finding the will: where to look and what to do
Practical places to search for an original will, what counts as a valid copy, and how to file it with the probate court.
Letters testamentary: what they are and how to get them
Letters testamentary are the court order that proves your authority as executor. How to petition, typical timelines, and uses.
Small estate affidavit: skip probate legally
Most states let heirs collect modest assets with a sworn affidavit instead of opening probate. Who qualifies and how it works.
How to get an EIN for an estate (IRS Form SS-4)
Why the estate needs its own tax ID, how to apply online with the IRS, and where you will use the EIN during probate.
Executor duties and responsibilities: a clear guide
What an executor of an estate actually does, the legal and financial responsibilities, and how to avoid personal liability.
Close bank accounts after death: a clear walkthrough
How to close a deceased person's checking, savings, and CDs. Joint, sole, and payable-on-death accounts handled differently.
How to claim a life insurance payout
What documents the insurer needs, how long claims take, and what to do if the policy is missing or the carrier is unknown.
Transfer a 401(k) or IRA after death: beneficiary rules
How spousal and non-spousal beneficiaries inherit retirement accounts, the ten-year rule, and how to avoid a taxable mistake.
Final tax return for a deceased person (Form 1040)
Who files, when it is due, and how the final 1040 differs from a regular return. Estate income reported on Form 1041.
Notify Social Security of a death: SSA process
How to report a death to the SSA, claim the $255 lump sum, and what survivor benefits a spouse or child may qualify for.
Notify the credit bureaus of a death
Send a death certificate to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to flag the file and stop pre-approved credit offers within weeks.
Cancel a driver's license after death
Why canceling the license matters for identity protection, and the simple form most state DMVs require to do it.
Transfer on death deed: skip probate for real estate
A TOD deed lets a homeowner name a beneficiary for real estate that bypasses probate at death. Which states allow it, and how.
Digital accounts after death: email, cloud, and crypto
How to access or close Google, Apple, Microsoft, and crypto accounts of a deceased person, and what each provider actually requires.
Memorialize or delete social media accounts after death
Step by step for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. What memorialize does, what proof each platform asks for, and how long it takes.