Guides for families
Calm, practical answers for the big paperwork moments of family life in the United States: a death in the family, a funeral, caring for a parent, aging in place, moving, buying a first home, a new baby, renting out a property, and losing a job.
After a death: paperwork for families and executors
Who to Call When Someone Dies: The First 24 to 48 Hours, In Order
A calm, plain-English list of who to call when someone dies in the US, at home, in hospice or in a hospital, and what can safely wait until next week.
What Not to Do When Someone Dies: 10 Mistakes Families Regret
The most common and costly mistakes after a death in the US, from paying debts with your own money to cancelling the phone too early, and what to do instead.
How Many Death Certificates Do You Need? (And Who Will Ask for One)
Most US families need 10 to 15 certified death certificates. Here is who asks for originals, who accepts copies, what they cost and how to order more later.
Executor Checklist: What an Executor Does, Step by Step
Just named executor of an estate? A plain-English US executor checklist, from finding the will to the final distribution, with what to do first and what to avoid.
Estate EIN: How Executors Get One Free From the IRS (Don't Pay a Website)
Why an estate needs an EIN, when you need one, what information you need, and how to apply for free directly on IRS.gov, plus the look-alike sites to avoid.
How to Close a Deceased Person's Bank Accounts, Cards and Subscriptions
The right order for closing a deceased person's accounts in the US: what documents banks need, what happens to joint and POD accounts, and how to stop subscriptions.
Notifying Social Security and the Credit Bureaus After a Death
How to report a death to Social Security, what happens to benefit payments, the $255 death payment and survivor benefits, and how to protect the deceased from identity theft.
Do You Have to Pay a Deceased Parent's Debt? Usually No. Here's Why
In the US, a person's debts are usually paid by their estate, not their children. The exceptions (co-signing, joint accounts, community property) and how to handle debt collectors.
Funeral planning, obituaries and eulogies
How To Write an Obituary: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide (With Template)
How to write an obituary in an evening: what to include, in what order, how long it should be, what to leave out for safety, and a fill-in-the-blanks template.
Obituary Examples: Short, Traditional and Celebration-of-Life Wording
Three complete example obituaries to borrow from: a 60-word short notice, a 150-word traditional obituary and an informal celebration-of-life version, plus notes on tone.
What Not To Put in an Obituary (Protect Your Family From Scams)
The details to leave out of an obituary to prevent identity theft and burglary, what to include instead, and other common regrets families mention.
How To Write a Eulogy: A Simple 4-Part Outline (With Prompts)
A four-part eulogy outline, prompts for when you are stuck, how long a eulogy should be, and practical tips for getting through it on the day.
Funeral Planning Checklist: Every Decision, in Order
A step-by-step funeral planning checklist for families: first decisions, choosing a funeral home, the service, the obituary, and the days after.
The FTC Funeral Rule: Your Rights When Arranging a Funeral
Plain-English summary of the FTC Funeral Rule: price lists, phone quotes, buying only what you want, using your own casket or urn, and embalming.
How Much Does a Funeral Cost? 2023 Median Prices and How To Budget
National median funeral costs from the NFDA, what they include and leave out, the costs families forget, and how to compare providers and budget.
Questions To Ask a Funeral Home Before You Sign Anything
The questions to ask a funeral home by phone and at the arrangement meeting, so you understand every charge and only pay for what you choose.
Funeral Program Template: A Simple Order of Service
A typical funeral order of service, what to put in a funeral program, and readings and music families often choose, with an editable template.
Funeral Thank-You Note Wording: Short Examples for Every Situation
Short, warm funeral thank-you note wording for flowers, food, donations, pallbearers, hospice staff and more, plus etiquette on timing.
Get organized: in case of death binder
In Case of Death Binder: What To Include (Complete Checklist)
What to put in an in-case-of-death binder, section by section, what never to write in it, and where to keep it so your family can find it.
What Your Family Needs To Know If You Die: 10 Things To Write Down Now
The ten things families most often struggle to find after a death, and a simple way to write them down in one place.
How To Leave Passwords for Your Family Safely
Safe ways to make sure your family can access important accounts after you die, without writing passwords in a notebook.
Beneficiary Designations Usually Override Your Will: Check These Accounts
Why beneficiary forms on retirement accounts, life insurance and payable-on-death accounts generally beat your will, and how to check yours.
Letter of Instruction: Example and Template
What a letter of instruction is, how it differs from a will, what to include, and a one-page example you can adapt.
Digital Legacy: Set Up Apple Legacy Contact, Google and Facebook
How to set up Apple Legacy Contact, Google Inactive Account Manager and a Facebook legacy contact so your family can access or close accounts after you die.
End-of-Life Planning Checklist: Get Your Affairs in Order
A practical end-of-life planning checklist: legal documents, beneficiaries, a life binder, final wishes and the conversations to have.
Important Documents To Keep and Where To Store Them
A checklist of the important documents your family will need, which ones they will need the original of, and how to store them safely.
Emergency Binder for Aging Parents: What To Ask and Write Down
How to help your parents create an emergency binder: what to ask, how to start the conversation, and what to write down before a crisis.
Estate Planning Checklist for Young Families (Start Here)
A short estate planning checklist for parents of young children: guardians, a will, life insurance, beneficiaries and a binder.
Caregiving for an aging parent
Caregiver Binder: What To Include (Printable Checklist)
What to put in a caregiver binder for an aging parent or loved one: medical summary, medications, appointments, legal documents, insurance and a care team.
Medication List for an Elderly Parent: Free Template and Tips
How to keep an accurate medication list for an aging parent: what columns to include, how to review it with the pharmacist, and where to keep it.
Questions To Ask the Doctor as a Caregiver
The questions caregivers should ask at doctor appointments for an aging parent, and how to prepare so the visit is actually useful.
Hospital Discharge Checklist for Caregivers
What to ask and arrange before an aging parent is discharged from the hospital: medications, follow-up, equipment, home help and warning signs.
HIPAA Authorization vs. Health Care Power of Attorney: What Caregivers Need
The difference between a HIPAA authorization, a health care power of attorney, an advance directive and a POLST, and why caregivers often need more than one.
FMLA for Caregivers: Can You Take Leave To Care for a Parent?
How the Family and Medical Leave Act works for caregivers: who is eligible, the 12-week rule, intermittent leave, and what to ask HR.
Caregiver Burnout: Signs To Watch For and What Helps
The common signs of caregiver burnout, why it happens, and practical ways to get help, including respite care and the Eldercare Locator.
How To Share Caregiving With Siblings (Without Fighting)
Practical ways for siblings to divide caregiving for an aging parent: a family meeting, a task list, a shared schedule and clear communication.
The Medicare Hospice Benefit, Explained for Families
Who qualifies for hospice under Medicare, what it covers, what it does not, and questions to ask a hospice provider.
What To Bring to the ER for an Elderly Parent (Grab-and-Go List)
A grab-and-go checklist of what to bring to the emergency room with an aging parent, and how to prepare a go-bag before you need it.
Aging in place: home safety for older adults
Aging in Place Checklist: Room-by-Room Home Safety for Seniors
A room-by-room aging in place checklist for older adults and their families: entrances, bathrooms, stairs, lighting, fire safety and support.
Fall Prevention Checklist for Seniors: Home and Health
A fall prevention checklist for older adults covering health risk factors, the CDC STEADI questions, home hazards, footwear and exercise.
Bathroom Safety for Seniors: Grab Bars, Showers and Toilets
How to make a bathroom safer for an older adult: grab bars, non-slip surfaces, shower chairs, raised toilet seats, lighting and scald prevention.
How To Talk to Aging Parents About Home Safety
How to start a respectful conversation with aging parents about home safety, falls and support, with example phrases and what to avoid.
Medications That Can Increase Fall Risk in Older Adults
Which types of medicines can raise fall risk in older adults, why, and how to ask for a medication review. Never stop a medicine without a doctor.
Does Medicare Pay for Grab Bars and Home Modifications?
What Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage may cover for home safety, why grab bars usually aren’t covered, and other ways to pay.
Home Modification Grants and Help for Seniors
Where older adults can find help paying for home safety changes: Area Agencies on Aging, USDA Section 504, VA grants, Medicaid waivers and nonprofits.
Medical Alert Systems: What To Look For (and Alternatives)
How to choose a medical alert system for an older adult: home vs. mobile, fall detection, monitoring, costs, contracts, and low-cost alternatives.
Stair Safety for Seniors: A Practical Checklist
How to make stairs safer for older adults: handrails on both sides, lighting, step edges, clutter, carrying things, and when to consider one-floor living.
Smoke Alarms and Fire Safety for Older Adults
Fire safety for older adults: where to put smoke and CO alarms, testing, alarms for people with hearing loss, cooking, heaters and an escape plan.
Moving: checklists, packing and change of address
Moving Checklist: An 8-Week Countdown That Actually Works
A week-by-week moving checklist from 8 weeks out to moving day: movers, address changes, utilities, packing and the paperwork people forget.
Change of Address Checklist: Who To Notify When You Move
Everyone to notify when you move: USPS, IRS, Social Security, DMV, voter registration, banks, insurance, employers, subscriptions and more.
How To Choose a Moving Company (and Avoid Moving Scams)
How to compare movers, check a USDOT number, understand binding vs. non-binding estimates and spot moving scam red flags before you sign.
Moving Budget Checklist: Costs People Forget
A moving budget checklist with the costs people forget: deposits, overlap rent, supplies, tips, travel, cleaning, and the first week in the new place.
Moving Packing List: Room by Room (Printable)
A room-by-room moving packing list with what to pack first, what to pack last, how to label boxes, and what should never go on the truck.
Open-First Box Checklist: What To Pack for the First Night
What to put in your open-first box so the first 24 hours in a new home are easy: bedding, tools, chargers, toiletries, snacks and paperwork.
Move-Out Cleaning Checklist: Get Your Security Deposit Back
A move-out cleaning checklist room by room, plus how to document the unit, return keys and request your security deposit in writing.
Setting Up Utilities When You Move: Checklist and Timeline
When to call each utility before a move, what to ask, and how to avoid paying for two places or arriving to no power or internet.
Moving With Kids and Pets: A Practical Checklist
How to move with children and pets: school records, doctors, routines, pet records and microchips, and how to make the first night easier.
First 30 Days After Moving: The New-Home Checklist
What to do in the first month after moving: license and registration, voter registration, safety checks, finding doctors, and closing out the old place.
Buying your first home
First-Time Home Buyer Checklist: 10 Steps From Savings to Keys
A step-by-step first-time home buyer checklist: budget, credit, pre-approval, house hunting, offer, inspection, appraisal, closing and moving in.
How Much House Can I Afford? A Worksheet for First-Time Buyers
How to work out a comfortable home budget: full monthly payment, debt-to-income rules of thumb, cash to close, and the costs first-time buyers forget.
Mortgage Pre-Approval Documents Checklist
The documents lenders usually ask for to pre-approve a mortgage: income, assets, debts, ID, and extra paperwork for self-employed and gift funds.
How To Compare Loan Estimates (Line by Line)
How to compare mortgage Loan Estimates: interest rate, APR, origination charges, points, cash to close, and the lines that differ most between lenders.
House Hunting Checklist: What To Check at Every Showing
A printable house hunting checklist for showings: layout, condition, roof, windows, water, neighborhood and a simple scorecard to compare homes.
Home Inspection Checklist for Buyers: What To Ask and Look For
What a home inspection covers, how to choose an inspector, questions to ask, and how to decide on repair requests after the report.
Closing Disclosure Checklist: What To Check Before Closing
How to review your Closing Disclosure: the 3-day rule, comparing it with your Loan Estimate, and the numbers to double-check before you sign.
Real Estate Wire Fraud: How To Protect Your Down Payment
How closing wire fraud works, the warning signs, how to verify wiring instructions safely, and what to do immediately if money was sent to a scammer.
Final Walkthrough and Closing Day Checklist for Buyers
What to check at the final walkthrough, what to bring to closing, and what to do right after you get the keys.
First Month as a Homeowner: The New Owner Checklist
What to do in your first month as a homeowner: locks, safety, shut-offs, homestead exemption, documents, maintenance and budgeting.
New baby: hospital bag and newborn paperwork
Hospital Bag Checklist: What To Pack for Mom, Partner and Baby
A practical hospital bag checklist for labor and delivery: documents, items for mom, partner and baby, the car seat, and what to leave at home.
Newborn Paperwork Checklist: Birth Certificate, SSN, Insurance
The paperwork to handle after a baby is born: birth certificate, Social Security number, adding baby to health insurance, work benefits and more.
How To Get a Social Security Number for Your Baby
How to apply for a newborn’s Social Security number at the hospital, how long the card takes, and what to do if you didn’t apply at birth.
Adding a Baby to Health Insurance: Deadlines and Steps
How and when to add a newborn to employer, Marketplace or Medicaid coverage, the 30- and 60-day windows, and what to ask HR.
Choosing a Pediatrician: Questions To Ask Before Baby Arrives
Questions to ask when choosing a pediatrician: insurance, hours, after-hours care, newborn visits, philosophy and practical logistics.
Well-Baby Visit Schedule: The First Two Years
The usual well-child visit schedule from birth to age 2 based on AAP Bright Futures, and what to bring and track at each visit.
Newborn Feeding and Sleep Log: What To Track and Why
How to keep a simple newborn feeding, sleep and diaper log, what to write down, and how it helps at pediatrician visits.
Before Baby Arrives: The Third-Trimester To-Do List
A practical third-trimester checklist: hospital pre-registration, pediatrician, car seat, leave paperwork, insurance, help plan and home prep.
How To Ask for Help After a Baby (Without Feeling Awkward)
How to ask friends and family for useful help after a baby: specific tasks, a meal schedule, visitor rules and simple message templates.
New Parent Money and Legal To-Dos: The First-Year List
The money and legal to-dos for new parents: a will with a guardian, life insurance, beneficiaries, benefits, taxes and saving for the future.
Small landlords: screening, forms and records
Landlord Checklist: Before You Rent Out Your Property
What a new landlord should do before renting: licenses, insurance, lead paint disclosure, deposit rules, fair housing, screening criteria and records.
Rental Application: What To Include (and What Not To Ask)
What a rental application should ask, which authorizations you need for screening reports, and questions to avoid under fair housing rules.
Tenant Screening Criteria and Fair Housing: A Plain-English Guide
How to write fair, consistent tenant screening criteria, the federal protected classes, criminal history guidance, and how to document decisions.
Adverse Action Notice for Landlords: When and How To Send One
When the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires landlords to send an adverse action notice, what it must include, and how to keep records.
Move-In Inspection Checklist for Landlords and Tenants
How to do a rental move-in inspection room by room, what to photograph, and why both landlord and tenant should sign it.
Rent Ledger: How To Track Rent Payments (Free Template Layout)
How to keep a simple rent ledger: what to record, how to handle late fees and partial payments, and why a clear record matters.
Security Deposit Return: A Landlord Checklist
How landlords can handle security deposit returns fairly: state deadlines, normal wear and tear vs. damage, itemized deductions and records.
Rental Property Maintenance Schedule: A Year-Round Checklist
A seasonal maintenance schedule for small landlords: monthly, quarterly, seasonal and annual tasks, plus how to log tenant repair requests.
Schedule E Rental Expenses: Categories Small Landlords Should Track
The Schedule E expense categories for rental property, examples of what goes where, and simple records that make tax time easier.
Notice of Entry: How Landlords Should Give Notice Before Entering
When and how landlords should give notice before entering a rental, typical notice periods, emergencies, and a simple notice template.
After a layoff: money, benefits and the job search
What To Do After Being Laid Off: The First 48 Hours
A calm checklist for the first 48 hours after a layoff: paperwork to save, questions for HR, unemployment, health insurance, money and next steps.
Questions To Ask HR When You Are Laid Off
The questions to ask HR after a layoff: final pay, vacation payout, severance, benefits end dates, COBRA, 401(k), references and equity.
Severance Agreement Checklist: What To Review Before You Sign
What to check in a severance agreement: payment, release of claims, deadlines, the 21/45-day review rule for workers 40+, non-competes and more.
How To File for Unemployment After a Layoff
How to file for unemployment insurance: when to apply, what information you need, weekly certifications, and common mistakes to avoid.
COBRA vs. Marketplace After a Layoff: How To Choose
How to compare COBRA and Marketplace coverage after a job loss: deadlines, costs, premium tax credits, Medicaid and a spouse’s plan.
Layoff Budget: How To Calculate Your Financial Runway
How to build a layoff budget: cash, severance and unemployment, must-pay bills, what to pause, and how many months of runway you have.
What To Do With Your 401(k) After a Layoff
Your 401(k) options after leaving a job: leave it, roll it over, move it to a new plan or cash out, plus loans, taxes and the rule of 55.
Job Application Tracker: How To Organize Your Job Search
How to track job applications: what columns to use, follow-up timing, networking notes, and a weekly routine that keeps your search moving.
How To Announce a Layoff on LinkedIn (With Examples)
How to write a LinkedIn post after being laid off: what to include, what to leave out, example posts, and how to follow up with people who respond.
How To Negotiate Severance: A Polite, Practical Approach
When it makes sense to ask for more severance, what you can negotiate besides money, and a sample email you can adapt.
By state
Death certificates & small estate limits in all 50 states + DC →