Resources · Guides
Clear guidance, gently given.
We write these for two kinds of reader: the person quietly putting their affairs in order, and the family member facing the days after a loss. Plain English, no jargon, and no rush. Read what helps, and leave the rest for another day.
When someone passes
6 min read
What to do when your spouse passes away: a gentle first-two-weeks checklist
A calm, practical checklist for the first two weeks after losing a spouse — what truly needs doing now, and what can wait.
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7 min read
What to do when a parent dies: a practical guide for grieving children
A clear, compassionate guide for adult children after a parent's death — the immediate steps, the estate basics, and how to share the load.
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6 min read
Where to find a loved one's will, trust, and important documents
A room-by-room and institution-by-institution guide to locating a will, trust, deeds, policies, and account records after someone has passed.
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7 min read
What happens if your family can't find your will
If a will cannot be found after someone dies, the law often treats the estate as if no will existed. Here is what actually happens, why it is so common, and how to make sure it never happens to your family.
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5 min read
I found my parent's will five months after we needed it
A short, true-to-life account of a family searching for a will they could not find — and the simple thing that would have spared them five months of uncertainty.
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6 min read
Who can access online accounts after someone passes away?
A plain-English look at what happens to email, social media, banking logins, and online accounts after a death — who has the legal right to access them, and what families can actually do.
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6 min read
How heirs receive your documents — and what can go wrong
A clear, honest account of what actually happens when heirs try to access a will and estate documents — the three routes available, where each one can fail, and how to make the hand-off simple.
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7 min read
What happens if you die without a will — and why the rules vary by state
A plain-English guide to intestate succession: what the law does when someone dies without a will, who inherits, who is left out, and why the specifics depend so heavily on which state you live in.
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Preparing ahead
6 min read
How to talk to your family about your estate plan before it's needed
A warm, practical guide to having the estate conversation with your family — when to raise it, how to frame it, and what to actually say.
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7 min read
A checklist for organizing your own affairs: what your family will need
A complete, plain-English checklist for getting your own affairs in order — the documents, accounts, and instructions your family will need one day.
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6 min read
Understanding executors, heirs, and beneficiaries: who does what
A plain-English explanation of executors, trustees, heirs, and beneficiaries — what each role means, who does what, and how they fit together.
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6 min read
What is a digital safe-deposit box — and what to look for
A plain-English explanation of digital safe-deposit boxes and online document vaults: what they are, how they differ from a cloud drive, and the features that actually matter for estate documents.
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7 min read
Passing on passwords and digital accounts: a guide for every stage of life
How to leave your family access to your email, banking logins, and online accounts — without creating security risks today or chaos after you are gone.
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6 min read
How to write a letter of instruction — and why it matters as much as your will
A letter of instruction is not a legal document, but it may be the most useful thing you leave behind. Here is what to include, how to write it, and where to keep it.
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7 min read
What happens to cryptocurrency when you die — and how to plan for it
Cryptocurrency and other digital assets held in self-custody cannot be recovered by an institution. Here is what that means for your estate, and how to make sure the people you leave behind are not locked out forever.
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7 min read
Estate planning for new parents: the documents you need and why they cannot wait
Having a child is the most compelling reason most people ever have to put an estate plan in place. Here is what new parents need, in plain English, and how to make the process feel manageable.
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6 min read
How to choose an executor: the qualities that matter, and the conversation to have
The executor carries the estate through one of the most complex and emotionally charged periods a family can face. Here is how to choose the right person — and how to ask them.
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More ways in
Frequently asked questions
Short, plain answers to the questions families ask most about storing and passing on documents.
Estate & document glossary
Probate, intestate, executor, beneficiary — the words defined plainly, one term per page.
Comparisons
Where should a will live — a cloud drive, a safe-deposit box, a home safe, or a vault? Honest trade-offs.
Dying without a will, by state
Who inherits when there is no will — statute-cited guides, state by state.
When you are ready, give your family one less thing to search for.