The When a Loved One Dies Guide & Checklist is the most complete resource available for navigating one of the hardest experiences a person can face — covering not just the funeral, but every legal, financial, and emotional step that follows.
This isn't a sympathy card. It's a 15-page, compassionate step-by-step action plan organized into 8 clear phases:
Phase 1: Immediate Steps — First 24–48 Hours (what to do first, who to call, what can wait)
Phase 2: Funeral & Memorial Planning (burial vs. cremation, choosing a funeral home, planning the service)
Phase 3: Legal & Administrative Tasks (death certificates, government notifications, canceling accounts, protecting against identity theft)
Phase 4: Estate Settlement & Probate (locating documents, opening probate, what bypasses the court entirely)
Phase 5: Financial Settlement (insurance claims, survivor benefits, debts, taxes)
Phase 6: Property, Assets & Distribution (real estate, vehicles, personal belongings, closing the estate)
Phase 7: Grief, Self-Care & Healing (understanding grief, physical and emotional care, support resources)
Phase 8: Honoring & Remembering (memorials, ongoing remembrance, moving forward)
You'll also get:
A funeral and disposition cost comparison — from direct cremation ($1,000–$3,500) to traditional funeral and burial ($8,300–$12,000+), with a full breakdown of every additional cost most families don't see coming
A complete estate settlement timeline — from Day 1 through Month 12 and beyond, so you always know what comes next
A documents reference table — 14 critical documents, where to find them, and exactly what each one is used for
10 common mistakes to avoid — including the ones that can make you personally liable as executor
Most resources stop at the funeral. This one keeps going — through probate, creditor claims, the final tax return, asset distribution, and the step most people forget: updating your own estate documents once the estate is closed.
The When a Loved One Dies Guide & Checklist is the most complete resource available for navigating one of the hardest experiences a person can face — covering not just the funeral, but every legal, financial, and emotional step that follows.
This isn't a sympathy card. It's a 15-page, compassionate step-by-step action plan organized into 8 clear phases:
Phase 1: Immediate Steps — First 24–48 Hours (what to do first, who to call, what can wait)
Phase 2: Funeral & Memorial Planning (burial vs. cremation, choosing a funeral home, planning the service)
Phase 3: Legal & Administrative Tasks (death certificates, government notifications, canceling accounts, protecting against identity theft)
Phase 4: Estate Settlement & Probate (locating documents, opening probate, what bypasses the court entirely)
Phase 5: Financial Settlement (insurance claims, survivor benefits, debts, taxes)
Phase 6: Property, Assets & Distribution (real estate, vehicles, personal belongings, closing the estate)
Phase 7: Grief, Self-Care & Healing (understanding grief, physical and emotional care, support resources)
Phase 8: Honoring & Remembering (memorials, ongoing remembrance, moving forward)
You'll also get:
A funeral and disposition cost comparison — from direct cremation ($1,000–$3,500) to traditional funeral and burial ($8,300–$12,000+), with a full breakdown of every additional cost most families don't see coming
A complete estate settlement timeline — from Day 1 through Month 12 and beyond, so you always know what comes next
A documents reference table — 14 critical documents, where to find them, and exactly what each one is used for
10 common mistakes to avoid — including the ones that can make you personally liable as executor
Most resources stop at the funeral. This one keeps going — through probate, creditor claims, the final tax return, asset distribution, and the step most people forget: updating your own estate documents once the estate is closed.
