What is an End of Life Vigil
A vigil is defined as a period of time when an individual or a group remains in a place and waits, prays, etc. An end of life vigil is when an individual or group stays with a person during their last hours. While many hospitals and hospices often have vigil...
How to Sell High Value Items Through an Auction House
An auction is an event where property or goods are sold to a group of competitive bidders. As auctions are open to the public, there is often a wide range of bids, with bidders competing to win the items of his or her choosing. Consequently, items sold at auction...
How to Transport Your Loved One’s Body After They Pass
Transporting your loved one's body after he or she passes away may mean a short ride across the city to a funeral home or it may mean a trip across the world. Transporting human remains is becoming more commonplace in our global society. Many individuals want to be...
What is an Estate Sale
In its essence, an estate sale is large garage sale, one in which the majority of one's assets are sold at the same time. Most estate sales happen after an individual has passed away. However, they are also useful when an individual is downsizing. Keys to Having a...
What is Shiva
Shiva is the first structured period of mourning in the Judaism religion. In Hebrew, the word 'shiva' means 'seven'. Therefore, shiva, in terms of Jewish mourning, is a seven-day mourning period observed by close family members of the deceased, including the spouse,...
What is a Trust Company
A trust company is a legal corporation that acts as an agent, fiduciary, or trustee for an individual or business in order to administer, manage, and eventually transfer any assets to the beneficiary. The word 'trust' in the name trust company refers to the ability...
What are the Largest Tax Implications of an Inheritance
Losing a loved one is always incredibly difficult, and the grieving process is long and complicated. However, one bright spot can be receiving an inheritance. It is important to remember, though, that there are possible tax implications related to an inheritance. ...
What is a Death Doula
A death doula is non-medical individual who is trained to care for others at the end of life. He or she provides holistic care in terms of the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual realms. Death doulas are also known as end-of-life coaches, death...
What to Expect at a Jewish Funeral
Are you attending a Jewish funeral for the first time? Would you like to have an idea of what to expect? While the customs of the different streams of Judaism are often unique, there are some central concepts common to all of the Jewish faith. Order of the Service -...
Where Should I Hold my Loved One’s Funeral
Unfortunately, we all face the inevitability of losing a loved one. Everyone reacts differently; the grief process is unique for each individual. In the midst of the grief comes the need to make an abundance of decisions. One key decision is where to hold your...
What is an Estate Planner
An estate planner (also called an estate lawyer or estate planning attorney) helps individuals choose the appropriate options for maintaining their estate after they pass away or become incapable of making the decisions themselves. An estate planner is an attorney...
How to Stop Your Deceased Loved One’s Mail
Losing a loved one is a deeply painful process. While the grief is fresh, many parts of everyday life are put on the back burner. Unfortunately, after a loved one passes away it eventually becomes clear that there a myriad of details, both large and small, that must...
What is a Letter of Testamentary
The probate court is the institution that issues letters of testamentary. A letter of testamentary is a legal document giving an individual the power to act as the executor for an estate. As the executor, you need to present this letter of testamentary and a copy of...
How to Cancel Your Deceased Loved One’s Driver’s License
Experiencing the grief of losing a loved one is all consuming and emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting. It also requires a large amount task work, both large and small, that must be handled in some manner. One item that must be addressed is how to cancel...
What are the Differences Between a For-Profit and Non-Profit Hospice Company
A hospice company is one that provides care for sick or terminally ill individuals. Every individual has the option of choosing a for-profit or non-profit hospice company to look after his or her needs throughout the last stages of life. The Medicare Hospice Benefit...
What to do With my Loved One’s Social Media Accounts After They Die
We live in a world of social networking. As the platforms continue to grow in size and numbers, so do the number of users. This gives rise to the issue of what do with the social media accounts belonging to an individual who has passed away. Each social networking...
What is Embalmment And How Does it Work
Embalmment is the treatment of a dead body to temporarily preserve and prevent decomposition. The practice of embalming became popular in the 1800s in order to preserve human bodies for scientific study. The demand grew in the 19th century as more individuals wanted...
What is a Fiduciary And Why Would I Need One
A fiduciary is an individual that acts on the behalf of another individual to manage his or her assets. Being a fiduciary means being ethically bound to act in the best interests of the other individual. A fiduciary is an individual who is obligated legally to act in...
Is There Such a Thing as a Certified Medium or Psychic
When we lose a loved one, we often long to hear from them again, to find out if they’re okay, if they know how we feel about them or to be guided by them. Consequently, we desperately want to communicate with our deceased loved one. That’s when the idea of...
What is a Mediator And How Are They Used When Settling an Estate
Mediation is an interactive, structured process in which a neutral third party helps two or more parties resolve any conflict using specialized negotiation and communication techniques. All individuals or groups involved in the mediation process are encouraged to...
What is a Notary Public, Why Would I Need One and How Would I Hire One
What is a Notary Public? A notary public (or notary for short) is a public official who certifies the legitimacy of signatures on important documents. The notary must verify the identity of the individual who is signing the document. The notary must also verify that...
What to do With My Loved One’s Car Lease After They Die
In years gone by, people typically bought a car and drove that car until it died a natural or unnatural death. They then started the process all over again by purchasing another new or used car. This is often no longer the case as we live in a society where everyone...
What to do with My Loved One’s Credit Card Accounts after They Die
As we live in a world of technology, it would seem safe to assume that banks would know when someone dies. However, this is not the case and credit cards are not automatically canceled when the credit card holder passes away. If you are not careful, this can lead to...
What is an Autopsy
Simply put, an autopsy (or postmortem examination) is an exam performed on a dead body in order to determine the cause of death, the effects a disease had on the individual, or to identify the deceased. The word autopsy comes from the word autopsia, a Greek word that...
What is a Stepped-Up Basis for Inherited Property
According to the Internal Revenue Code, when a beneficiary receives an asset from a benefactor after the individual passes away, that asset typically receives a stepped-up basis. This is the market value of the asset at the time the benefactor passes away. The...
Do All Wills Go Through Probate
When people hear the word probate, visions of drawn out, expensive court proceedings often come to mind. However, this really is not the typical case. Probate is often a simple procedure, taking six months or less, in which a judge ultimately gives legal permission...
How to Name a Legal Guardian for your Children
No one wants to think about his or her own mortality, and no one especially wants to think about someone else raising his or her children. However, once you have children, the right thing to do is sit down and decide whom you want to raise your child or children if...
What To Do When a Loved One Passes Away at Home
Keeping our sick loved ones at home is becoming a more common occurrence. Consequently, our society is experiencing more deaths of loved ones in the home. This can be very upsetting, especially if you don’t know what to do when it happens. While we can never be...
What are Intestacy Laws
Intestacy is defined as the state of dying without having a will. The estate of any individual who dies intestate (i.e. dies without leaving a will behind) must go through the probate court. The intestacy laws of the state will then determine who will be the...
Best Investment Accounts For Seniors
Even as we age, and are looking towards end of life decisions, financial matters remain important. Deciding on the best investment accounts not only helps your own peace of mind, but can also ease any burden placed on your loved ones in the event of your passing. One...
What Happens to my Loved One’s Airline Miles After They Die
While this is probably not at the top of your list of questions after losing a loved one, it often comes up. This topic becomes extremely relevant when a loved one was a frequent traveller and gathered many miles or points over the years. The points can be worth a...
Do I Need Both a Will and a Trust
If you have a have a trust, do you also need a will? Even if you transfer the majority of your property through a living trust or other estate planning tool, you should also have a will. Without a will, any property that isn’t passed along to beneficiaries by those...
Ten Creative Ways to Spread Ashes
In today's society, cremation is becoming more and more popular, rather than the traditional burial. This is especially true as the cost of funerals and burials continue to rise. However, most of us don’t want to simply put our loved one in an urn and set them on the...
End of Life Social Media Etiquette
Whether we like it or not, we live in the world of social media. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have become major methods of communication across generations and cultures. It is only natural, then, that social media is now involved in...
What is a Will and Do I Need One
Everyone over the age of 18 (or 21 depending on where you live) should have a will. Why? A will is the most important estate planning document there is, and, yes, everyone has an estate! What is a Will? A will tells others where you want your property to go after...
What to Say to Someone Who’s Recently Lost a Loved One
Anyone who’s approached someone who’s recently lost a loved one has gone through the agonizing process of deciding what to say. You don't want to say the wrong thing and you don't want to sound trite. You wonder if it would be best not to say anything at all but...
What Are the Final Stages of Life
The final stages of life are difficult for both the dying and the loved ones. Preparing for the death of a loved one is unimaginable, yet it is an experience everyone will face at some point. Understanding the dying process and what you can expect may be beneficial....
How to Support a Grieving Loved One
When someone we love is grieving it’s hard to know how to comfort them or what to say. Our hearts break as we watch them grieve and yet we’re often at a loss as to what we should do to provide comfort. We want to help but we’re scared we’ll say or do the wrong thing...
How to Find a Deceased Loved One’s Bank Accounts
With the right information, it is possible to find the bank accounts belonging to the deceased. However, sometimes finding the right information can be difficult, especially if the deceased did not keep records or kept records that are extremely disorderly. Identify...
How to Comfort Someone Who’s Dying
Understanding how to provide comfort to someone who’s terminal ill is very difficult. The simple idea of knowing what to say or when to say it causes stress. Unfortunately, this is a situation that we’ve all experienced or will experience at some point in our lives. ...
How Much Money Can I Inherit Before Having to Pay Taxes on It
Typically, only large estates have to pay out taxes, it is likely that you, as a beneficiary, will not have to pay out any taxes. Inheritance Tax An inheritance tax is a tax the beneficiary must pay upon receiving an inheritance. Inheritance Tax - Federal Level The...
How to Close Out an Estate
An estate is never really closed, but rather closing out an estate refers to the final distribution of the estate's assets. At this point, the executor has no more duties to fulfill. However, if at some point in the future a previously unknown asset becomes known,...
What is a Board and Care Home
A board and care home is a typical house situated in a residential neighborhood that is equipped, tailored, and staffed to care for seniors. They usually house only a small number of residents at any one time. They provide room, board, 24-hour staff and care...
What is a Legacy Letter and How to Write One
The concept of a legacy letter has existed for over 3,500 years. It is a letter or document, lovingly written to record your own personal stories as well as family stories to pass on to others. These stories create a platform on which to explain your values and life...
How to Say Goodbye to a Terminally Ill Loved One
Unfortunately, when we experience love, we also experience loss. It is the inevitable circle of life. Watching someone you love deal with a terminal illness and then watching that loved one lose their battle with that illness is incredibly difficult, there is no way...
What is the Difference between a Will and a Trust
At some point, you have more than likely heard the terms will and trust, especially if you are looking at doing some estate planning. Often, they seemed to be used interchangeably. However, they do not refer to the same thing at all. Here are some key points to help...
What is an Ethical Will and How to Write One
An ethical will is a document that allows you to pass on your personal values, life experiences, and life lessons to your family. Creating an ethical will is completely voluntary. It is an individual choice for each person to decide whether this is a document that...
What is the Difference between Skilled Nursing Facility and Nursing Home Care
There are approximately 15,000 nursing homes in the United States. These are long-term care facilities, each providing different services depending on the length of time and level of care required by each individual resident. These services are categorized into two...
What is a Nursing Home “Level of Care” and why it Matters for Medicaid
A nursing home level of care refers to the level of care designation used to determine if an individual is eligible to receive Medicaid funding for nursing home care. A nursing home level of care is also used to determine if an individual is eligible for long-term...
How do Various Religions Mourn or Celebrate the Loss of a Loved One
While we all inevitably face losing a loved one at some point in our lives, how we mourn or celebrate that individual varies from person to person, as well as from religion to religion. Here are some common religions and their beliefs regarding mourning or celebrating...
How to Discuss the Death of a Loved One with a Child
As adults, we find the grief process overwhelming, and often feel like we are sinking and will never be able to come up for air. In the midst of that, you now need to tell a child that someone they love has died. A gut wrenching thought, but one that cannot be...
End of Life Care Options
It is a fact that at some point most of us will have to deal with deciding on the best end-of-life care options for either a loved one or ourselves. It is a daunting and emotional task so here is some information on the types of end-of-life care options to help you...
How to Integrate Entertainment Into a Funeral
For the longest time the words funeral and entertainment would never have existed together in the same sentence. Even now, the ideas are incompatible for many individuals. However, in today's society, many individuals are moving away from the more traditional funeral...
How Long Does the Executor have to Settle an Estate
Being named an executor is a significant responsibility. It can also be quite time consuming, depending on the size and complexity of the estate. Most estates can be settled within a year, but there are definitely exceptions to this. Before closing an estate, the...
What’s an Estate Final Accounting
An estate final accounting is the last step in the process of closing an estate and distributing the assets. The process and forms required differ from state to state so it is important to check on the particulars required for your state. The estate's final...
How to Plan a Memorial Service or Celebration of Life
Many people today prefer to hold a memorial service or celebration of life rather than a more traditional funeral. It provides the opportunity to focus on the positive and the happiness the deceased brought into everyone's life. If you are planning a memorial service...
What is a Celebration of Life
When a loved one passes away, one of the first decisions that needs to be made is what kind of service you want to hold to honor your loved one. Do you want the traditional funeral service or would you rather have a celebration of life? The main difference between a...
Where to Host a Memorial Service or Celebration of Life
In today's society, many individuals are choosing to hold a memorial service or celebration of life rather than a more traditional funeral service. A memorial service or celebration of life allows for more creativity in planning in the event, providing the ability to...
How to Get Rid of Household Belongings of a Deceased Loved One
After the turmoil of dealing with the grief and emotions of losing a loved one, and all the initial decisions that are required regarding planning the funeral and handling any immediate concerns regarding the estate you will need to make decisions regarding what to do...
Who to Invite to a Funeral
Funerals are an occasion for close family and friends to gather and reminisce and honor the passing of a loved one. They are also an occasion for family and friends who rarely see each other to gather and get caught up on what is happening in their lives. Families...
How to Travel Ashes out of the United States
Many individuals make specific requests regarding where they’d like to have their ashes be scattered or distributed. Alternatively, close family members may decide where to scatter the ashes. The location may be within the community, within the district, within the...
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need
When a loved one passes away, there are a myriad of decisions that need to be made. Some decisions require your immediate attention such as notifying family, making funeral arrangements and securing assets. Other decisions can be made a bit later such as taking care...
How to Select Who Should Speak at a Funeral
After a loved one passes away, there are a myriad of decisions that need to be made in the midst of your grief. One decision is deciding whom who want to speak at your loved one's funeral or memorial service. Who Should Perform the Eulogy A eulogy is a speech or...
How to Select Pallbearers
When planning a funeral, you will be faced with many decisions you need to make. One of those decisions revolves around deciding who will carry the casket if there is one. If there is not a casket (i.e. the deceased has already been buried or cremated), you may want...