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What to do when a parent dies — practical guides on settling an estate, closing accounts, handling property, and navigating the paperwork that arrives alongside grief.
How many death certificates do you actually need after a parent dies? I ordered three and never ran out. Here’s what required a certified copy, what accepted a photocopy, and why you may not need the 10–12 copies often recommended.
Estate tax returns are one of the most confusing parts of settling an estate. Learn what IRS Form 706 is, who actually needs to file one, why some families file even when no estate tax is due, and why preparation can cost thousands of dollars.
How to close a deceased parent's bank accounts - what nobody tells you about Medicare clawbacks, the difference between being a beneficiary and being on the account, and why the mortgage was the hardest part.
A term most people have never heard of until they’re trying to deal with a mortgage on a house they just inherited.
What actually helped, what wasted time, and what I wish I had known earlier about clearing a family home.
The emotional weight gets all the attention. The administrative burden is what actually takes you down.
Not grief counseling. Not vague advice. Just the operational reality of what actually needs attention in the first month.