When a parent is dying, and after:
the family checklist.
A step-by-step illustrated checklist for families in the U.S.: what to settle while there is still time, the first 24 hours, who to call and in what order, and the paperwork after (Social Security, probate, final taxes). eBook or printed book.
The book on the kitchen table, the PDF for siblings · $64.99
Not a wall of text. One step per page.
Every page looks the same, so you always know where to look, even on a day when reading is hard.
This is what the pages look like.
If you are the one everybody calls, yes.
Use the time that's left
The papers only a parent can sign, the questions only they can answer, and what to ask the doctors. Gently, one page at a time.
Know what comes first
Who to call, in what order, what to sign and what to leave for later. A timeline for the first 24 hours and a list for the first week.
A plan for the months ahead
Probate or not, the estate account, the creditors, the house and the final tax return, with checklists to tick and logs to fill in.
Four parts, in the order life brings them.
Open the book at the part you are living right now. Each part starts with a one-page summary, and every page lists the official source it is based on, with the date it was checked.
Hospice and documents
What hospice covers, the power of attorney, the will, beneficiaries, passwords, funeral wishes. And a reminder: a power of attorney ends at death.
Calls, the funeral home, certificates
The first 24 hours, your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule, how many death certificates to order, and what happens to Social Security payments.
Probate, accounts, taxes
What goes through probate and what skips it, the executor's first 30 days, closing accounts, the house, digital accounts and the final return.
What hospice covers, and what it doesn't.
The word "hospice" often comes up suddenly, in a doctor's office. This chapter explains it on one page, then helps you choose a provider and plan the care at home.
- When Medicare Part A pays for hospice, in 3 steps
- What is covered: nurses, aides, medication for pain, equipment, grief support for the family
- What is not: treatment to cure, room and board
- Respite care: up to 5 days of rest for the family caregiver
Your rights at the funeral home, on one page.
A federal rule protects every family. Bring the page with you: the price list, the casket list, the written statement before you pay.
- Prices by phone, without giving your name
- Buy only what you want: no package required
- A casket or urn bought elsewhere, with no extra fee
- No law requires embalming for every death, or a casket for cremation
What happens first, and what can wait.
Very little has to happen in the first hour. The timeline shows what comes next, depending on where it happens: at home with hospice, at home unexpectedly, or in a hospital.
- The first call: hospice, 911 or the staff
- The funeral home and the Social Security number
- Securing the home, the car, the pets, the medication
- The "Not today" list: what not to sign or pay in a hurry
The payment that has to go back, explained with a calendar.
Benefits are paid a month late. So the payment that arrives after the death usually belongs to Social Security. One drawing and it makes sense.
- Direct deposit or paper check: what to do with each
- The $255 one-time payment: who can get it, and the 2-year deadline
- Who may receive monthly survivor benefits
- VA burial allowances for veterans
One flow chart for every asset.
Life insurance, a joint account, a house, a car. Follow each one down the chart and see if it goes through the court or skips it.
- Named beneficiaries, joint ownership, living trusts
- Small-estate procedures, with examples from California, Texas and Florida
- What "letters" are, and why banks ask for them
- When to call an estate attorney
The first 30 days as executor, week by week.
Find, protect, get authority, take stock. Four short lists, with boxes to tick and the tax forms written out in plain words.
- The original will, the estate account, the tax ID number (EIN)
- Form 56, Form 1310, the final Form 1040 and Form 1041
- Creditors and debts: paid with the estate's money, not yours
- The house, the car, the belongings: what to keep in place
One shared list, so the family can share the work.
Siblings in different states, a parent who can't do it alone, a friend who offers to help. With the book on the table and the PDF on everyone's phone, each person can take a page.
- Built on official sources: SSA, IRS, FTC, Medicare, VA, state courts
- The source and date printed at the bottom of every page
- Information only: it tells you when to call an attorney or an accountant
From hospice to the final tax return, in one book.
Full table of contents
On your phone, on paper, or both.
Color PDF, right away
Open it on a phone, tablet or computer, and share the checklists with the family. Print only the pages you need.
224 color pages, at your door
Free shipping in the US, in about 5 to 8 business days. Want both? Book + eBook for $64.99.
Fillable checklists and a one-page card for the first day.
Fill in the call log and the accounts list on screen, then send them to a brother or sister. Print the "first 24 hours" card and keep it with your parent's papers.
- Fillable PDF checklists, to type in and share
- A one-page "first 24 hours" card, to print
- Included in the eBook and in Book + eBook
Read 10 real pages, free.
Hospice, the documents to settle, the first 24 hours, who to call, your rights at the funeral home, death certificates, Social Security, the probate flow chart, the executor's first 30 days and the accounts list. Open them, read them, and decide with the pages in front of you.
See the 10 pages ↓
How is it different?
| What it has | This book | Free government websites | Executor books | Digital kits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starts before the death: hospice and documents | ✓ | Spread across many sites | Rarely | Varies |
| Timelines, flow charts and calendars | ✓ | ✗ | Mostly text | Varies |
| Fill-in checklists and logs | ✓ (30+) | ✗ | Some | ✓ |
| Official source printed on each page | ✓ | It is the source | Varies | Varies |
| Printed book for the kitchen table | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | Print at home |
| Price | From $29.99 | Free | About $10 to $25 | About $37 to $129 |
You can start tonight.
Check out
Secure payment, no account to create, no subscription. One payment.
Open the eBook
If you chose the eBook, the download link arrives by email. Open it on your phone or computer and share it with the family.
The book arrives
If you chose the printed book, we ship it to your US address, free.
One calm list for the hardest weeks.
- 224 illustrated color pages, 15 chapters in 4 parts
- Hospice, documents, the first 24 hours, the first week, the first months
- Who to call, in order, with a call log
- Your rights at the funeral home, on one page
- Social Security, VA, probate, the executor's first 30 days, the final tax return
- 30+ fill-in checklists and logs
- With the eBook: fillable checklists and the "first 24 hours" card
- Printed book: free shipping in the US
What families ask before buying
Is this legal or tax advice?
No. It is information, written in plain words and based on official sources. It shows you the steps and tells you when it is time to call an estate attorney or an accountant. For decisions about your family's situation, talk to a professional licensed in your state.
Is it only for the United States?
Yes. Every page follows U.S. rules: Medicare, Social Security, the FTC Funeral Rule, the IRS, VA benefits and U.S. probate courts. If your parent lives in another country, the rules there are different and this book will not fit.
Does it work in my state?
Yes, for the federal parts, which are the same everywhere: Social Security, Medicare hospice, the FTC Funeral Rule, the IRS forms and VA benefits. Probate is set by each state, so the book explains how it works in general, gives examples from California, Texas and Florida, and shows you where to check your own state's rules.
Is it too early to read it while a parent is still alive?
No. Part 1 is written for that time: hospice, the documents only a parent can sign, and the questions only they can answer. Finding the papers and asking the questions is much easier now than later.
Is it a book about grief?
It is a practical book. It doesn't tell anyone how to feel. It takes the to-do list off your mind, so there is more room for the people. Where it helps, it points to the grief support included in hospice care.
We already have a will. Do we still need this?
A will is one document. The weeks after a death include the funeral home, the death certificates, Social Security, banks, insurance, the court, the house and the taxes. The book is the list for all of it, and the will is one line on it.
Is it official?
No. It is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration, the IRS, the FTC, Medicare, the VA or any government agency. Every page lists the official source it is based on and the date it was checked.
Can the whole family use it?
Yes. With Book + eBook, the printed book stays at the house and the PDF can go to brothers and sisters, so everyone works from the same list.
When does the printed book arrive?
The printed book ships free to any US address and usually arrives in about 5 to 8 business days. The eBook arrives by email right after checkout.
Can I read it on my phone?
Yes. The eBook is a color PDF that opens on a phone, tablet or computer. The checklists can be filled in on screen or printed.
What if it is not right for us?
You have a 30-day guarantee. Write to us within 30 days and we refund you. No questions, no forms.
One list, in order, for the weeks nobody prepares you for.
224 illustrated pages, 30+ fill-in checklists, the official source on every page. 30-day guarantee.
From $29.99 · eBook or book