What was the Amanda Bynes conservatorship, and how did it end?
What the Amanda Bynes conservatorship was, why it started in 2013, how it ended in 2022, and what her case shows about how conservatorships work.
Guides for getting your affairs in order
Practical, sourced answers for the United States: what an executor does, what to do when someone dies, what belongs in a family binder, how to handle online accounts, and how to talk with your parents. Updated as rules and tools change. Search the guides if you already know what you are looking for.
Getting affairs in order
These guides help you set up the documents and habits that make your wishes clear before anything happens. Start here if you are getting your affairs in order for the first time or reviewing them after a few years.
How do you find and hire attorneys for conservatorship?
How to find, compare, and hire attorneys for conservatorship: roles, costs, state rules on court-appointed counsel, and questions to ask before hiring.
Beneficiary designation checklist: which accounts to check, and when
A beneficiary designation checklist covering retirement accounts, life insurance, and payable-on-death accounts: when to update them and how to check each one.
Bereavement leave: what it is, how much you get, and how to use it
Bereavement leave explained: what it covers, how much time is typical, which states require it, California's rules, and how to request it.
What was the Britney Spears conservatorship, and how did it work?
What the Britney Spears conservatorship was, how it worked from 2008 to 2021, what it cost, and how a conservatorship like it actually gets set up or ended.
When did Britney's conservatorship end, and how did the case actually work?
Britney's conservatorship ran 2008 to 2021. When it ended, why it started, what it cost, and how a real conservatorship case moves through court today.
What is a codicil for a will, and when should you use one?
A codicil for will changes part of an existing will without a rewrite. Learn what a codicil is, execution rules, cost, and when a new will is better.
What is a conservatorship in Connecticut, and how do you get one?
Connecticut conservatorship explained: who can file, the court steps, the $250 fee, the respondent's rights, and a conservator's ongoing duties.
What does a conservatorship attorney do, and how do you hire one?
A conservatorship attorney explained: what they do, the two roles in a case, typical costs, state rules on court-appointed counsel, and how to hire one.
What do conservatorship attorneys do, and how do you choose one?
Conservatorship attorneys explained: elder law, probate and litigation specialists, what each does, typical costs, state rules, and how to choose one.
What is conservatorship called in Spanish, and where do you find it in Spanish?
Conservatorship in Spanish for US families: the terms courts use, sourced Spanish-language forms and self-help sites, and how to get a free interpreter.
What is a conservatorship in Tennessee, and how do you get one?
Conservatorship in Tennessee explained: who can file, the court steps, what it costs, the respondent's rights, and a conservator's ongoing duties under state law.
How do you contest a will in the United States?
A plain-English guide to contesting a will in the US: legal grounds, who has standing, state deadlines, no-contest clauses, and typical attorney costs.
What is Swedish death cleaning, and how do you actually do it?
Death cleaning swedish style, döstädning, is a lifelong decluttering habit from Sweden. Learn the method, the book, the show, and real costs to expect.
Death notification template: what to say and who to notify first
A free death notification template for US families: how to tell family first, write a death notice, notify banks and companies, and what it costs.
Direct cremation prices: what to expect and how to compare quotes
Direct cremation prices explained: national averages, what is included, state rules that affect cost, a comparison checklist, and add-on costs to expect.
Do I need a will?
Do I need a will? Yes for most adults. See who needs one, what happens without one, when a lawyer helps, state rules, costs, and a step-by-step checklist.
End of life planning checklist: getting your affairs in order, step by step
A plain-English end of life planning checklist: the legal documents to sign, the practical details your family needs, where to keep it all, and when to review.
Estate planning checklist: the documents you need, and how to get them made
A complete estate planning checklist: will, trust, power of attorney and health care directive explained, attorney versus online costs, and when to update each one.
How do estate sale companies work, and what do they cost?
Estate sale companies sort, price and sell a home's contents for a commission of 30% to 50%. Learn how they work, what to expect, and how to hire one.
What is an ethical will, and how do you write one?
Learn what an ethical will is, its roots in Jewish tradition, how it differs from a legal will and letter of instruction, and how to write one in an hour.
Funeral planning checklist: decisions, costs and what to write down
Funeral planning checklist for planning ahead or arranging one now: FTC Funeral Rule rights, NFDA median costs, prepaid plan risks, VA benefits, what to record.
What is a Grenada Connection death announcement, and how do you write your own?
A Grenada Connection death announcement is a Caribbean obituary notice. What that means, plus how to write, publish and price a US death announcement.
What to expect from hospice: a guide and checklist for families
What to expect from hospice at home: what Medicare covers, what to prepare, hospice questions to ask, and the paperwork after a death. A family checklist.
What is a household binder, and what goes in it?
What goes in a household binder: utilities, contractors, warranties, a maintenance calendar, keys and codes, pets, and a printable checklist.
How do you get a conservatorship?
How do you get a conservatorship in the US: who can petition, the court steps, what it costs, how the process differs by state, and a printable checklist.
How much does a cremation cost?
See average direct cremation costs, what a full-service cremation adds, state rules on timing and authorization, and how to compare prices before you buy.
How do you announce a death, and who do you tell first?
How to announce a death: who to tell first, scripts for calls and texts, social media wording, telling children, employer notice, and common mistakes.
How do you become a conservator?
How to become a conservatorship in the US: who qualifies to serve, background checks, training rules, disqualifying factors, costs, and the steps courts require.
How do you obtain a conservatorship?
How to obtain a conservatorship in the US: who can petition, who the court prefers to appoint, the steps, sourced costs, and how it varies by state.
How to write a letter of instruction, and what to put in it
How to write a letter of instruction: what it covers, why it is not legally binding, a section-by-section template, and where to keep it safe.
The "in case I die" binder: what to put in it, section by section
What goes in an in case I die binder: the 17 sections a good one has, what to leave out, paper vs digital, how to keep it updated, and ways to build one.
How do I find a lawyer for conservatorship?
How to find a lawyer for conservatorship, what conservatorship lawyers cost, when a court appoints one for free, and questions to ask before you hire.
What is a letter of conservatorship, and how do you get one?
What a letter of conservatorship proves, how courts issue one, what it costs, and how the rules and name for it change from state to state.
What is a limited conservatorship, and how do you get one?
A limited conservatorship gives a caregiver specific court-approved powers over an adult with a developmental disability. Steps, costs and rules explained.
What is a living will advance health care directive?
A living will advance health care directive sets your medical wishes and names a decision-maker in advance. How it works, state rules, and how to make one.
What is an LPS conservatorship, and how does it work?
How an LPS conservatorship works in California: the 5150 to 5350 process, the gravely disabled standard, costs, conservatee rights and renewal.
What does conservatorship mean?
The meaning of conservatorship in US law: conservator of the person vs. the estate, how courts create one, what it costs, and how state terms differ.
How do you get a medical power of attorney form in North Carolina?
How to get a medical power of attorney form in North Carolina: legal name, witness and notary rules, costs, when it takes effect, and state-specific sources.
What is a Murphy conservatorship, and how does it work?
Murphy's conservatorship explained: California's rule for a defendant found incompetent to stand trial on a violent felony, the process, costs and family steps.
What was the Nick Reiner conservatorship, and how does an LPS conservatorship work?
The Nick Reiner conservatorship was a 2020 California LPS conservatorship that lapsed in 2021. How LPS conservatorship works, and how it varies by state.
Obituary template: what to include and how to write one
A free obituary template for US families: what to include, what to leave out for safety, typical costs, and a step-by-step writing checklist.
Who will take care of my pet if I die?
Who will take care of my pet if I die: naming a caregiver and backup, pet trusts vs informal plans, what to write down, and a wallet card, sourced.
What is sole managing conservatorship, and how does a parent get it?
Sole managing conservatorship explained: what it means in Texas, how a parent gets it, the exclusive rights it grants, and how it differs from joint conservatorship.
What is step-up in basis?
What step-up in basis means for inherited property, how the IRS rule works, what it does and doesn't cover, and how to document it in a family guide.
How do you transfer a car title after the owner has died?
How to transfer a car title after death in the US: the steps, when probate applies, transfer-on-death titles, costs, and a state comparison table.
What is the Wendy Williams conservatorship, and how does it actually work?
The Wendy Williams conservatorship is really a New York guardianship. Here is the real legal process, timeline, costs and how it varies by state.
What my family needs to know: the complete list, organized by role and timeline
The complete list of what my family needs to know: who to call, where documents are, money, digital accounts, medical and funeral wishes.
What to do when your wife dies: a calm, step-by-step guide
A step-by-step guide to what to do when your wife dies: the first days, Social Security survivor benefits, joint accounts, taxes and common mistakes.
What is a holographic will, and when is one legally valid?
A holographic will is a handwritten, unwitnessed will. Learn what is a holographic will, which states allow one, requirements, sample structure, and mistakes.
Witnesses for a will: who qualifies and how many do you need?
Witnesses for a will: how many you need, who can serve, self-proving affidavits, state rules, and mistakes that can get a will thrown out.
After a death
These guides walk through what to do in the days and months after someone dies, in the order it usually needs to happen. Use them alongside a family guide so nothing gets missed.
What are bereavement fares, and how do you book one?
Bereavement fares explained: which US airlines still offer them, how much they save, how to book Delta bereavement fares, and what documents you need.
How do bereavement flights work, and how do you book one?
Bereavement flights explained: which airlines still offer a bereavement fare, how to book one on Air Canada or Delta, typical cost, and required documents.
How to notify credit bureaus of a death
How to notify credit bureaus of a death: what Equifax, Experian and TransUnion need, why one notice reaches all three, closing cards, and who pays debts.
Eulogy template: what to include and how to write one
A free eulogy template for US families: what to include, how long to speak, who should deliver it, what it costs, and a step-by-step writing checklist.
Executor checklist: what to do, in order, when you settle an estate
Executor checklist for settling a US estate in order: the first 48 hours, first 90 days, the first year, documents to gather, who to notify, common mistakes.
What is green burial, and how does it work?
What is green burial? A plain-English guide to Green Burial Council certification, costs, casket and vault rules, state law, and a planning checklist.
How many death certificates do I need?
How many certified death certificates you need, who requires one, typical cost by state, and how to order more later. Sourced, plain English.
How to write a eulogy, step by step
How to write a eulogy step by step, with specific guidance for a father, mother, dad or mom, plus length, cost, structure and a printable checklist.
Leave bereavement: how to take time off work after a death
Leave bereavement explained: what it covers, how to request it, state rules including California, and what to record for your family.
How to notify Social Security of a death (and what happens next)
How to notify Social Security of a death: who reports it, the phone number and hours, the month-of-death payment rule, the $255 lump sum and survivor benefits.
Does power of attorney end at death?
Does power of attorney end at death? Yes, financial and healthcare POA end the moment the person dies. Learn what the agent must stop doing and who takes over.
What are prepaid funeral plans, and how do they work?
Prepaid funeral plans let you pay for a funeral in advance. See how trusts and insurance-funded plans work, what refunds you can get, and state rules.
Probate court self-help centers and small estate limits, state by state
Find your state probate court self-help page and small estate affidavit limit, all 50 states and DC, each sourced to the official court page or statute.
Settling an estate: how probate works, what avoids it, and how long it takes
Settling an estate in the US: what skips probate, the probate steps in plain terms, small-estate shortcuts, timelines, costs, creditor claims and taxes.
How do small estate limits compare across the states?
A data study of small estate limits by state: the lowest and highest limits, widest neighbor gaps, real estate rules, and 2025-2026 changes, sourced and dated.
What is bereavement leave?
What is bereavement leave, who has to offer it, how many days are typical, and how California and five other states set their own rules.
What is green burial?
What is green burial? A plain-English guide to the process, Green Burial Council certification, typical costs, and how state law affects your choices.
What to do when someone dies: a calm, step-by-step checklist
What to do when someone dies, step by step: the first hours, death certificates, funeral rights, Social Security, insurance, credit bureaus, probate and taxes.
Documents and where to keep them
These guides cover which documents matter, how long to keep them, and where to store originals so your family can find them. They pair with any planning checklist you are already using.
Estate planning terms: a plain-English glossary of 45 words to know
A plain-English glossary of 45 estate planning and probate terms, from executor and administrator to trust, beneficiary and small estate affidavit.
The handoff step, step by step
Omliva's handoff step: four dated confirmations that make your family guide reachable, done in your own Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive or Dropbox account.
How to organize important documents for your family
How to organize important documents by category, how long the IRS says to keep each one, how to label and store them, and a yearly review habit.
Where to keep important documents so your family can find them
Where to keep important documents: which originals matter, what fire safe ratings and fireproof bags really do, the safe deposit box trap, and digital copies.
Digital life
These guides explain what happens to online accounts, passwords and digital assets when someone dies, and how to prepare for it now. They cover the built-in tools that companies like Apple and Google already offer.
How do Apple Legacy Contact and Google Inactive Account Manager work?
How to set up Apple Legacy Contact and Google Inactive Account Manager, what each shares after death, and how Facebook, Instagram and Microsoft compare.
Digital legacy checklist: what happens to your online accounts when you die, and how to prepare
A digital estate planning checklist for US families: what happens to email, photos, bank apps and social media when you die, and how to set up legacy tools.
What is a digital will, and how do you make one?
A digital will covers your digital assets and, in some states, lets you sign a will online. What it means, state rules, costs and how to set one up.
How to memorialize a Facebook account
How to memorialize a Facebook account after a death: who can request it, what proof you need, what changes, and how a legacy contact works.
Family conversations
These guides help you start conversations about aging, estates and family wishes without it turning into a fight. They include scripts and a plan for running a fair family meeting.
How to talk to your parents about their affairs (and what to write down)
How to talk to parents about estate planning without taking over: scripts, a 30-minute first talk, an aging parents documents checklist and warning signs.
How to talk to siblings about your parents' estate
How to talk to siblings about your parents' estate: run a fair family meeting, define roles, build one shared inventory, and know when to bring in a mediator.
What to do with a house after a parent dies
What to do with a house after a parent dies: securing it, the mortgage rules for heirs, utilities, title and taxes, and selling versus keeping it.
Benefits, money and taxes
These guides explain the government and insurance benefits a family can claim after a death, and the deadlines that come with them. They cover Social Security, VA benefits, life insurance and Medicaid estate recovery.
Disclaim inheritance form: how to refuse an inheritance the right way
How to use a disclaim inheritance form to legally refuse a bequest: the federal rules, the 9-month deadline, state variation, costs, and common mistakes.
Do you pay taxes on inheritance?
Do you pay taxes on inheritance? Usually not federally. See when tax applies, which five states tax heirs, and how to avoid common mistakes.
How to find a lost life insurance policy: the NAIC locator and every other route
How to find a lost life insurance policy: the free NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, MIB's $75 search, state insurance department finders, unclaimed property.
How long is a pension paid after death?
How long a pension is paid after death depends on the payout option chosen at retirement. See survivor rules for private, federal, military and state pensions.
How to file taxes for a deceased person
How to file taxes for a deceased person: who must file, deadlines, Form 1310, signing rules, Form 1041, state variation, common mistakes, and a checklist.
Inheritance tax by state: which states charge it, and how much
Inheritance tax by state for 2026: which states charge it, rates by relationship, how it differs from estate tax, and how to estimate what you owe.
Do you pay taxes when you inherit money?
A plain-English guide to inheriting money and taxes: what the IRS taxes, what it doesn't, state inheritance tax, inherited IRAs, and selling an inherited house.
What is Medicaid estate recovery, and who does it affect?
Medicaid estate recovery lets states recoup nursing home costs from an enrollee's estate after death. The federal rule, exemptions, and hardship waivers.
What are the rules for an inherited IRA RMD?
The rules for an inherited IRA RMD: who must take annual withdrawals, the 10-year deadline, eligible beneficiaries, spouse options, and the tax penalty.
VA death benefits checklist: what a veteran's family can claim
VA death benefits checklist for a veteran's family: burial allowance, national cemetery, headstone, flag, DIC and deadlines, sourced from VA.gov.
What covers the cost of a variable annuity death benefit?
What covers the cost of a variable annuity death benefit: the mortality and expense risk charge and rider fees, deducted from your account value.
What is step-up in basis?
What is step-up in basis? A plain-English answer: how the IRS rule resets an inherited asset's cost, what it covers, what it saves, and how to record it.
Are widow benefits the same as SSI? What a widow actually gets
Widow benefits SSI: see how survivor benefits and Supplemental Security Income differ, who qualifies, 2026 amounts, and how a widow applies for each.
What is a widow's pension, and how do you get one in the US?
What a widow's pension means in the US: Social Security survivor benefits, VA Survivors Pension, and state property tax breaks, with rates, rules and how to apply.
Comparisons
These guides compare end of life planners, binders and apps so you can see what each one actually includes and costs. Omliva is one option among several and is described the same way as the rest.
The best end of life planners in 2026: books, binders, apps and guides compared
The best end of life planners in 2026 compared, with prices seen September 17, 2026: Peter Pauper, Lamorial, Nolo, Nokbox, CLEAR Kit, Everplans and Omliva.
Conservatorship vs guardian: what is the difference?
Conservatorship vs guardian compared for the United States: definitions, the appointment steps, sourced costs, how state rules differ, and a checklist.
Guardian vs conservatorship: what is the difference?
Guardian vs conservatorship compared: what each role covers, the steps, typical costs, how state rules differ, and which one a family may need.
Guardianship versus conservatorship: what is the difference?
Guardianship versus conservatorship compared: who each covers, what it costs, how the words vary by state, and which one a family actually needs.
Lamorial vs Clever Fox vs Nokbox: which end of life planner fits your family?
Lamorial, Clever Fox and Nokbox end of life planners compared on format, page count, price, reviews, updating and who each suits, checked 2026-09-23.
Nokbox alternatives: paper kits, books, apps and generated guides compared
Nokbox alternatives compared with prices seen September 17, 2026: CLEAR Kit, Savor, Peter Pauper, Lamorial, Nolo, Everplans, free worksheets and Omliva.
POA vs conservatorship: what is the difference?
POA vs conservatorship compared: who sets each one up, what it costs, when a POA is not enough, and how to prevent needing a conservatorship.