Guides for the paperwork nobody teaches you.
Checklists written for the person holding the folder — what to keep, what to sign, what to do first, and how to hand it all to the people who'll need it.
The 16 estate planning documents every family should have (and where to keep them)
A plain-English checklist of the will, trust, powers of attorney, healthcare directive, beneficiary designations and other papers your family needs — with who signs each one and how often to review it.
What documents does an executor need? A first-90-days list
The exact papers an executor must gather in the first weeks after a death — death certificates, the will, account statements, insurance policies, tax returns — and how many copies of each.
What to do when someone dies: the first 72 hours, first two weeks, first two months
A calm, step-by-step checklist for the days after a death — who to call, what to order, what can wait — written for the person holding the phone.
How to leave your passwords to your family without writing them on a sticky note
A practical plan for password inheritance: emergency kits, password-manager emergency access, break-glass links and what to record for email, phone, banking and photos.
How long to keep tax returns, receipts, warranties and other household papers
Retention rules for tax returns (3, 6 or 7 years), receipts for deductions, home-improvement records, warranties, medical bills, pay stubs and insurance policies — and what you can shred today.
Beneficiary designations: the 6 mistakes that override your will
Why retirement accounts and life insurance pass outside your will, and the six beneficiary mistakes — ex-spouses, minors, no contingent, estates, unequal shares, never confirming — that cost families the most.