Practical guides, legal updates, and what families actually need to know.
Featured guide
Step-by-step guide for Massachusetts families after a death, covering probate, death certificates, and estate tax. Statute-cited, updated for 2026.
Realistic California funeral costs for burial, cremation, and direct cremation. Includes component breakdowns, legal pricing rights, and pre-need contract rules.
California end-of-life planning checklist: advance health care directive, POLST, financial POA, beneficiary designations, funeral preferences, and community property rules.
California has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax, but it does have state income tax. Federal threshold is $15M in 2026. Community property step-up and Medi-Cal recovery.
What a California personal representative must do: appointment, inventory, creditor notice, statutory fees, tax filing, community property, and distribution.
California funeral and burial laws: disposition authority, cremation 48-hour wait, green burial, aquamation, embalming rules, and consumer rights.
California probate explained: small estate affidavit, spousal petition, full probate steps, statutory fees, and deadlines with statute citations.
Step-by-step guide to closing bank accounts, transferring vehicle titles, handling real property, and accessing safe deposit boxes after a death in California.
Order a California death certificate from CDPH or a county office. 2026 fees, processing times, how many copies you need, and who can request.
How to claim Social Security survivor benefits in California, including the $255 lump sum, monthly benefit amounts, and California state income tax rules.
Step-by-step California death checklist: probate paths, death certificates, community property, financial tasks, and Medi-Cal recovery.
Georgia end-of-life planning checklist: advance directive, financial POA, POLST, beneficiary designations, TOD deeds, funeral pre-planning, and GA-specific rules.
Georgia has no state estate tax, no inheritance tax, and no gift tax. Federal threshold is $15M in 2026. Georgia income tax and MERP explained.
What a Georgia personal representative must do: appointment, creditor notice, Year's Support, bond, inventory, tax filing, and distribution.
Georgia funeral and burial laws: disposition authority, cremation 24-hour wait, home burial, green burial, aquamation, embalming rules, and consumer rights.
Realistic Georgia funeral costs for burial, cremation, and direct cremation. Includes component breakdowns, legal pricing rights, and pre-need contract rules.
Georgia probate explained: common form, solemn form, No Administration Necessary, Year's Support, filing fees, and deadlines across 159 counties.
Step-by-step guide to closing bank accounts, transferring vehicle titles, handling real property, and using the $15,000 banking affidavit in Georgia.
Order a Georgia death certificate from the Department of Public Health or a county probate court. 2026 fees, processing times, and who can order.
How to claim Social Security survivor benefits in Georgia, including the $255 lump sum, monthly benefit amounts, and Georgia income tax rules.
Step-by-step Georgia death checklist: probate paths, death certificates, Year's Support, financial tasks, and Medicaid recovery.
Illinois end-of-life planning checklist: healthcare POA, living will, financial POA, POLST, beneficiary designations, and Illinois estate tax rules.
Illinois has a $4M state estate tax, no inheritance tax. Graduated rates up to 16%, no portability. Federal threshold is $15M in 2026.
What an Illinois independent representative must do: appointment, inventory, creditor notice, tax filing, and distribution under the Probate Act.
Illinois funeral and burial laws: cremation rules, burial requirements, green burial, body donation, disposition authority, and consumer protections.
Illinois probate explained: independent vs. supervised administration, small estate affidavit, Circuit Court process, fees, and deadlines.
Step-by-step guide to closing bank accounts after death in Illinois: joint accounts, POD accounts, individual accounts, safe deposit boxes, and required documents.
Order an Illinois death certificate from IDPH or your county clerk. 2026 fees, processing times, how many copies you need, and correction process.
What funerals cost in Illinois: average prices, cremation vs. burial, required disclosures, consumer rights, and how to reduce costs legally.
How to claim Social Security survivor benefits in Illinois: eligibility, benefit amounts, application process, and the $255 lump-sum death payment.
Step-by-step Illinois death checklist: probate paths, death certificates, equitable distribution, financial tasks, and Medicaid recovery.
New York end-of-life planning checklist: health care proxy, living will, statutory short form POA, MOLST, beneficiary designations, and NY estate tax rules.
New York has a state estate tax with a dangerous 105% cliff. 2026 exclusion is $7.35M. No inheritance tax. Rates, cliff examples, and planning strategies.
What a New York executor must do: Surrogate's Court appointment, creditor notice, tax filing, commissions, and distribution under SCPA and EPTL.
New York funeral and burial laws: disposition authority, cremation rules, green burial, human composting, embalming rules, and consumer rights.
New York probate explained: small estate affidavit, full probate in Surrogate's Court. Filing fees, deadlines, intestate rules, and statute citations.
Step-by-step guide to closing bank accounts, transferring vehicle titles, handling real property, and accessing safe deposit boxes after a death in New York.
Order a New York death certificate from NYS DOH or NYC DOHMH. 2026 fees, the split NYC/state system, processing times, and how many copies you need.
Realistic New York funeral costs for burial, cremation, and direct cremation. Component breakdowns, legal pricing rights, and pre-need contract rules under GBL ss 453.
How to claim Social Security survivor benefits in New York, including the $255 lump sum, monthly benefit amounts, WEP/GPO elimination, and NY tax implications.
Step-by-step New York death checklist: Surrogate's Court probate, death certificates, estate tax cliff, financial tasks, and Medicaid recovery.
North Carolina end-of-life planning checklist: advance directive, health care POA, MOST form, financial POA, beneficiary designations, and NC-specific rules.
North Carolina has no state estate tax (repealed 2013), no inheritance tax (repealed 1999). Federal threshold is $15M in 2026. NC income tax and MERP.
What a North Carolina personal representative must do: appointment, inventory, creditor notice, tax filing, spousal rights, and distribution.
North Carolina funeral and burial laws: disposition authority, cremation 24-hour wait, home burial, green burial, embalming rules, and consumer rights.
North Carolina probate explained: small estate affidavit, summary administration, common and solemn form probate. Fees, deadlines, and statutes.
Step-by-step guide to closing bank accounts, transferring vehicle titles, handling real property, and accessing financial accounts after a death in North Carolina.
Order a North Carolina death certificate from NC Vital Records, online through VitalChek, or from your county Register of Deeds. 2026 fees and methods.
Realistic North Carolina funeral costs for burial, cremation, and direct cremation. Includes component breakdowns, legal pricing rights, and pre-need contract rules.
How to claim Social Security survivor benefits in North Carolina, including the $255 lump sum, monthly benefit amounts, and NC state income tax rules.
Step-by-step North Carolina death checklist: probate paths, death certificates, equitable distribution, financial tasks, and Medicaid recovery.
Ohio end-of-life planning checklist: living will, healthcare POA, financial POA, DNR orders, beneficiary designations, funeral pre-planning, and probate avoidance.
Ohio has no state estate tax (repealed 2013), no inheritance tax, but does have state income tax. Federal threshold is $15M in 2026. MERP and tax filings.
Complete guide to executor responsibilities in Ohio: appointment, bond, inventory, creditor claims, accountings, distribution, and key deadlines.
Ohio funeral and burial laws: right of disposition, cremation rules, burial permits, embalming, green burial, body donation, and consumer protections.
Ohio probate explained: summary release, release from administration, and full administration. Fees, deadlines, and statutes for all 88 counties.
How to close bank accounts after death in Ohio: POD accounts, joint accounts, probate accounts, vehicle title transfers, and real property procedures.
How to order certified death certificates in Ohio: fees, ordering methods, processing times, and who can request copies from the Ohio Department of Health.
Ohio funeral costs explained: average prices, cremation vs. burial costs, veteran benefits, consumer protections, and ways to reduce funeral expenses.
How to claim Social Security survivor benefits in Ohio: eligibility, benefit amounts, application process, and coordination with Ohio public pensions.
Step-by-step Ohio death checklist: probate paths, death certificates, equitable distribution, financial tasks, and Medicaid recovery.
Pennsylvania end-of-life planning checklist: advance directives, financial POA, inheritance tax planning, POLST, wills, and beneficiary designations.
Pennsylvania inheritance tax rates: 0% spouse, 4.5% children, 12% siblings, 15% others. No exemption threshold. Filing deadlines, forms, and 5% discount.
Pennsylvania executor responsibilities: step-by-step duties, filing deadlines, inheritance tax, inventory, advertising, and claim payment priority.
Pennsylvania funeral and burial laws: cremation rules, embalming requirements, disposition authority, green burial, home burial, and body donation.
Pennsylvania probate explained: Register of Wills, Orphans' Court, small estate petition, filing fees, deadlines, and statutes.
Closing bank accounts after death in Pennsylvania: joint accounts, POD accounts, small payment rules, Letters Testamentary, and safe deposit box access.
How to order certified death certificates in Pennsylvania: online, by mail, or in person. Fees, processing times, who can request, and amendment process.
Pennsylvania funeral costs explained: average prices, cost-saving options, prepaid contract protections, financial assistance, and consumer rights.
How to claim Social Security survivor benefits in Pennsylvania: eligibility, payment amounts, application process, and coordination with PA inheritance tax.
Step-by-step Pennsylvania death checklist: Register of Wills, inheritance tax, death certificates, financial tasks, and probate deadlines.
When someone dies, families get hit with 150+ tasks they never knew existed. We built Kaira because generic checklists aren't enough.
Florida end-of-life planning checklist: living will, health care surrogate, DNRO, durable POA, beneficiary designations, and homestead protections.
Florida has no state estate tax, no inheritance tax, and no income tax. This guide covers what that means for your estate and what federal taxes still apply.
What a Florida Personal Representative must do: appointment, deadlines, creditor priorities, compensation, and tax filing obligations.
Florida funeral costs in 2026: traditional burial, cremation, direct cremation, and aquamation. Component pricing, legal rights, and pre-need contracts.
Florida funeral laws: disposition authority, cremation 48-hour wait, burial permits, scattering ashes, aquamation, embalming rules, and consumer rights.
Florida probate explained: disposition without administration, summary administration, and formal administration. Costs, timelines, and deadlines.
How to close bank accounts after a death in Florida: joint accounts, POD, safe deposit boxes, vehicle titles, Lady Bird deeds, and Medicaid.
How to order Florida death certificates online, by mail, or in person, including fees, processing times, who can request copies, and how many you need.
Social Security survivor benefits in Florida: monthly amounts, the $255 lump sum, WEP/GPO elimination, earnings limits, and Medicaid interaction.
Step-by-step Florida death checklist: first hours, death certificates, probate paths, finances, homestead, and Medicaid recovery.
Texas end-of-life planning checklist: advance directives, POA, beneficiary designations, funeral preferences, and community property rules.
Texas has no state estate tax, no inheritance tax, and no income tax. Federal threshold is $15M in 2026. Community property step-up and MERP.
What a Texas independent executor must do: appointment, inventory, creditor notice, tax filing, community property, and distribution.
Texas funeral and burial laws: disposition authority, cremation 48-hour wait, home burial, green burial, embalming rules, and consumer rights.
Texas probate explained: small estate affidavit, muniment of title, independent and dependent administration. Fees, deadlines, and statutes.
Step-by-step guide to closing bank accounts, transferring vehicle titles, handling real property, and accessing safe deposit boxes after a death in Texas.
Order a Texas death certificate from DSHS or a local registrar. 2026 fees, processing times, how many copies you need, and TxEVER explained.
How to claim Social Security survivor benefits in Texas, including the $255 lump sum, monthly benefit amounts, WEP/GPO elimination, and TX-specific tax rules.
Realistic Texas funeral costs for burial, cremation, and direct cremation. Includes component breakdowns, legal pricing rights, and pre-need contract rules.
Step-by-step Texas death checklist: probate paths, death certificates, community property, financial tasks, and Medicaid recovery.
End-of-life planning checklist for Massachusetts: Health Care Proxy, MOLST, Durable POA, will, beneficiary designations, and funeral preferences.
Massachusetts estate tax 2026: $2 million threshold, $99,600 credit, Form M-706, and how MassHealth recovery interacts with the estate. No inheritance tax in MA.
What a Massachusetts personal representative (executor) must do: appointment, inventory, creditor notice, MassHealth, taxes, and distribution.
Massachusetts funeral and burial laws: cremation rules, green burial, aquamation status, home burial, who controls arrangements, and consumer rights.
Massachusetts probate explained: voluntary administration, informal probate, and formal probate. Fees, forms, timelines, and MUPC citations.
How to access and close bank accounts after a death in Massachusetts. Joint accounts, small estate rules, Letters of Authority, and what to do with each account type.
How to order a Massachusetts death certificate from RVRS or city/town clerk. 2026 fees, processing times, and how many copies you need.
How much does a funeral cost in Massachusetts? Average costs for burial, cremation, and direct cremation in 2026, plus your legal rights to itemized pricing.
Social Security survivor benefits for Massachusetts families: $255 lump sum, monthly benefits, who qualifies, how to apply, and MassHealth interaction.