You've been handed a job nobody prepares you for. Here's the roadmap — what's urgent, what can wait, and what you can safely do yourself.
Answer a few questions and get matched with the services that fit your situation — free.
What's available in your state?
or browse all statesHow it works
Tell us where you are
A short questionnaire about your stage and what you need.
Get matched
We line up the services that fit — no calls, no spam.
Set up in minutes
Follow curated links and checklists to get each one done.
Popular right now
How we make money: some links on this site pay us a commission when you use a service — always clearly marked, never required. Plenty of what we publish earns us nothing, including the pages that tell you when you don't need to pay anyone at all.
ClearEstate
Full estate-settlement support — a dedicated team handles the paperwork, accounts, and filings while you make the decisions.
Talk to ClearEstateSmartAsset Advisor Match
Answer a few questions and get matched with fiduciary financial advisors — the sober next step when an inheritance or an inherited IRA needs a plan.
Match with an advisorTrust & Will
Attorney-designed wills and trusts online — the thing almost everyone does after settling an estate is finally sort their own.
Start your own planGuides
What to Do When Someone Dies: A First-Week ChecklistA calm first-week checklist for what to do when someone dies, including immediate steps, documents, official contacts, and what can safely wait.
Executor of Estate Checklist: First Steps and DutiesUse this phased executor checklist to secure property, confirm authority, inventory assets, handle debts and taxes, distribute safely, and close the estate.
How Probate Works: Steps, Timing, and What to ExpectLearn how probate usually moves from court filing to closing, what varies by state, which assets may bypass probate, and what to do first.
Grief Resources After a Death: Where to Find SupportFind free and low-cost grief support after a death, including groups, hospice programs, counseling, crisis help, and ways to choose the right next step.