
PLANNING GUIDES
Guides for the decisions families actually face.
Short, practical reads on choosing a provider, understanding pricing, and knowing what you are owed by law. Written from public records and published pricing — never sponsored.
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4 guides tagged First steps · clear

Is Embalming Required by Law in Missouri, Illinois, or Kansas?
Is embalming required by law? Almost never in Missouri, Illinois, or Kansas. What the FTC Funeral Rule says, and when refrigeration works instead.
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How to Talk to Your Parents About End-of-Life Plans
How to talk to your parents about end-of-life plans: openers that work, the objections you will hear, and the Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas forms to sign.
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Who to Notify When Someone Dies: A Practical Checklist
A checklist of who to notify when someone dies, ordered by urgency: Social Security, employers, insurers, banks, the DMV, credit bureaus, and the post office.
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What to Do When Someone Dies: The First Hours and Days
A calm, step-by-step guide to what to do when someone dies — who to call first, the legal pronouncement, choosing a funeral home, and the first week.
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