Clear answers for the practical side of a death

Why this site exists

When someone dies, families are asked to make expensive decisions quickly, often with no idea what anything should cost, which papers they need, or what they are entitled to. Good information is scattered across government websites, industry surveys and sales pages.

We gather it in one place and write it in plain English. We also build free tools, such as cost calculators and checklists, so you can work out your own situation instead of guessing. The aim is simple: you should be able to walk into a funeral home, a probate office or a lawyer's office already knowing the basics.

Who runs it

End of Life Tools was founded in 2026 and is run by Matt Morgan, who is also the editor of every guide. Matt Morgan is not a licensed funeral director, attorney or financial adviser, and we do not pretend to be. Our job is to research carefully, cite where the facts come from, and tell you when a question needs a professional.

You can read more on the author page.

How the guides are made

Guides are researched and drafted with the help of software tools, including AI. Each one then goes through a separate fact-check against primary sources before it is published: federal agencies such as the FTC, the Social Security Administration, the VA and the IRS, state law, and industry surveys such as the NFDA's. Every figure should trace to a cited source, and each guide shows the date it was last checked.

The full process, including what we do when we get something wrong, is on our editorial standards page.

What we offer

• Guides on funeral costs, cremation and burial, veterans' benefits, wills, probate and what to do after a death. Start with the guides index.
• Free tools that run entirely in your browser. See all the tools.
• Printable planning kits: workbooks and planners you can fill in on screen or by hand. See the planning kits.
• A free after-death checklist you can get by email from the checklist page.

How we make money

There is no advertising on this site. We earn money in two ways:

1. Planning kits. We sell printable and fillable planners and workbooks, with a 30-day full refund if a kit is not right for you.
2. Partner links. Some pages link to services we think are relevant, such as a will service or a memorial product. These links are labeled “Partner”, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them. Partners never pay for coverage and never influence what we recommend.

The details are on the affiliate disclosure page.

What we are not

Nothing here is legal, financial or medical advice. The Simple Will Maker is a self-help document tool, not a law firm. Where a decision depends on your state, your family or your finances, we say so and point you to an official source or a qualified professional.

Get in touch

Questions, corrections and feedback are welcome. Email support@endoflifetools.com, or see the contact page for the right address for each kind of message.