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End of Life Tools

Founder and editor

Matt Morgan

479 guides written and maintained

Matt Morgan founded End of Life Tools to make the practical side of a death easier to understand. He researches funeral costs, cremation and burial, veterans' benefits, wills, probate and the paperwork that follows a death, working from primary public sources: federal agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the IRS, state statutes and published industry data. Every guide links to the sources it relies on so you can check the details yourself. Matt is not a licensed funeral director, attorney or financial adviser, and nothing on this site is professional advice. For decisions about your own situation, confirm the details with the agency concerned or a qualified professional.

Read more about how we research, check and update guides, and how the site makes money.

Writes about

  • Funeral planning and costs
  • Cremation and burial options
  • Veterans' burial benefits
  • Wills, probate and estate settlement
  • After-death paperwork
  • Grief and bereavement support

Recently updated guides

By stateColorado Funeral Costs: Prices, Laws and Your RightsWhat funerals cost in Colorado, what the law lets families do themselves, who decides, how to use a Declaration of Last Remains and where to find help paying. 7 min readWills & estatesEstate Value Calculator: How to Work Out What an Estate Is WorthHow to calculate the value of an estate: add up assets at date-of-death value, separate probate from non-probate property, and subtract debts. 6 min readEulogiesEulogy for a Sibling: How to Write a Tribute to Your Brother or SisterHow to write a eulogy for your brother or sister: shared-history prompts, themes to build on, sample wording, speaking alongside family and hard situations. 6 min readCostsFuneral Cost Inflation: How Much Prices Have RisenFuneral prices rose about 20% from 2019 to 2025 and 116% since 2000, per BLS data. See NFDA medians and ways to limit the effect on your family. 6 min readWills & estatesLiving Trust vs Will: Differences, Costs and How to ChooseA will names heirs, an executor and guardians and goes through probate. A living trust can skip probate and cover incapacity. See costs and who needs which. 8 min readBurialCemetery Rules and Regulations: What Cemeteries Can RequireWho sets cemetery rules, what they usually cover (vaults, markers, decorations, burial times) and your rights as a plot owner, with real examples. 9 min readAfter a deathCertified vs Informational Death Certificate: Which to OrderThe difference between a certified and an informational death certificate, who can order each, what they cost in three states, and which one you need. 6 min readCostsFuneral Insurance for Smokers: Cost, Rules and Your OptionsSmokers can buy funeral insurance but usually pay more. See how much more, what counts as tobacco use, why honesty matters and what happens if you quit. 6 min read