Skip to content
End of Life Tools

424 guides · checked against official sources

Guides for the practical side of a death

Costs, paperwork, benefits, wills, ceremonies and grief, explained in plain English. Start with a topic, or search for what you need.

Browse by topic

VeteransVA Headstones and Markers: Who Qualifies and How to ApplyThe VA provides a free headstone, marker or medallion for eligible veterans. Who qualifies, the types and sizes, how to apply with Form 40-1330, and costs. 7 min readFaith & cultureCatholic Cremation Rules: What the Church Allows for AshesThe Catholic Church allows cremation but prefers burial. Learn the rules for ashes, what changed in the Vatican's December 2023 note, and how to plan. 6 min readVeteransVA Burial Allowance: Amounts, Eligibility and How to ClaimThe VA burial allowance pays up to $2,000 for a service-connected death, or up to $1,032 plus a $1,032 plot allowance otherwise. Who qualifies and how to claim. 6 min readFaith & culturePentecostal Funeral Traditions: What to Expect at a Homegoing ServiceWhat happens at a Pentecostal funeral or homegoing: the order of service, music, sermon and altar call, cremation views, repast, dress and etiquette for guests. 7 min readVeteransTaps at a Military Funeral: History, Protocol and EtiquetteTaps is the 24-note bugle call sounded at military funerals. Its history, who is entitled to it, live bugler vs recording, and how guests should stand. 5 min readFaith & cultureCatholic Mass of Christian Burial: What Happens and How to Plan ItWhat happens at a Catholic funeral Mass, from the vigil to the committal: the order of the rite, readings, music, eulogies, non-Catholic guests and planning. 6 min readBurialOpening and Closing Grave Fees: Typical Costs in 2026What the opening and closing fee (the interment fee) covers, real 2025-2026 price examples, weekend and winter surcharges, and ways to lower it. 6 min readAfter a deathNotifying Banks After a Death: Steps, Documents and TimingHow to notify a bank when someone dies: who can do it, the documents banks ask for, what happens to joint, POD and sole accounts, and how to avoid fraud. 7 min read

Recently updated

Every guide, A to Z
By stateArizona Funeral Costs: Prices, Laws and Your RightsWhat a funeral costs in Arizona, who has the legal duty to arrange it, embalming and permit rules, death certificate fees, county help and veterans cemeteries. 6 min readPlanningEmergency Funeral Planning: How Fast a Funeral Can HappenHow to arrange a funeral in a hurry: what sets the timeline, the fastest options, what to ask on the first call, and how to handle religious deadlines. 6 min readCostsFuneral Crowdfunding Etiquette: Asking, Giving and Saying Thank YouHow to run or give to a funeral fundraiser politely: ask the family first, be clear what the money is for, update and thank donors, and give safely. 5 min readCostsThe FTC Funeral Rule: Your Rights When Buying a FuneralWhat the FTC Funeral Rule requires of funeral homes: price lists, phone prices, outside caskets, embalming, what it doesn't cover and how to report a violation. 7 min readCostsWhat If You Can't Afford a Funeral? Options and Next StepsNo money for a funeral? Learn who owes the bill, the lowest-cost options, where help with funeral costs comes from, and what happens if no one can pay. 7 min readVeteransArlington National Cemetery Eligibility: Who QualifiesArlington National Cemetery eligibility is stricter than at VA cemeteries. Who gets in-ground burial or a niche, the documents needed and the wait. 9 min read