Plain answers to the questions families ask
Scams, accounts, and what to do when someone dies. Free to read, checked against the agencies that set the rules, and written for someone who has never had to do this before.
Staying safe
How to freeze your credit at all three bureaus
It's free, it doesn't affect your credit score, and it is the single best protection against someone opening an account in your name.
Read the guideThe family emergency scam: what to do when a loved one calls for help
It's often called the grandparent scam, but it reaches anyone with family. Here is how it works, and the habit that stops it.
Read the guideClicked a link in a scam text or email? What to do now
Don't panic. What matters most is what happened after the click. Here is what to do, in order.
Read the guidePlanning ahead
Five assets a will doesn't control
Life insurance, retirement accounts and jointly owned property pass by their paperwork, not by the will. Here is what to check while everyone is well.
Read the guideWhat happens to a phone and online accounts when someone dies
Apple and Google both let you name someone in advance. Afterwards, the options are far narrower. Ten minutes now saves the family months.
Read the guideAfter a death
How many death certificates do you need?
Most families order three and go back for more. Here is the list to count against before you order.
Read the guideSix things not to do in the first week after a death
Most mistakes after a death can be fixed. These six usually can't, and all six tend to happen in the first week.
Read the guideWhat does an executor do? A plain-English checklist
If you have been named executor, here is the job in the order it usually happens, and what can wait.
Read the guideHow to close a bank account after someone dies
What happens depends on how the account was set up. Here is how to tell, and what the bank will ask for.
Read the guideFor small businesses
The free Three Questions card
Three questions that stop phone, text and email scams. Print it for the fridge and pass it on. No sign-up.
