Getting Your Affairs in Order

If someone had to make sense of your financial matters without your help, would they know what you owned, where you kept your will and insurance policies, or even who you wanted to take care of your pet? Do yourself -- and your family -- a big favor and get organized now.

Ready to create your will?

Make sure your executor or another trusted person can find the passwords and usernames for your digital accounts.

Help your family -- and make your executor's job easier -- by getting your paperwork in order.

Prepare now so that if disaster strikes, your most valuable documents will be safe and accessible.

How to include online accounts and digital files in your estate plan.

Are you ready (legally) for your child to be an adult?

Learn where and how to get a death certificate, which you'll need to handle a deceased person's affairs.

Written funeral plans will spare your family worry and confusion.

You can make a plan and set aside money for your funeral. If you don't make a plan, then your survivors will be responsible for planning and covering the costs of your funeral arrangements.

Planning some of the details of your burial or cremation—and your memorial service—can be a great relief to your survivors.

A green burial or cremation is easier on the environment and saves money, too.

I'm a 30-year-old single woman and I don't have much to my name. I live in a rented apartment and have some meager savings. I have no children. Do I need to write a will?

If you lost someone to COVID-19, you might be able to get help with the funeral expenses. FEMA is offering up to $9,000 per funeral—find out if you qualify.

Becoming an organ donor can be accomplished in several ways and is dependent on the laws of your state.

To be part of the solution to the ongoing need for donated organs and tissues, take the following steps to become a donor after your death.

Thousands of California residents are currently waiting for donated organs.

To be part of the solution to the ongoing need for donated organs and tissues, take the following steps to become a donor after your death.

To be part of the solution to the ongoing need in Texas for donated organs and tissues, take the following steps to become a donor after your death.

I'm a 30-year-old single woman and I don't have much to my name. I live in a rented apartment and have some meager savings. I have no children. Do I need to write a will?

Take time to consider who to name as your emergency contact, and consider whether that person should have power of attorney over your medical care.

A few issues same-sex and LGBTQ couples should consider when making an estate plan.

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Technically speaking, digital assets are any “electronic record” that you own, license, or control.

RUFADAA helps fiduciaries and tech companies figure out who should have access to a person's digital assets after death.

You can decide, if you make a plan.

After you die, the person wrapping up your affairs may need to access your digital assets.

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Alkaline hydrolysis is a chemical process that reduces a body to components of liquid and bone. It is a green alternative to traditional cremation and burial.

Learn how to get a death certificate and where you can bury a body or scatter ashes in California.

Learn important Texas laws about burial, cremation, death certificates, and other post-death matters.

Learn important New York laws about burial, cremation, death certificates, and other post-death matters.

Empower Yourself: DIY Products by Nolo

Sidestep the lawyers with do-it-yourself books, documents, and software.

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If you find yourself serving as an executor or trustee, take control of the estate or trust with these plain-English books.
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Use this form to make simple changes to your living trust – for example, adding or removing beneficiaries or naming a new successor trustee.

Nolo offers hundreds of consumer-friendly, do-it-yourself legal products for all types of legal situations. Browse our full product list.

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