Estate planning &
settlement resources

Compare Empathy vs Elayne for estate settlement in January 2026. Learn which platform handles government filings, asset discovery, and account closures for you.

Learn what to do after dad dies: get death certificates, notify Social Security, file insurance claims, and settle the estate. Complete guide for January 2026.

Compare top estate settlement platforms in January 2026. Learn which services automate paperwork rather than just providing guidance.

When a parent dies in another state, their mail continues arriving at their former residence while you're hundreds or thousands of miles away trying to manage estate affairs remotely. Critical financial statements, legal notices, and important estate documents arrive at an address you may no longer have access to, creating urgent logistical challenges that require immediate attention to prevent missed deadlines and lost information.

Compare estate settlement services for widows in January 2026. Reviews of Elayne, Empathy, Alis, and Sunset, covering account closures, benefit claims & asset discovery.

Mail continues arriving for deceased loved ones months or even years after death because hundreds of companies, organizations, and government agencies maintain separate mailing lists that don't automatically update when someone dies.

Compare the best estate fraud protection services in January 2026. Learn which services prevent deceased identity theft through credit freezes, notifications, and closures.

Social media profiles, professional networks, and personal blogs continue operating indefinitely after someone dies, generating automated reminders, remaining vulnerable to hacking, and preserving digital footprints until family members deliberately address them. These accounts represent both cherished memories and potential security risks that executors must handle thoughtfully.

Learn how to report a death to Social Security in January 2026. Call 1-800-772-1213, return overpayments, and get certified death certificates for estate settlement.

Learn the pros and cons of Alix for estate settlement, and compare it with alternatives like Elayne, Sunset, and Empathy in January 2026.

The IRS Estate Tax Closing Letter is the official document confirming that federal estate tax matters are fully resolved and no additional taxes are due. Without this letter, many probate courts refuse to grant final discharge to executors, and financial institutions may decline to release assets or transfer property to beneficiaries.

State tax obligations don't end with filing the federal Form 1040, executors must navigate a complex web of state income tax returns, each with unique forms, rules, and deadlines. The deceased may have lived in one state while owning rental property in another and working remotely for a company in a third state, creating filing requirements in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.

In the days after her father’s death, Sofia Morales became the default executor, translator and decision-maker. During the hardest year of her life, Elayne helped provide the needed structure and support.

Executors must navigate benefit overpayments that require return to Social Security, reconcile complex Explanation of Benefits forms with provider bills, and address potential Medicaid estate recovery claims that can significantly reduce what beneficiaries ultimately receive.

When a business owner dies, their business entities don't automatically dissolve, they continue existing legally and generate tax filing obligations until formally closed through proper channels. Failing to close business entities correctly can result in ongoing tax liabilities, penalties for unfiled returns, and complications with estate closure.

Estate administration involves filing multiple tax returns with different agencies, deadlines, and requirements, from the deceased's final individual return to estate income and estate tax returns. Missing a required filing or losing track of submission status can trigger penalties, interest charges, and complications with probate court closure.

Cloud storage services hold decades of irreplaceable photos, critical financial documents, business files, and creative work that families need to preserve after someone dies. However, these accounts continue charging monthly fees and remain vulnerable to unauthorized access until executors identify and secure them.

Email accounts are the digital keys to someone's entire online life, they unlock bank accounts, investment portfolios, social media, subscriptions, and countless other services through password reset links. When someone dies, these accounts remain active and vulnerable to unauthorized access, making them prime targets for identity theft and fraud.

The average person maintains 10 to 20 active subscriptions across streaming services, cloud storage, software, and digital memberships, collectively costing hundreds of dollars monthly. These recurring charges are ongoing estate obligations that must be systematically addressed.

Digital wallets and payment apps like PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle have become essential financial tools for millions of people. When someone dies, these accounts often contain real money that belongs to the estate, but they're also vulnerable to unauthorized access and fraud.

Loyalty points and rewards programs represent hidden value in many estates, and can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. However, these benefits don't automatically transfer to heirs after death. Each program has unique policies about what happens to accumulated points when a member dies, and many programs forfeit unused rewards entirely if executors don't act quickly.

Domain names and website hosting plans continue renewing automatically after someone dies, these digital assets require the same careful attention as physical property, executors must identify all domains, decide their fate, and either transfer ownership or cancel services to stop unnecessary charges.

Modern estates involve dozens of digital accounts, without a systematic approach to tracking these accounts, executors often discover recurring charges months after death, lose access to important photos or documents, or simply forget which accounts were closed and which remain open.

This final stage requires careful accounting, court approval, and proper documentation to protect you from future liability. In this guide, we'll walk you through exactly how to close an estate, what the court needs to see, and why getting the final accounting right matters.