Klappentext

Foreword by the President of the National Funeral Directors Association.
Featuring professional commentary from funeral director Jess Wakefield.

Most estate planning books focus on documents.
Most end-of-life books focus on emotions.
Almost none connect the full picture.

In No Loose Ends, attorney, estate planning, and end-of-life educator Adam Zuckerman delivers a clear, plain-English guide to the entire spectrum of planning, from wills and trusts to caregiving logistics, funeral decisions, digital assets, and what actually happens after someone dies.

This book does not just explain paperwork. It explains the system your family will rely on.

With clarity, empathy, and a touch of dark humor, Zuckerman connects estate planning, end-of-life decisions, and post-death responsibilities into one understandable framework. Readers gain the high-level context most families only learn in the middle of a crisis.

Inside, you will learn:

• How wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives actually work together
• What executors and family members realistically face after a death
• The practical realities of probate, funeral planning, and settling an estate
• How to organize financial, property, and digital information so it can be found and used
• Where families commonly get stuck, and how to prevent loose ends
  Designed to give readers confidence before meeting with an attorney, financial advisor, or funeral professional, No Loose Ends **helps you ask better questions and make informed decisions.

Throughout the book, readers are guided to practical tools and additional resources from Buried in Work, bridging education and action.

Because estate planning isn't just about documents. It's about clarity, preparation, and making life easier for the people you love.

Inhalt

Foreword xi

Preface xiii

Part I Introduction to End-of-Life Planning 1

What This Book Is 2

What This Book Isn't 2

How This Book Is Organized 3

Chapter 1 Spoiler Alert: You're Going to Die 5

Death by the Numbers (And Why It Feels Like Everyone Is Dying) 7

Five Simple Actions to Kickstart Your Organized Estate 8

Part II Estate Planning Is for Everyone 11

Chapter 2 What Is Estate Planning? 13

When to Start Estate Planning 16 Can You DIY, When You Need a Professional, and What You Can Expect to Pay 18

Chapter 3 The Estate Planning Pyramid: Core Concepts and Documents 23

Essential Tool #1: Your Core Estate Planning Glossary 24

Essential Tool #2: Last Will and Testament (AKA: Your Will) 26

Essential Tool #3: Advance Directives, DNRs, POLST, and MOLST 37

Essential Tool #4: Powers of Attorney 49

Essential Tool #5: HIPAA Authorization 59

Essential Tool #6: Beneficiary Designations and Payable on Death Instructions 61

Essential Tool #7: Digital Legacy Plan 62

Essential Tool #8: Key Contact Log 67

Essential Tool #9: Final Resting Place Instructions 68

Essential Tool #10: Letter of Instruction 69

Chapter 4 The Estate Planning Pyramid: Organization and Conversation 71

Why Organization Matters 72

How to Choose the Best Organization System for Your Situation 75

What to Include in Your Estate Organization System 76

Starting the Conversation 85

Chapter 5 The Estate Planning Pyramid: Advanced Concepts and Documents 89

What High-Net-Worth Families Do Differently 90

Trusts 101 92

Unclaimed Property 104

Life Insurance 108

PreNeed and Funeral Insurance 112

Retirement Accounts and Benefits 116

Business Succession Planning 119

Estate and Inheritance Tax 124

Taxable Gifts 128

Donor Advised Funds 131

Charitable Remainder Trusts 133

Special Needs Trusts 135

Family Foundations 137

Part III Living Well Through the End 141

Chapter 6 Comfort, Care, and Control 143

Aging in Place 144

Support for Caregivers 145

Care Options Beyond the Home 146 Palliative Care and Hospice Care 149 Death Doulas 150

Financial and Legal Considerations of Care Planning 152 Understanding Medicare, Medicaid, and Supplemental Insurance 154

End-of-Life Topics People Don't Talk About Enough 156

Chapter 7 What to Do (and What Can Wait) When Someone Dies 159

What Typically Happens in the First 24-72 Hours After a Death 161

Checklist: What You'll Do in the First 72 Hours 162

Seven Truths About the Time After Someone Dies 171

The First 72 Hours After Someone Dies: Commonly Asked Questions 173

Chapter 8 Death Certificates, Autopsies, and Investigations 183

Death Certificates 184

Investigations 186

Other Documents You May Encounter 188

Chapter 9 Refrigeration, Moving a Body, and Embalming 191

When Refrigeration Buys You Time 192

How to (Legally) Move a Body 193

Bringing Someone Home: What Happens When a Death Happens Abroad 194

Embalming 197

Chapter 10 Organ, Tissue, and Whole-Body Donation 201

Understanding Your Donation Options 201

Chapter 11 Grief Brain and Real-Life Logistics Tips 205

Four Tips to Work with Grief Brain (Instead of Against It) 206

Part IV End-of-Life Professions, Planning Services, and Final Resting Places 215

Chapter 12 Inside the Funeral Profession 217

An Insider's Look at the Funeral Service Profession 218

Spotlighting Several of the Organizations That Serve the Profession 220

Talking Like a Funeral Pro (Without Needing to Be One) 222

Selecting the Right Funeral Home and Bringing the Right Information to an Arrangement Conference 226

Understanding the FTC Rule 229

Chapter 13 Planning Services and Tributes 233

Funerals, Memorials, and Celebrations of Life 234

Understanding Funeral Costs: What to Expect and How to Manage Them 240

Deep Dives: Funerals, Memorials, Celebrations of Life, and Wakes 246

Obituaries 259

Alternative Memorial Services and Emerging Trends 261

Chapter 14 Exploring Final Resting Place Options 273

What's Legal, What's Local, and What's Personal 274

Because Death Isn't the Only Thing That's Final: Decision Points That Can't Be Reversed 275 Understanding Final Resting Places 276 Cemeteries 276

Burial 280

Cremation 295

Weird, Wonderful, and Surprisingly Moving Things to Do with Ashes 306

Greener Goodbyes: Green Burial, Composting, and Mushroom Suits 309

Chapter 15 Cultural, Spiritual, and Religious Traditions 321

Christian Traditions 322

Hindu Traditions 324

Jewish Traditions 325

Muslim Traditions 328

Nonreligious Traditions 330

LGBTQ+ Traditions and Considerations 332

Chapter 16 Veterans' Funeral Benefits 333

Burial in a VA National Cemetery 333 Burial in a Private Cemetery 334 Military Funeral Honors 335 Burial Flags 336

Presidential Memorial Certificate 336 VA Burial Allowances 337

Headstones, Markers, and Medallions 337 Survivor Benefits 337

Documentation: The Most Important Step 338

Part V Estate Transition and Estate Settlement 339

Chapter 17 The Purpose of Settling an Estate 341

Executors, Administrators, and Trustees: The Core Players in Estate Transition 342

The Other Important Roles and Responsibilities in Estate Transition 345

Common Terms in Estate Transition 347

Chapter 18 Probate 101 351

Understanding the Purpose and Importance of Probate 352

What Is Probate Court? 353

The Probate Process Is State Specific 353

Simplified Probate vs. Full Probate 354

Commonly Asked Questions: Probate and Estate Settlement 355

Chapter 19 The Nine Steps of Probate 363

Step 1: Locate the Will (If There Is One) 363

Step 2: Open the Probate Case 366

Step 3: Notify Interested Parties 370

Step 4: Secure and Value the Estate 372

Step 5: Manage Ongoing Estate Matters 375

Step 6: Handle Debts and Taxes 377

Step 7: Court Reporting and Oversight 379

Step 8: Distribute Remaining Assets 381

Step 9: Close the Estate 383

Chapter 20 Managing Legal and Financial Affairs 387

Opening a Bank Account for the Estat…