Articles & guides
Practical, no-fluff resources for executors and families navigating estate transitions.
The first 30 days after a death: what actually has to happen, and when
A practical, sequenced list of what actually has to happen in the first 30 days after a death — what to file, who to call, how many death certificates to order, and what to deliberately leave alone.
The Virginia executor's checklist: what the job actually involves
What being an executor in Virginia actually involves: qualification, the four-month inventory, the sixteen-month accounting, paying debts in priority order, executor compensation, and when to hire a probate attorney instead of doing it yourself.
When estate cleanout is the right answer (and when it isn't)
DIY, estate sale, auction, or professional cleanout — when each one is the right call. Real numbers from Central Virginia: dump fees, dumpster rentals, estate sale commissions, and what professional cleanout actually costs.