Last Writes: A Blog About Death and Grief
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“Last Writes” is Good Grief’s blog dedicated to navigating death, grief, and everything in between — offering candid conversations, practical advice, and reflections to help people face loss with a little more clarity and a little less fear.
Grief touches 3.4m people each year. Let’s talk about it.
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Executor FAQ: Duties, Probate, and What You Need to Know Being named executor can feel like a big job — and it is. This guide breaks down what executors actually do, how probate works, what expenses they handle, and how to manage the role without getting o…
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Do Executors Get Paid? Yes. Here's How Much, by State. Executors are legally entitled to compensation in nearly every state. Here's what you can claim, how fees are calculated, and what most people don't know about getting paid for the hardest job you ne…
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Cleaning Out a Parent's House After They Die Every drawer is a decision. Every closet is a memory. A practical guide to sorting, selling, donating, and surviving the emotional weight of emptying a parent's home.
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I Just Got Named Executor — Now What? Someone you love just died. And now you've inherited 570 hours of admin across 12+ institutions that don't talk to each other. Here's what to do first, what can wait, and how to survive it.
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How Good Grief Helps Texas Families in the First Month After a Death When someone dies in Texas, families face an overwhelming wave of financial and administrative tasks, from filing for probate to closing accounts across 12+ institutions. Good Grief walks you through…
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Protecting the Estate - Best Privacy, Security & Fraud Prevention When someone dies, their identity becomes a target. Scammers mine obituaries, open credit cards, and file tax returns in the deceased's name. Here's what to lock down — and when.
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AI & Emerging Tech in the Death Space The digital afterlife industry is valued at $125 billion. Millions of people are talking to AI recreations of the dead. This is happening whether we're ready or not — here's what you need to know.
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Best Memorialization & Legacy Keepsake Tools After the logistics comes the longing. Here are the most beautiful and meaningful ways to honor someone, from turning ashes into diamonds to letting future generations hear their voice.
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Your First 30 Days - The Vendors Nobody Tells You About Everyone talks about the funeral. Nobody talks about the locksmith, the notary, or what to do with three cats and a parrot. Here's the unsexy survival guide for the hardest month of your life.
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The Home - Estate Cleanout, Sales & What to Do With All the Stuff The average American home has over 300,000 items. When someone passes, every single one needs a decision. Here's how to break the cleanout into stages so it doesn't break you.
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Best Probate & Legal Navigation Tools Most people have never heard the word "probate" until they're in the middle of it. Here are the best tools to help executors navigate the legal maze, and know when to call a lawyer.
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Best Account & Asset Discovery Tools The average person has over 100 online accounts. When someone dies, finding them all is a detective mission. Here are the best tools, and which ones you can use right now, before it's too late.
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Best End-of-Life Planning Tools (2026) | Which One Is Right for You? Not all end-of-life planning tools are built for the same person. We break down the best options — from free to $499 — so you can pick the right one for where you are right now.
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What To Do in the First Month After Someone Dies in Texas The first month after a death in Texas is confusing and overwhelming. This guide walks you through what actually matters in the first 30 days—so you can avoid costly mistakes and buy time.
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6 Deathcare Trends That Will Define 2026 From AI funeral planning to the "Boomer Stuffpocalypse," here are the deathcare industry shifts families and founders need to watch in 2026.
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All Types of Cremation Demystified Cremation isn’t one-size-fits-all. This guide breaks down the different types of cremation—on-site, off-site, witness cremation, and water cremation—so families understand what their options really m…
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Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Shipping Human Remains Shipping a body isn’t something families are prepared for—yet it happens more often than you think. This guide breaks down how human remains are transported by plane, the legal requirements, who hand…
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What We Learned About Flying with Cremated Remains Traveling with cremated remains can feel overwhelming, especially at the airport. This guide explains TSA rules, approved containers, carry-on tips, and what to expect—so you can focus on honoring yo…
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Did You Know You Could Be Buried at Sea? Burial at sea isn’t just a myth or a Viking fantasy—it’s a real, legal option in the U.S. This guide explains how sea burials work today, the EPA rules involved, state-by-state challenges, typical co…
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Estate EIN: Why Every Executor Needs One When someone dies, their Social Security number is retired—but the estate still needs a tax ID to function. This guide explains what an estate EIN is, when it’s required, how to apply, and how execut…
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