The death email you’ll actually look forward to opening. Weekly. Honest. Never a euphemism.
FROM STEPHANIE
This week is about the quiet details families wish someone had handled earlier: a beneficiary on a bank account, a real plan for a pet, and support that asks less of the person grieving. None of it requires perfection. It requires one clear next step.
THE DEATH DISPATCH · dispatch.mortl.com
THE NUMBER
51
All 50 states plus Washington, DC, have different laws, paperwork, and rules around death. Check out all of MORTL’s state guides, find yours, and compare it to another state if you’re curious. We’re here to make it easier.
THE DEATH DISPATCH · dispatch.mortl.com
THIS WEEK'S READ
Planning for Your Pet After Your Death or Incapacity
Choose a caregiver and a backup, write down the care your animal needs, and match the legal plan to your state. A will, an informal agreement, and a pet trust do different jobs. This guide explains each one.
THE DEATH DISPATCH · dispatch.mortl.com
THE PRACTICAL PART
Add one payable-on-death beneficiary
Log in to your bank and look for beneficiary settings. If they are not there, call and ask for the payable-on-death form. The designation can outrank your will, so review it after a birth, death, marriage, or divorce.
THE DEATH DISPATCH · dispatch.mortl.com
HOW TO SHOW UP
Don’t say, “Let me know if you need anything.” Offer one specific thing at one specific time: “I’m bringing dinner Thursday. Does 6 work?” Then check in again after the funeral, when most support disappears.
THE DEATH DISPATCH · dispatch.mortl.com
SEND THIS TO SOMEONE
Screenshot any box above and text it to the person whose paperwork you worry about. Or send them the whole thing.
You're going to die. Let's talk about it.
Stephanie