Appendix C: Resource Directory

How to use this directory

The estate planning landscape includes many helpful organizations, tools, and resources. This appendix points you to the most useful and reputable ones. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement of any specific service or product. Verify current availability and pricing.

Government Resources

IRS — Internal Revenue Service

• irs.gov
• Forms 706 (estate tax), 1041 (estate income tax), 709 (gift tax), 1040 (final individual)
• Publication 559 (Survivors, Executors, and Administrators)

Social Security Administration

• ssa.gov
• Survivors benefits: ssa.gov/benefits/survivors
• Death notifications and benefits applications

Medicare

• medicare.gov
• Inheritance impact on Medicare premiums (IRMAA)
• Survivor benefits

Veterans Affairs

• va.gov
• Burial benefits for veterans
• Survivor benefits

State Vital Records

• For ordering death certificates
• Each state has its own vital records office; search "[state] vital records"

Professional Organizations

American Bar Association — Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law

• americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate
• Resources for finding attorneys and consumer education

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)

• actec.org
• Fellow directory for high-end estate planning attorneys

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)

• naela.org
• Find an elder law attorney
• Special needs planning resources

Special Needs Alliance

• specialneedsalliance.org
• Specialized in special needs trusts and disability planning

Academy of Special Needs Planners

• specialneedsanswers.com
• Resources and attorney directory

National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)

• napfa.org
• Fee-only financial advisors

Certified Financial Planner Board

• cfp.net
• Find a CFP, verify credentials

American Institute of CPAs

• aicpa.org
• Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) directory

Charity Vetting

Charity Navigator

• charitynavigator.org
• Financial health ratings for nonprofits

GuideStar / Candid

• candid.org
• Detailed information about nonprofits

GiveWell

• givewell.org
• Evidence-based effectiveness ratings (effective altruism focus)

Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance

• give.org
• Standards for charity accountability

Estate Planning Information

Nolo Press

• nolo.com
• Plain-language legal information; consumer guides

AARP Estate Planning Center

• aarp.org/money/investing/estate_planning
• Free articles and resources, especially for seniors

Kiplinger Retirement and Estate Planning

• kiplinger.com/retirement
• Practical articles on estate and tax planning

Investopedia Estate Planning Section

• investopedia.com/estate-planning-4689693
• Definitions and explanations of concepts

Online DIY Estate Planning Services

Note: these are services for very simple situations. For most adults, an attorney is preferable.

LegalZoom

• legalzoom.com
• Wills, trusts, POAs

Trust & Will

• trustandwill.com
• Will and trust packages

Rocket Lawyer

• rocketlawyer.com
• Various legal documents

Quicken WillMaker

• nolo.com/products
• Software for creating wills and related documents

Funeral Planning Resources

Funeral Consumers Alliance

• funerals.org
• Consumer guides, watchdog for funeral industry pricing

Federal Trade Commission — Funeral Rule

• ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/complying-funeral-rule
• Your rights as a funeral consumer

Green Burial Council

• greenburialcouncil.org
• Eco-friendly burial information and certified providers

Donation of body to medical schools

• Search "[state name] body donation program"
• Most state medical schools have programs

Pet Care Resources

Pet Trust resources

• ASPCA — pet planning page
• 2nd Chance 4 Pets

Pet Estate Planning

• petsandtheirpeople.com
• PetEstatesPlanning.com

Sanctuaries for orphan pets

• Best Friends Animal Society (bestfriends.org)
• Local rescue organizations

Hospice and End-of-Life Resources

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

• nhpco.org
• Find hospice, plain-language guides

Compassion & Choices

• compassionandchoices.org
• End-of-life options including medical aid in dying

The Conversation Project

• theconversationproject.org
• Tools for discussing end-of-life wishes

National Institute on Aging

• nia.nih.gov/health/end-life
• Federal resource on end-of-life planning

Special Situations

Alzheimer's Association

• alz.org
• Resources for families dealing with cognitive decline

Caregiver Action Network

• caregiveraction.org
• Support for family caregivers

Eldercare Locator

• eldercare.acl.gov
• 1-800-677-1116
• Federal service for finding local elder services

Mediation and Family Conflict

American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution

• americanbar.org/groups/dispute_resolution
• Find mediators

Association for Conflict Resolution

• acrnet.org
• Mediator directory

Local mediation centers

• Search "[your city] community mediation center"
• Often offer low-cost services

Digital Asset Resources

Apple Legacy Contact

• support.apple.com/HT212360

Google Inactive Account Manager

• myaccount.google.com → Data & privacy → Plan your digital legacy

Facebook Memorialization

• facebook.com/help/contact/memorialization

1Password Emergency Kit

• 1password.com → Emergency Kit feature

Bitwarden Emergency Access

• bitwarden.com → Emergency Access

Books for Further Reading

For readers wanting to go deeper than this book:

"Plan Your Estate" by Denis Clifford — Comprehensive plain-language guide.

"The Five Wishes" by Aging With Dignity — Excellent advance directive tool.

"Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande — Not specifically estate planning, but essential reading on end-of-life decision-making.

"The Conversation Project" workbook — Free, helpful for family discussions.

"How to Die Well" by Stephen Jenkinson — A philosophical and humanistic perspective.

"Talking to Strangers" by Malcolm Gladwell — Relevant for communication during sibling disputes (chapter on family dynamics).

"Parking Lot Rules" by Tom Sturges — Communication skills for difficult conversations.

For trust and estate professionals:

"The Tools and Techniques of Estate Planning" by Stephan Leimberg — Industry standard reference.

"Estate Planning for the Healthy, Wealthy Family" by Stanley Berenstein — High-net-worth perspective.

Software and Tools

Trustworthy — Digital estate planning vault

• trustworthy.com

Everplans — Online platform for organizing estate documents and information

• everplans.com

Quicken WillMaker — Software-based document creation

• nolo.com

Cake — End-of-life planning platform

• joincake.com

Periodically Update This List

Resources change. Companies fold, websites move, services discontinue. Verify current information when you go to use any of these resources. Check publication dates.

The general categories remain valuable. Specific links may need updating.