Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Adam Zuckerman
Publisher:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
Imprint:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
ISBN:  

9781394374809

ISBN 10:   1394374801
Pages:   480
Publication Date:   28 April 2026
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Awaiting stock  

Table of Contents

Foreword xi Preface xiii PART I Introduction to End-of-Life Planning 1 CHAPTER 1 Spoiler Alert: You're Going to Die 5 PART II Estate Planning Is for Everyone 11 CHAPTER 2 What Is Estate Planning? 13 CHAPTER 3 The Estate Planning Pyramid: Core Concepts and Documents 23 CHAPTER 4 The Estate Planning Pyramid: Organization and Conversation 71 CHAPTER 5 The Estate Planning Pyramid: Advanced Concepts and Documents 89 PART III Living Well Through the End 141 CHAPTER 6 Comfort, Care, and Control 143 CHAPTER 7 What to Do (and What Can Wait) When CHAPTER 8 Death Certificates, Autopsies, and Investigations 183 CHAPTER 9 Refrigeration, Moving a Body, and Embalming 191 CHAPTER 10 Organ, Tissue, and Whole-Body Donation 201 CHAPTER 11 Grief Brain and Real-Life Logistics Tips 205 PART IV End-of-Life Professions, Planning Services, and Final Resting Places 215 CHAPTER 12 Inside the Funeral Profession 217 CHAPTER 13 Planning Services and Tributes 233 CHAPTER 14 Exploring Final Resting Place Options 273 CHAPTER 15 Cultural, Spiritual, and Religious Traditions 321 CHAPTER 16 Veterans' Funeral Benefits 333 PART V Estate Transition and Estate Settlement 339 CHAPTER 17 The Purpose of Settling an Estate 341 CHAPTER 18 Probate 101 351 CHAPTER 19 The Nine Steps of Probate 363 CHAPTER 20 Managing Legal and Financial Affairs 387 CHAPTER 21 Handling Benefits, Credit, and Accounts 397 CHAPTER 22 Managing Digital and Social Accounts 411 CHAPTER 23 Final Taxes 421 PART VI Understanding Inheritance 423 CHAPTER 24 What Inheritance Really Means 425 References 445 Congratulations, You Made It to the End of the Book 447 About the Authors 449 Acknowledgments 451 In Memory – Andrew Zuckerman 453 Index 455

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Author Information

ADAM ZUCKERMAN is an attorney, MBA, and the Founder of Buried in Work™, which provides resources that help families and businesses simplify estate planning and end-of-life tasks. WITH COMMENTARY FROM JESS WAKEFIELD JESS WAKEFIELD is a certified funeral service provider and past president of the Washington State Funeral Directors Association.

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