For only children
Carrying it alone — help that fits
When there are no siblings to trade calls with, no one to check the draft, no one to say 'yes, that sounds like Mom' — the load is real. We help you get the obituary, the program, and the thank-you notes done without losing yourself in the process.
The only child's grief guide
It's okay to say 'I don't know yet'
Funeral directors, hospital staff, and extended family will ask questions fast. You are allowed to pause and answer in a few hours. Most decisions don't need to be made in the moment.
Borrow a set of eyes
Ask one trusted person — an aunt, a family friend, a parent's oldest coworker — to be your review partner for the obituary and service. Not to decide with you. Just to read it and say 'that's right.'
Write down what you already know
Names of parents' parents, hometowns, jobs, faith, causes they cared about. This is the outline of an obituary and you already carry most of it.
Grief will find you later
The first month is logistics. The grief comes when the tasks stop. Line up a therapist, grief group, or standing dinner with a friend now — future you will need it.
The paperwork is a distraction and a mercy
Some only children find the checklist soothing. Others resent it. Both are normal. Do what you can. Leave the rest.
Step by step: a plan when you are the only child
Choose one person to support you
Ask a trusted friend or relative for a specific task, such as checking names or making calls. You do not have to carry every task alone.
Record what you already know
Start with My People and My Story. Capture names, relationships and memories, and leave uncertain details blank until you can check them.
Find the papers
Use My Document Locations for where documents are kept and whom to ask. Do not enter passwords, Social Security numbers or full account numbers.
Separate wishes from urgent decisions
Record known preferences in My Wishes. Ask the funeral home or a licensed attorney which decisions require action and who has legal authority.
Take one next step
Use Next Steps to keep a manageable list, save a copy of the plan and make space for support. If you are recording a parent's wishes, do so with their permission.
Care for the one carrying the weight
Practical next steps, space for grief, and Scripture for those who find comfort in faith.
Only children
The weight of being the only child: honoring your parents’ wishes
Being the only child can mean carrying the calls, the decisions and the grief. A loving plan can honor your parents without asking you to carry everything alone.
Read the guidePlanning your future
Planning for your own death: who will be there for you?
You deserve care whether or not you have children, a partner or nearby relatives. Start with willing people, clear wishes and one gentle next step.
Read the guideStart when you're ready
A few gentle prompts, save and come back. No time pressure.
One place for everything
Obituary, program, thank-you cards, and photos — organized in one project.
A second set of eyes
Share a private review link with a family friend or aunt for a sanity check.
"I was doing everything by myself. This was the first thing that didn't feel like another item to figure out."
— Priya, only child
Common questions
- I don't know where to start.
- Start with the guided intake. Answer what you can, skip what you can't. The AI drafts something honest that you can refine.
- Can I share a draft for feedback?
- Yes — send a review link to one trusted person. They can read and leave notes without editing anything.
- Will this handle the paperwork?
- We don't file legal paperwork, but we do help you get the obituary, program, and thank-you cards done — the things that usually pile up.