Cairn

Death Boom · Industry research

Cairn Resource Atlas

Every organization, agency, and service found operating in the US death-logistics space: certificates, funerals, insurance, government notification, veteran benefits, and estate settlement. Built to map where families get help today, and where Cairn needs to fill the gap.

Resources
93
Categories
7
Special populations covered
12

Scope. Logistics only: death certificates, funerals, insurance, government notification, veteran and community-specific programs, and estate and probate settlement. Grief and mental-health support are deliberately excluded. Entries flagged “verify” in their notes should be rechecked before being surfaced to families, since a handful of providers (direct cremation especially) change coverage or ownership often. To search the atlas, use your browser’s Find (Ctrl + F, or ⌘ + F on a Mac).

Browse by who it serves

Resources built for a specific community or circumstance. Everything else in the atlas is open to anyone.

Black / African American 1
Children 1
Crime victims 1
First responders 2
Hispanic / Latino 2
Immigrants 4
Jewish 2
LGBTQ+ 2
Low income 8
Muslim 1
Native American / Tribal 2
Veterans 12

Death Certificates 8 resources

  • Official Directories

    CDC/NCHS – Where to Write for Vital Records

    Federal directory linking to every state and territorial vital records office where death certificates are actually issued (certificates are a state/county function, not federal).

    • National (links to all 50 states)
    • Free

    Best starting point; does not itself sell/issue certificates.

  • Official Directories

    USA.gov – How to Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate

    Plain-language federal overview of who can request a certificate, when it becomes public record, and how many copies are typically needed.

    • National
    • Free

  • Third-Party Ordering

    VitalChek

    The dominant national platform for ordering certified death (and other vital) records online; official authorized online/phone partner for 450+ state and local vital records agencies.

    • National
    • State fee + ~$5-20 service fee

    Owned by LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Verify exact domain — a look-alike scam domain (vitalcheck.com) exists.

  • Third-Party Ordering

    VitalRecordsOnline.com

    Independent commercial intermediary that prepares/submits death certificate applications on the customer's behalf; publishes a state-by-state fee comparison table.

    • National
    • State fee + service fee

    Not a government or state-endorsed partner, unlike VitalChek.

  • Third-Party Ordering

    USVitalRecords.org

    Another independent, paid ordering intermediary for death certificates; explicitly discloses records can be obtained cheaper directly from the state.

    • National
    • State fee + service fee

  • International

    US Dept. of State – Consular Report of Death Abroad

    Process for obtaining a death certificate equivalent when a US citizen dies overseas; issued by the US embassy/consulate, with up to 20 free certified copies initially.

    • National (deaths abroad)
    • Free (initial copies)

  • Consumer Guides

    AARP – Everything You Need to Do When a Loved One Dies

    Nonprofit checklist covering the death certificate step alongside the broader after-death task list, aimed at the exact executor/spouse audience Cairn targets.

    • National
    • Free

  • Consumer Guides

    Help After Life – County Death Certificate Lookup

    Aggregates cost, phone, address, processing time, and online-ordering availability for the 100 most populous US counties across 30 states.

    • National (top 100 counties)
    • Free to browse

    Functions as a direct comparable/competitor to a Cairn certificate-lookup feature.

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Funeral & Burial Planning 18 resources

  • Trade & Consumer Organizations

    National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)

    The largest US funeral trade association; publishes consumer education brochures on planning, memorialization, and costs.

    • National
    • Free

  • Trade & Consumer Organizations

    Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA)

    National nonprofit consumer-advocacy federation with ~50 volunteer-run state/local affiliates that survey and publish local funeral home pricing and explain consumer rights.

    • National umbrella + state/local affiliates
    • Free (some affiliates: ~$25-40 membership)

    Independent of funeral-home referral fees — considered a trustworthy anchor source.

  • Trade & Consumer Organizations

    Cremation Association of North America (CANA)

    Trade association for the cremation industry; publishes cremation-rate statistics and consumer-facing blog content.

    • National (US & Canada)
    • Free

  • Trade & Consumer Organizations

    International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA)

    Trade association covering cemeteries, crematories, and funeral homes; consumer FAQ page plus a Cemetery Consumer Service Council complaint line (800-645-7700).

    • National
    • Free

  • Consumer Protection

    FTC Funeral Rule

    Federal rule (16 CFR Part 453) requiring itemized price lists, phone price quotes, à la carte purchasing, and disclosure of embalming rules for all US funeral homes.

    • National
    • Free

    Excludes cemeteries without an on-site funeral home and third-party casket sellers.

  • Consumer Protection

    FTC – Funeral Costs and Pricing Checklist

    Practical checklist consumers can use when shopping for funeral services, listing required disclosures and red flags.

    • National
    • Free

  • Price Comparison Tools

    Funeralocity

    Online marketplace letting consumers search and compare funeral home / cremation prices and reviews side by side, similar to a travel-booking model.

    • National
    • Free to consumers

  • Price Comparison Tools

    Parting.com

    Consumer site aggregating funeral home General Price Lists (GPLs) so families can compare cremation/burial pricing by ZIP code.

    • National
    • Free to consumers

  • Direct Cremation / Direct Burial Providers

    DFS Memorials

    Referral/booking network connecting families to ~80+ independent local funeral homes for direct cremation, reported ~42 states + DC.

    • Multi-state
    • ~$795-1,495 reported

    Verify current state coverage before citing — sector consolidates/changes frequently.

  • Direct Cremation / Direct Burial Providers

    Tulip Cremation

    Online direct-cremation arrangement platform (Foundation Partners Group brand); coverage footprint has narrowed over time.

    • Regional (check current page)
    • ~$1,295+ reported

    Verify current service area before citing.

  • Direct Cremation / Direct Burial Providers

    After.com

    Online funeral/cremation arrangement platform, reported active in ~11 states/metro markets.

    • Multi-state
    • ~$995-1,467 reported

  • Funeral Cost Financial Assistance

    State/County Indigent Burial & Cremation Programs

    County or state health/social-services offices pay for a basic cremation or burial (typically $800-$2,000 total, paid directly to the funeral home) for decedents/families who can't afford one; the funeral home usually files the application, not the family.

    • Local (county/state — ~3,000+ separate programs)
    • Program pays provider directly
    • Low income

    No national aggregator exists — genuine white-space gap for a product to fill. Example: Indiana FSSA Burial Assistance, https://www.in.gov/fssa/dfr/burial-assistance-program

  • Funeral Cost Financial Assistance

    Crime Victim Compensation Programs (funeral reimbursement)

    State-administered victim compensation funds reimburse funeral/burial costs (often $2,000-$10,000 cap) for families of homicide victims; overview via DOJ Office for Victims of Crime.

    • National overview / state-administered
    • Reimbursement, capped by state
    • Crime victims

  • Funeral Cost Financial Assistance

    Children's Burial Assistance, Inc.

    501(c)(3) nonprofit providing donated burial plots and covering grave opening/closing fees nationwide for families burying a deceased child.

    • National
    • Free (apply to inquire)
    • Children
    • Low income

  • Funeral Cost Financial Assistance

    National Fallen Firefighters Foundation – Family Resources & Benefits

    Support and PSOB (Public Safety Officers' Benefits) application help, including funeral-related logistics, for families of firefighters who die in the line of duty.

    • National
    • Free
    • First responders

  • Funeral Cost Financial Assistance

    Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)

    Support and survivor benefits navigation, including funeral-related costs and PSOB claims, for families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

    • National
    • Free
    • First responders

  • Zero-Cost Disposition Alternative

    Science Care (Whole Body Donation)

    For-profit whole-body donation program for medical research/education; free to the donor's family, covers transportation, cremation, paperwork, and return of ashes.

    • National (check state coverage)
    • Free to family
    • Low income

    Subject to medical screening at time of death.

  • Zero-Cost Disposition Alternative

    MedCure (Whole Body Donation)

    Whole-body donation program for medical research/education; free to family, covers cremation and return of remains.

    • National (check state coverage)
    • Free to family
    • Low income

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Insurance, Pensions & Unclaimed Assets 9 resources

  • Lost Policy Search

    NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator Service

    Free national search tool; submits a deceased person's info into an encrypted database that participating insurers/annuity companies query, and contacts the beneficiary directly on a match.

    • National
    • Free

    Has helped connect consumers to over $13B in benefits per NAIC.

  • Lost Policy Search

    MIB Group Policy Locator Service (PLS)

    Fee-based search of a 420-insurer database (US/Canada) for underwritten policy applications to identify which company(ies) issued a decedent's coverage.

    • National (not available in CA or Quebec)
    • $75 non-refundable fee

    Requires notarized application, certified death certificate, and executor/administrator status. Excludes policies under $100,000, group/employer coverage, and military-issued insurance.

  • Insurer Insolvency Protection

    NOLHGA (National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations)

    Coordinating body for the 50 state guaranty associations that pay claims (up to statutory limits, typically $250K-$500K for life/annuity) when a life/health insurer becomes insolvent.

    • National umbrella / state-administered
    • Free

    Routes callers to their specific state's guaranty association.

  • Unclaimed Property

    MissingMoney.com (NAUPA)

    The official free national aggregator for searching unclaimed property — bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks, and unclaimed life insurance proceeds — held by state treasurers.

    • National (most states participate)
    • Free

    Search the decedent's state of residence individually too — participation/update frequency varies by state.

  • Unclaimed Property

    NAUPA / unclaimed.org

    National association of state unclaimed-property administrators; authoritative hub linking to every state's individual unclaimed-property program plus FDIC/NCUA related databases.

    • National umbrella / state-administered
    • Free

  • Federal Employee Life Insurance

    FEGLI Death Claims (OPM)

    Claims process for Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance, administered by the US Office of Personnel Management.

    • National (federal employees only)
    • Free to file

  • Pensions

    PBGC Missing Participants / Unclaimed Pensions Search

    Free federal search tool for retirement benefits transferred to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation when a terminated private-sector pension plan couldn't locate the participant/beneficiary.

    • National
    • Free

    Search by last name + last 4 of SSN; database updates quarterly.

  • Pensions

    Pension Rights Center

    Nonprofit consumer advocacy and self-help resource for locating lost pensions and retirement-plan benefits.

    • National
    • Free

  • Social Security Survivor Cash Benefit

    SSA Lump-Sum Death Payment ($255)

    One-time payment to an eligible surviving spouse (or in limited cases a dependent child) of a worker who paid into Social Security, intended to help with final expenses.

    • National
    • $255 flat, one-time

    Apply within 2 years of death via Form SSA-8.

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Government Agency Notification 14 resources

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Veteran-Specific Resources 11 resources

  • Burial in National Cemetery

    VA National Cemetery Administration

    Operates 150+ national cemeteries and administers all burial/memorial benefits for eligible veterans and family members, including free gravesite, headstone/marker, and perpetual care.

    • National
    • Free (for eligible veterans/dependents)
    • Veterans

    Pre-need eligibility determination can be filed in advance.

  • Burial in National Cemetery

    VA – Order a Headstone, Marker, or Medallion

    Free government headstone/marker even for veterans buried in a private (non-VA) cemetery, via VA Form 40-1330 or 40-1330M.

    • National
    • Free
    • Veterans

  • Burial Allowance

    VA Burial Allowance (Reimbursement)

    Reimburses eligible survivors up to ~$1,002 (burial) and ~$1,002 (plot/interment) as of Oct 2025 rates; higher for service-connected deaths, no filing deadline in that case.

    • National
    • Up to ~$1,002 each
    • Veterans

    2-year filing deadline for non-service-connected deaths. File via VA Form 21P-530EZ.

  • Military Funeral Honors

    Military Funeral Honors Program (DoD)

    DoD-mandated ceremonial detail (flag folding/presentation, Taps) for every eligible veteran on family request; funeral director typically initiates the request with the relevant service branch.

    • National
    • Free
    • Veterans

  • Survivor Cash Benefits

    VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

    Tax-free monthly benefit for survivors of a veteran whose death was service-connected, or who died on active duty.

    • National
    • Monthly benefit, no hard filing deadline
    • Veterans

  • Survivor Cash Benefits

    VA Survivors Pension

    Needs-based, tax-free monthly benefit for low-income surviving spouses/children of wartime veterans, regardless of cause of death.

    • National
    • Monthly benefit
    • Veterans
    • Low income

  • Casework & Support

    TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)

    National nonprofit for anyone grieving a military death; runs an active Casework Assistance program helping with benefits paperwork, burial logistics, and financial/legal referrals — not grief-only.

    • National
    • Free
    • Veterans

    24/7 helpline 800-959-8277; the strongest logistics-plus-support hybrid found in this research.

  • Free Claims-Filing Help

    VFW National Veterans Service

    Accredited Service Officers help survivors file DIC/pension/burial and appeals claims at no charge.

    • National
    • Free
    • Veterans

  • Free Claims-Filing Help

    DAV (Disabled American Veterans) National Service Officers

    Free benefits advocates at DAV offices nationwide help file compensation, pension, and survivor claims; also offers free van transportation to VA appointments.

    • National
    • Free
    • Veterans

  • Free Claims-Filing Help

    American Legion Veteran Service Officers

    Free, no-cost expert assistance with VA disability and survivor-benefit claims, located by state/department.

    • National
    • Free
    • Veterans

  • Free Claims-Filing Help

    County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs)

    Local, typically free accredited caseworkers (via NACVSO) who help survivors with VA claims and state-specific veteran benefits in person.

    • Local (county-by-county)
    • Free
    • Veterans

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Community & Religious-Specific Resources 14 resources

  • Black / African American

    National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association (NFDMA)

    Historic Black-led professional association of licensed African American funeral directors and morticians (founded 1924); member directory helps locate a Black-owned funeral home.

    • National
    • Free to browse
    • Black / African American

  • Jewish

    Kavod v'Nichum

    National nonprofit that trains, revitalizes, and networks Chevra Kadisha (Jewish burial societies) across the US, performing shmirah (watching over the deceased) and taharah (ritual washing).

    • National
    • Free
    • Jewish

  • Jewish

    Hebrew Free Burial Association (HFBA)

    Provides dignified, traditional Jewish burial at no cost to any Jewish person in the NYC metro area who cannot afford one, regardless of affiliation.

    • Regional (NYC metro)
    • Free
    • Jewish
    • Low income

    Founded 1888; the clearest 'logistics + low-income + religious' model found — worth studying as a template.

  • Muslim / Islamic

    Local Mosque Janazah Committees

    Nearly every established mosque maintains a volunteer committee handling ghusl (ritual washing), kafan (shrouding), the funeral prayer, and liaison with a Muslim-friendly funeral home — coordination happens locally, not through one national body, because Islamic burial norms call for burial within 24 hours.

    • Local (mosque-by-mosque)
    • Free (some mosques run a dedicated Funeral Fund)
    • Muslim

    Example funds: Islamic Society of Greater Houston (isgh.org/funeral-services-fund), Dar Al-Hijrah (hijrah.org).

  • Hispanic / Latino

    USA.gov en Español – Qué Hacer Cuando Alguien Muere

    Official Spanish-language federal checklist mirroring the English 'Dealing with the Death of a Loved One' guide, with live Spanish phone/chat support.

    • National
    • Free
    • Hispanic / Latino

  • Hispanic / Latino

    SSA – Beneficios para Sobrevivientes (Spanish)

    Official Spanish-language Social Security survivor-benefits portal, including how to report a death.

    • National
    • Free
    • Hispanic / Latino

  • Native American / Tribal

    Bureau of Indian Affairs – Burial Assistance

    Federal program providing burial-assistance payments to eligible enrolled tribal members, administered regionally through BIA agency social services offices.

    • National (administered by BIA region/agency)
    • Varies by agency
    • Native American / Tribal

  • Native American / Tribal

    National Council of Urban Indian Health – Tribal Burial Assistance Guide

    Compiled roundup summarizing tribal and BIA burial assistance programs, the closest thing to a national aggregator for this fragmented, tribe-by-tribe landscape.

    • National (roundup of tribe-specific programs)
    • Free to browse
    • Native American / Tribal

  • Low-Income / Indigent

    Funeral Consumers Alliance – State Affiliates

    Local FCA affiliates often maintain state-specific low-cost and indigent-burial guidance pages in addition to price surveys.

    • State/local affiliates
    • Free
    • Low income

  • Low-Income / Indigent

    People's Memorial Association (Washington State)

    Nonprofit consumer advocate running a direct Funeral Financial Assistance Fund for low-income WA residents plus a curated national list of non-PMA financial assistance resources.

    • State (WA) + national resource list
    • Fund + free resource list
    • Low income

  • LGBTQ+

    SAGE (Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders)

    Leading national LGBTQ+ elder organization; national resource line and, with Compassion & Choices, an LGBTQ+ Advance Care Planning Toolkit addressing next-of-kin/disposition-authority risk for chosen family.

    • National
    • Free
    • LGBTQ+

    Hotline 877-360-LGBT.

  • Immigrant / Repatriation

    US Dept. of State – Return of Remains of a Deceased US Citizen

    Official federal process for repatriating a US citizen's remains from abroad; consular officers coordinate logistics but families bear the cost.

    • National (deaths abroad)
    • Family pays; consulate coordinates
    • Immigrants

  • Immigrant / Repatriation

    Home-Country Consulates in the US (repatriation of remains)

    For immigrants who die in the US and whose family wants to repatriate remains, the process runs through the deceased's home country's nearest embassy/consulate, which issues the required authorization.

    • Varies by home country
    • Typically $3,000-$20,000+, family-paid
    • Immigrants

    No robust national US nonprofit found to subsidize this cost — a notable gap.

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Estate, Executor & Probate Tools 19 resources

  • Digital Executor / Death-Logistics Apps

    Empathy

    AI + human-supported platform for loss support, estate/probate logistics, and a digital document vault; distributed mainly through employer and insurer benefit partnerships.

    • National
    • Free to consumer via employer/insurer partner

  • Digital Executor / Death-Logistics Apps

    Cake

    Free app/website for documenting end-of-life wishes (medical, funeral, legacy, digital assets); optional paid expert consultations.

    • National
    • Free (paid add-ons)

  • Digital Executor / Death-Logistics Apps

    Everplans

    Digital vault/planning platform for organizing wills, funeral wishes, passwords, and vital documents, with a Digital Estate module for online accounts.

    • National
    • Free tier; Premium $99.99/yr

  • Digital Executor / Death-Logistics Apps

    GoodTrust

    Digital legacy/estate-planning platform combining will/trust creation with a Smart Digital Vault for transferring digital accounts after death.

    • National
    • $149 unified plan

  • Digital Executor / Death-Logistics Apps

    Executor.org

    Produces a free, state-specific personalized executor checklist plus an AI assistant and secure document storage.

    • National (state-specific checklists)
    • Free (premium tier referenced)

  • Digital Executor / Death-Logistics Apps

    EstateExec

    Estate-administration software with automated accounting, expense tracking, asset valuation, and executor-fee calculators.

    • National
    • Free trial, then one-time fee

  • Digital Executor / Death-Logistics Apps

    Trust & Will – Probate Product

    Document preparation plus a vetted network of local probate attorneys, from the online wills/trusts company Trust & Will.

    • National
    • Not published

  • Probate Self-Help

    State Court Probate Self-Help Centers

    Nearly every state court system runs a free self-help/forms center for probate; no single national aggregator exists — this is a genuine fragmentation gap.

    • State-by-state (example: California)
    • Free

  • Probate Self-Help

    ABA – Wills and Estates Public Resources

    American Bar Association's consumer-facing hub on estate planning and executor concepts, including the ABA/AARP Guide to Wills and Estates.

    • National
    • Free (some publications sold)

  • Probate Self-Help

    Small Estate Affidavit (concept, all states)

    Simplified process available in most states letting an heir claim assets below a state-set dollar threshold via sworn affidavit instead of formal probate.

    • State-by-state
    • Free to file (thresholds vary $20K-$200K+)

  • Finding an Attorney

    NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys)

    National nonprofit of attorneys specializing in elder and special-needs law, commonly overlapping with probate/estate administration; public Find-a-Lawyer directory.

    • National
    • Free directory

  • Finding an Attorney

    State Bar Lawyer Referral Services

    Most state bars run regulated attorney-referral programs (often ~$25-50 initial consult) that can filter for probate/wills specialists.

    • State-by-state (example: California)
    • ~$25-50 initial consult

  • Fraud & Identity Theft Prevention

    Deceased Do Not Contact Registry (DMAchoice / ANA)

    Registers a deceased person's name/address to reduce marketing and fundraising mail sent to them within about 3 months.

    • National
    • $6 registration fee

  • Fraud & Identity Theft Prevention

    Equifax – Reporting a Death

    Official process to notify Equifax and place a deceased alert on the credit file to prevent post-death identity theft.

    • National
    • Free

  • Fraud & Identity Theft Prevention

    Experian – Reporting the Death of a Relative

    Official process to notify Experian of a death and flag the credit file.

    • National
    • Free

  • Fraud & Identity Theft Prevention

    TransUnion – Reporting a Death

    Official process to notify TransUnion of a death and flag the credit file.

    • National
    • Free

  • Digital Account Closure

    Facebook Legacy Contact / Memorialization

    Lets a user pre-designate a trusted contact to manage a memorialized profile after death, or lets family request memorialization/removal.

    • National
    • Free

  • Digital Account Closure

    Google Inactive Account Manager

    Lets a user pre-designate up to 10 trusted contacts to receive account data or a notification after a set period of inactivity; Google can also work with family/representatives to close a deceased person's account directly.

    • National
    • Free

  • Consumer Checklists

    AARP – Everything You Need to Do When a Loved One Dies

    Free, non-commercial checklist covering notifications, documents, accounts, and benefits — a strong anchor citation given AARP's trust with the target demographic.

    • National
    • Free

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About this atlas

Compiled September 2026 from primary sources (federal and state agency pages, NAIC, NOLHGA, NAUPA, VA, ABA, and named nonprofits) plus consumer-guide cross-checks. Verify program details, coverage areas, and fees directly with each organization before relying on them. State and county programs in particular change without notice. Not legal, financial, or medical advice.

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