Author
Stephanie Werner, MBA.
Founder and editor of MORTL.
Stephanie writes and edits MORTL’s guides, stories and tools, including all 51 state guides. Every byline on the site links here.
Stephanie’s credentials
- CEO, founder, and editor of MORTL, Inc., in Denver, Colorado.
- More than 18 years of marketing experience across consumer and healthcare organizations.
- MBA, University of Phoenix.
- Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication, The Ohio State University.
She isn’t a lawyer, financial advisor, or doctor, and MORTL doesn’t give legal, financial or medical advice. Her job is to make complicated information accurate and usable, and to show the work.
Stephanie on LinkedIn →How MORTL’s work gets sourced and checked
Claims link to the sources used. She favors statutes, court materials, government agencies, original research and qualified expert review. Credible secondary sources may be used for context and are named as such.
Every story shows the date it was published and, once it’s been revised, the date of the last substantive update. The state guides are re-read on a schedule, and each section shows when it was last verified.
The rules are written down: editorial policy, how sources are chosen, and how to report an error.
Why she built MORTL
Stephanie started MORTL in honor of her dad, Joby Horn, who died of brain cancer on February 5, 2022. Her mom managed his illness from a spiral notebook because no one gave the family a plan.
Read the full story on the About page, or watch her tell it in the launch film.
Latest from Stephanie on MORTL
- How Much Does a Funeral Cost in 2026? The Complete US Guide
Planning · Published · Updated
- How Much Does Cremation Cost? 2026 Prices, and What Actually Happens
Planning · Published · Updated
- How to Choose and Compare Funeral Homes: Services, Prices, and Trust Checks
Planning · Published
- How to Plan a Funeral Budget in 2026: A Line-by-Line Worksheet
Planning · Published
- How to Pre-Plan a Funeral Without Overpaying: A Step-by-Step Guide
Planning · Published
- What Is a Prepaid Funeral Plan? How It Works, What It Covers, and What to Check in 2026
Planning · Published · Updated
- Burial in a VA National Cemetery: Who Qualifies, What's Free, and Who to Call
Planning · Published
- Inherited an IRA? The 10-Year Rule and What's Due by December 31
Law & Policy · Published
- The First Holidays After a Death
Grief · Published
- Black Funeral Homes: A Legacy of Dignity, Care, and Community
Culture · Published · Updated
- Celebration of Life: What It Is, Ideas, and How to Plan One
Planning · Published · Updated
- How to Arrange a Funeral, Step by Step
Planning · Published · Updated