Editorial Policy
How MORTL decides
what to publish.
Too much death-related information is shaped by commercial incentives. MORTL exists to separate practical education from sales pressure. This page explains how we keep our editorial work independent. And what we do when commercial relationships exist.
The Core Principle
Editorial decisions are made independently of commercial relationships.
No advertiser, partner, sponsor, or affiliate relationship influences what MORTL covers, how it covers it, or what conclusions it reaches. The people who write and edit MORTL content do not know which companies have commercial relationships with MORTL unless those relationships are publicly disclosed.
Commercial relationships do not give advertisers, sponsors, affiliates, or listed providers the right to approve, alter, or control MORTL editorial content.
What We Cover
Coverage decisions are based on reader need, not commercial interest.
MORTL covers death, end-of-life planning, estate law, grief, and the practical reality of dying in America. We cover these topics because 100% of people will die, most are unprepared, and too much of the available information is shaped by commercial interests rather than reader need.
Story selection, source selection, and editorial framing are determined by what is most useful and accurate for readers. Not by what is most favorable to any company, product, or service.
MORTL does not accept payment for editorial coverage. Being a paying advertiser or partner does not guarantee, influence, or accelerate editorial coverage. Being a paying advertiser or partner does not protect a company from critical coverage.
Commercial Relationships
We disclose material commercial relationships clearly and in context.
MORTL generates revenue through several commercial mechanisms. Every one of them is disclosed to readers wherever they appear.
When MORTL links to a product or service and a reader makes a purchase, MORTL may earn a commission. These links are identified with a disclosure note. Affiliate relationships do not influence editorial recommendations. If a product is not genuinely useful, we do not recommend it regardless of whether an affiliate relationship exists.
If MORTL publishes content funded by a third party, it is clearly labeled "Sponsored" or "Paid Partnership" at the top of the piece. Sponsored content is subject to the same factual accuracy standards as editorial content, but readers should understand it reflects the sponsor's perspective.
Providers in the MORTL directory may pay for featured placement. Featured listings are labeled "Featured" or "Sponsored Placement." Payment for featured placement does not affect editorial coverage of the provider or their industry.
MORTL may display advertising. Advertisements are clearly distinguished from editorial content. Advertisers have no input into editorial decisions.
Accuracy & Corrections
We correct errors promptly and transparently.
MORTL covers legal topics, probate thresholds, estate tax exemptions, advance directive requirements, that change as laws are updated. We review our state guides regularly and update them when statutes change. When we publish a correction, we note it at the top of the affected piece with the date of the correction.
MORTL content is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to their situation.
To report an error or request a correction: feedback@mortl.com
Sources & Standards
We cite primary sources. We name our sources when we can.
Legal information in MORTL state guides is sourced from state statutes, official government publications, and court records. Not from secondary summaries. Where we cite a statute, we link to or reference the primary source.
Journalists and researchers at MORTL are expected to name their sources wherever possible. Anonymous sources are used only when a named source would face retaliation and the information is material and verifiable through other means.
Statistics cited in MORTL content are sourced from government data, peer-reviewed research, or reputable industry surveys. We do not publish statistics we cannot verify.
Independence
No company we take money from can change a word we write.
MORTL earns revenue from clearly labeled sources: provider listings, partner links, sponsorships, employer benefits, and premium subscriptions. None of them buy influence. No partner, sponsor, advertiser, or listed provider sees our editorial content before publication, requests changes to it after publication, or shapes what we choose to cover. The people who sell for MORTL are not the people who write for MORTL.
We write about the industries we take money from, including funeral homes, insurers, and financial services, with the same honesty as everything else. If a commercial partner objects to our coverage, we end the partnership, not the coverage.
And one line we will never cross: the someone just died path carries no commercial content of any kind. Not ads, not partner links, not sponsorships. It is free, and it is clean, forever.
Questions
Questions about our editorial standards?
We are happy to discuss our editorial process with journalists, researchers, or readers who have questions about how we work.
feedback@mortl.comLast updated: July 2026. This policy will be updated when our commercial practices change.