Transparency
Sources &
Methodology.
Every legal claim, statistic, and procedural instruction on MORTL is sourced directly from primary sources. State statutes, federal law, and official government agencies. This page documents every source we use, what we use it for, and how often we review it.
Last reviewed: July 1, 2026
Primary sources only
We do not cite secondary sources without verifying the underlying primary source. If a statistic appears in a news article, we find the original study or government report and cite that instead.
Commercial relationships disclosure
MORTL may earn revenue through featured listings in our provider directory, sponsored content, employer benefit partnerships, reader subscriptions, and other commercial arrangements. Any sponsored or featured content is clearly labeled as such. Our editorial content is produced independently. Commercial relationships do not influence factual accuracy or editorial conclusions. Nothing on this site constitutes legal, financial, or medical advice.
Review cadence
Death law changes constantly. We review our State Guides periodically and after known statutory changes, and update federal tax thresholds each tax year. Every substantive change is logged in the state’s change log and on /updates.
Corrections policy
Errors are corrected promptly and noted at the top of the affected page. Email corrections to feedback@mortl.com. Wrong legal information causes real harm, so we fix it fast.
federal law
Federal Law & Regulation
All federal statutes, regulations, and agency guidance that govern estate planning, end-of-life care, and death administration in the United States.
Estate tax exemptions, gift tax rules, step-up in basis, inherited IRA rules, and federal tax treatment of inherited assets.
Review cadence
Annually (tax year updates)
The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral providers to give itemized price lists and prohibits deceptive practices. MORTL cites this rule when covering consumer rights at funeral homes.
Review cadence
As amended
Survivor benefits, lump-sum death payment ($255), reporting a death to Social Security, and benefit continuation rules.
Review cadence
Annually
Medicare hospice benefit, Medicaid estate recovery rules, and coverage for end-of-life care.
Review cadence
Annually
Burial benefits for veterans, national cemetery eligibility, and survivor benefit programs.
Review cadence
As updated
HIPAA rules governing access to a deceased person's medical records and what family members can obtain.
Review cadence
As amended
state law
State Statutes & Vital Records
MORTL maintains state-specific legal data for 50 states and Washington DC and Washington D.C. Each guide is sourced directly from the state's official statutes and vital records office.
Official state vital records offices for death certificate procedures, fees, ordering timelines, and authorized requestor rules.
Review cadence
Annually per state
State probate codes governing intestate succession, probate thresholds, simplified procedures, and executor duties. MORTL cites the specific statute section for each state.
Review cadence
Annually per state
Model probate legislation adopted (in whole or part) by many states. Used as the baseline for comparing state probate rules.
Review cadence
As amended
State bar association resources on estate planning, probate, and elder law. Used to verify attorney referral standards and legal procedure accuracy.
Review cadence
As updated
Official state-approved advance directive, healthcare proxy, and POLST forms. MORTL links to the official state form for each guide.
Review cadence
Annually per state
industry data
Industry Research & Statistics
Statistical data and research from the primary industry bodies and government agencies we rely on across death care, healthcare, and financial planning.
Annual cremation and burial report, funeral cost surveys, and industry statistics. The NFDA is the primary source for funeral cost data in the United States.
Review cadence
Annually (report release)
National death statistics, leading causes of death, life expectancy data, and mortality trends from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Review cadence
Annually
Annual survey of American adults on will completion rates, estate planning attitudes, and barriers to planning. Primary source for the "67% of Americans have no will" statistic.
Review cadence
Annually (survey release)
Healthcare policy research including hospice utilization, end-of-life care spending, and Medicare/Medicaid data.
Review cadence
As published
Research on family caregiving, estate planning attitudes among older adults, and end-of-life planning surveys.
Review cadence
As published
Research on childhood grief, talking to children about death, and age-appropriate grief support.
Review cadence
As published
digital legacy
Digital Legacy & Technology
Sources covering digital estate planning, social media after death, and technology-specific end-of-life considerations.
Official Meta policy on memorializing accounts, legacy contacts, and account removal after death.
Review cadence
As updated
Google's official policy and tools for managing accounts after death, including data download and account deletion.
Review cadence
As updated
Apple's Digital Legacy feature for designating legacy contacts who can access iCloud data after death.
Review cadence
As updated
Model legislation (adopted by 47 states) governing fiduciary access to digital assets. Primary legal source for digital estate planning guidance.
Review cadence
As amended; state adoption tracked annually
medical clinical
Medical & Clinical Sources
Clinical and medical sources for hospice care, palliative care, and end-of-life medical decision-making.
Hospice and palliative care guidance from the National Alliance for Care at Home (formerly NHPCO): eligibility, advance care planning, and end-of-life care.
Review cadence
Annually
Legal resources on advance directives, healthcare decision-making, and elder law.
Review cadence
As published
State-by-state tracking of medical aid in dying (MAID) laws, eligibility criteria, and legislative updates.
Review cadence
As legislation changes
Found an error?
Death law changes constantly. If you find outdated information, a broken source link, or a factual error on any MORTL page, please tell us. We correct errors promptly and credit the person who caught it.
Submit a Correction →Or view our full Editorial Policy →