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When life changes,
find your way
through.

Lumeway guides you through life's hardest transitions — from paperwork and deadlines to knowing who to call and what to do first.

I need help right now →
Planners and journal on a marble desk with coffee and rose gold pen

Every major life transition,
handled with care

We've gathered state-specific resources, timelines, and step-by-step guides for each transition. Learn more about what you're going through — and let Lumeway walk you through it.

Death & Estate

From death certificates to survivor benefits — every step, in order.

Divorce & Separation

Asset division, custody, and new accounts — handled with clarity.

Job Loss

File for unemployment, update your resume, protect your benefits.

Moving & Relocation

Coordinate every moving part — licenses, utilities, registrations.

Disability & Benefits

SSDI and insurance claims made manageable, from application to appeal.

Retirement

Social Security timing, Medicare enrollment, and retirement transition steps.

See it in action:
one real scenario

1
Tell us what's happening

"My mom just passed away. I'm the executor. She lived in Illinois." The Navigator asks a few questions, then gives you a phased roadmap — what to do this week, this month, and over the next 6–12 months, specific to Illinois probate law.

2
Your dashboard populates automatically

34 tasks appear on your checklist, organized by urgency. A calendar shows every deadline — 30 days for bank notifications, 6 months for survivor benefits, 9 months for estate tax. Your next step: obtain certified death certificates.

3
Lumeway helps you do the work

Open the Bank Notification template. Fill in the details. Lumeway formats it into a letter ready to customize, sign, and send.

4
Track everything in one place

Log every phone call, every letter sent, every form filed. It all shows on your calendar and activity log. When the probate attorney asks what you've done so far, you have the answer.

You
My mom just passed away. I'm the executor of her estate. She lived in Illinois.
L
I'm so sorry for your loss. I'll help you work through this step by step. As executor in Illinois, there are some time-sensitive things to take care of first. Have you been able to obtain certified death certificates yet?
You
Not yet. I don't even know how many I need.
L
You'll want at least 10 certified copies — banks, insurance companies, and government agencies each require an original. In Illinois, you can order them through the county clerk or the funeral home. I'll add that to your checklist as the first step. What about the will — do you know where it's kept?
You
I think it's in her safe deposit box.
L
That's common. In Illinois, you can access a safe deposit box to search for a will with the bank present — you don't need a court order for that specific purpose. I'll build your full checklist now with Illinois-specific deadlines and next steps.
Death & Estate Checklist
Illinois · 34 tasks
3/34
Secure the home and change locksDone
Locate the will and contact executorDone
Request employer benefits informationDone
Obtain certified death certificates (10+ copies)Up next
Notify Social Security AdministrationWithin 7 days
Contact life insurance companiesWithin 30 days
Notify banks and credit card companiesWithin 30 days
File for survivor benefits (SSA, VA, pension)6 months
Dashboard Overview
Death & Estate · Illinois
9%
Your next step
Death & Estate — Immediate (First 48 Hours)
Obtain certified death certificates (10+ copies)
Order from the county clerk or through the funeral home. You'll need originals for banks, insurance, and government agencies.
Open checklist →
Upcoming Deadlines
Notify Social Security Administration
7 days left
Life insurance claims
30 days left
Bank notification letters
30 days left
Estate tax return (Form 706)
9 months
View all in calendar →
My Goals
Organize all financial accounts by May 1
Meet with estate attorney this week
Call funeral home about arrangements
Progress
9%
3 of 34 tasks
Guides
Click any task to expand the full walkthrough
Death & Estate
Immediate · Government · Financial · Insurance · Legal · Property · Tax
Divorce & Separation 🔒
Job Loss 🔒
Notify Financial Institutions
Notify banks about the death
What: Contact each bank where the deceased held accounts to report the death and freeze activity.
Why it matters: Unauthorized transactions can complicate estate settlement. Freezing accounts early protects assets.
Steps
  1. Gather the death certificate, your ID, and account numbers
  2. Call each bank's bereavement department (not general customer service)
  3. Request an account freeze to prevent unauthorized charges
  4. Ask about joint account conversion vs. closure
What to say
"I'm calling to report a death. I'm the executor of the estate for [name]. I need to freeze all accounts and begin the estate settlement process."
Deadline Calendar
Auto-calculated from your start date
5 deadlines
April 2026
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Apr 2Notify Social Security Administration
Apr 7Request employer benefits information
Apr 15Life insurance claims deadline
Apr 23Bank notification letters due
Apr 30Estate tax return (Form 706)
Files & Templates
3 created · 2 uploaded · 1 draft
6 files
📄
Bank Death Notification — Chase
Generated · Apr 16
Sent
📄
Employer Notification of Death
Generated · Apr 16
Sent
📄
Estate Executor Introduction Letter
Generated · Apr 16
Ready
📎
Death Certificate (scanned copy)
Uploaded · Apr 16
Uploaded
📎
Last Will and Testament
Uploaded · Apr 16
Uploaded
Credit Bureau Notification Letter
Draft · In progress
Draft

What you get inside Lumeway

The dashboard is the product — and it does a lot more than you'd expect. Here's what's waiting for you.

See all features →

Start here — no cost, no catch

Every Lumeway transition comes with a free personalized checklist and guidance conversation. No signup required.

💬
Free Guidance Chat

Tell us what's happening — get a personalized roadmap in 60 seconds with state-specific deadlines, next steps, and exactly who to call.

Start chatting free →
Personalized Checklist

Your dashboard populates with every task organized by urgency. Every deadline calculated automatically from a single date — tracked on your calendar.

See how it works →
📋
Emergency Starter Kit

A free downloadable guide for anyone navigating a major life change. Enter your email on the shop page to get it instantly.

Download free →

Go deeper with step-by-step tools

Editable worksheets, checklists, and letter templates for every step of your transition — download and keep forever.

Estate & Survivor Bundle
16 Documents
Estate & Survivor Kit

Checklists, letter templates, and deadline tracking — from death certificates to closing accounts.

$16
Divorce & Separation Bundle
14 Documents
Divorce & Separation Kit

Organize financial disclosure, plan custody arrangements, and draft letters to attorneys and agencies.

$16
Job Loss Survivor Kit
14 Documents
Job Loss Survivor Kit

File for unemployment, review your severance, reset your budget — with letter templates for HR, COBRA, and creditors.

$16
View all 6 bundles →

"When life changes, find your way through."

The Lumeway Promise

Letter templates ready to customize
Calculates every deadline automatically
Step-by-step guides for every task
Personalized to your state
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