MORTL launches free death-planning platform nationwide

MORTL launched July 31, 2026, with free state-specific guides and planning tools to help U.S. families handle death-related legal, financial and logistical tasks. The Denver-based company says the service is built to simplify a process many people face without a will or clear next steps.

Why it matters: - MORTL is aiming to give families a single place to start before and after a death, when decisions are often urgent and confusing. - The launch addresses a broad gap in planning: Caring.com's 2025 Wills and Estate Planning Study found only 24% of surveyed U.S. adults had a will. - Funeral costs can add pressure fast. The National Funeral Directors Association says the national median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial is $8,300.

What happened: - MORTL officially launched to the public on July 31, 2026, at mortl.com. - The company is based in Denver and describes itself as an independent death media and information company. - Founder and CEO Stephanie Werner created MORTL after her father, Joby Horn, died of brain cancer in 2022. - Werner said she built MORTL so families do not have to navigate law, paperwork, money and logistics during a death.

The details: - MORTL launched with 51 free state guides covering all 50 states and Washington, D.C. - The guides cover probate, advance directives, estate taxes, death certificates, cremation and burial law, organ donation and related official forms. - The company also offers a free personalized planning dashboard and a 31-item end-of-life checklist covering documents, people, accounts, digital assets and final wishes. - A “Someone Just Died” path stays free forever, requires no account and includes no advertising, affiliate links or sponsored content. - Other tools include The MORTL Edit, Ask MORTL, a death and estate glossary, state comparison tools, a provider directory and The Death Dispatch weekly newsletter. - Optional premium features include planning tools, family sharing, an exportable folder for loved ones and an annual estate health check. - MORTL sources its legal and procedural information from state statutes, court rules, federal law and official government forms. - The company publishes its sources, review process, corrections policy and commercial disclosures. - MORTL says editorial decisions remain independent of advertisers, sponsors, affiliates and listed providers. - The company says it is an educational media and information resource and does not provide legal, medical, financial or mental health advice.

Between the lines: - MORTL is positioning itself as both a planning tool and an information product, which could make the service easier to use for people dealing with death for the first time. - The company’s decision to keep the immediate-after-death path free suggests a bet that trust and accessibility matter more than quick monetization in that moment. - Werner’s personal story gives the launch a clear emotional origin, but the product strategy is broader: state-specific guidance, checklists and searchable tools.

What's next: - MORTL will likely build audience through its free state guides, newsletter and planning tools while offering paid features for more advanced users. - The company’s published sources and disclosures suggest it will compete partly on transparency as it expands. - Families can use the service now at more information.