Family Tree Connections by Janet

08/29/2026

Let’s chat over a a cup of Java!

08/29/2026

Family stories can hang on one question: who is who, and what proof actually holds up? In “Records Proving Parentage: What Really Counts,” Janet walks you through which documents matter most, so you’re not guessing when your family’s history is at stake. With her careful, human approach, you’ll learn how to sort incomplete records, connect the right people across time, and preserve meaningful connections without losing accuracy. If you’re building a family tree, planning a reunion, or clarifying a missing piece of your heritage, this is the kind of clarity you’ll be grateful for.

https://familytreeconnectionsbyjanet.com

08/28/2026

I really do love this one!

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

If you’ve ever hit a brick wall with a “who was my parent?” question, you know how much that uncertainty can weigh on a whole family. In this case study, Janet walks through an unknown parentage mystery with care and precision—showing how she approaches records, documents every detail responsibly, and keeps the human side front and center. It’s a grounded reminder that answers aren’t just facts; they’re the kind of clarity that can help people connect, memorialize, and move forward. Take comfort in the method behind the hope and the respect behind the work.

https://familytreeconnectionsbyjanet.com

08/27/2026

Do I hold a mystery to your Family’s history? Let’s find out.

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08/25/2026

🔒 An obituary is a tribute. It is also, read the wrong way, a completed security questionnaire.

Exact date of birth, birthplace, mother's maiden name, the home address, the names of every child and grandchild: that combination is most of what a bank asks before it resets a password.

Leave those out and the tribute still works, because age at death, city and state, first names of survivors, the work, the church, and where to send memorial gifts carry the whole life without carrying the identifiers.

Two details that get published together deserve their own mention: the service time and the family's address, which together announce exactly when a house will be empty.

The reason any of this matters is timing, since credit files stay open until someone reports the death, and thieves work that gap.

Send a copy of the death certificate to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion and ask each to flag the file as deceased, and notify the Social Security Administration and the IRS as well, even though the funeral home often reports to Social Security first.

Then watch for the calls, because collectors sometimes pursue survivors for debts they do not personally owe, and in most situations family members are not responsible for a deceased person's debts, with exceptions for joint accounts, co-signed loans, and some community property states.

Callers also pose as the funeral home over an unpaid balance, or circulate donation links that route to no one, both of which arrive when a family is least able to scrutinize them.

None of this argues against publishing an obituary, only against publishing the four or five fields that do nothing for the memory and everything for a stranger.

New York's Division of Consumer Protection issued a warning on exactly this in June 2026, which is a fair signal of how routine it has become.

If you wrote one recently, which of these details did you include without a second thought?

P.S. Once a week, I email the best money article I read, with my take on this week's top Facebook posts and what's new on the Ways to Wealth blog. It's free, and you can sign up on the Ways to Wealth home page.

R.J. Weiss, CFP®



The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.