Anyone can join as long as they live in the United States, are 21 or older and agree to our Terms of Use. We welcome everyone—regardless of background, income, or circumstance. We do not exclude anyone based on pre-existing health conditions, smoking history, or any other personal choice or circumstance.

Yes. Paid plans allow you to list multiple “Group Members” under your subscription. These individuals become eligible for services under your account once enrolled.

Yes. We believe everyone deserves dignity, no matter what their family looks like. That’s why Dead Serious allows you to include chosen family — whether that’s friends, roommates, partners, caretakers, or anyone you consider important.

As long as they are listed as a group member on your plan and meet eligibility requirements, they’re covered.

To protect the integrity of our fund and ensure support goes where it’s truly needed, a valid death certificate is required for all claim submissions.

This flexibility ensures the right people get help — without judgment, red tape, or outdated definitions of family.

You can submit a claim when a death of a group member occures, any time after the initial 12-month waiting period, following your membership start date.

Claims have to be submitted within 14 days of their passing.

Claims submitted before the waiting period ends will unfortunately not be eligible.

The primary subscriber or any listed Group Member over 21 can submit a claim. This ensures access to benefits even if the primary subscriber passes away.

You’ll typically need:

• Claim Submission Form (completed)
• Valid proof of identity of the claimant
• Official death certificate or other legally acceptable proof of death
• Membership confirmation (subscriber name, email, and list of covered group members)
• Statement of responsibility confirming the submitting member is managing, organizing, or contributing to the end-of-life arrangements

The good news is that everything is built right into the Claim Submission Form—it’s a single, straightforward form that walks you through each step.

We aim to process valid, complete claims within 3–7 business days. Incomplete submissions or missing documentation will slow things down.

No. Payouts and services are subject to eligibility, fund availability, and verification. We do our best to help everyone, but we are not an insurance company or backed by a bank and cannot guarantee specific outcomes. We are a people-powered mutual aid collective. The more members we have the more services we can provide and guarantee. 

We’re so sorry for your loss — but unfortunately, we can’t honor claims for deaths that occurred more than 14 days before the claim was submitted.

Dead Serious is designed to provide timely support when loss happens. That means claims must be made within 14 days of the group member’s passing and while your membership is active and in good standing.

This helps us keep things fair, sustainable, and focused on immediate, real-time support for families in crisis. If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible, just reach out — we’re here to help.

It’s our loyalty reward for members who’ve stuck around for the long haul. If you’ve been with us for 10 consecutive years with no claim filed, your payout benefit goes up by $1,000 every 5 years after that. It’s our way of saying, “thanks for riding with us.” 

Nothing extra. Just keep your membership active, payments on time, and no claims filed. We’ll automatically track it and apply the increase once you qualify.

These services are selected as part of the Claim Submission Form. You’ll have the option to either:

• Opt in and receive digital gift cards that cover memorial printing and grief counseling services. These are provided through partner organizations and can be used at any time, in the way that works best for you. Please note: there is no cash payout option for these benefits, as they are intended to directly support counseling and memorial needs.

• Opt out and pay it forward, allowing those funds to remain in the community pool to support others in need and sustain the mission.

We do not offer refunds, as funds are used to support the community and member claims. However, if you believe a charge was made in error, please contact us.

You and all listed group members will lose access to all benefits, including the ability to submit claims. Any pending or future claims will not be processed unless your membership is reactivated.

If a Group Member Passes:

• The membership continues under the Primary Subscriber.
• All remaining members retain full access and coverage as defined by the membership plan.

If the Primary Subscriber Passes:

• One of the adult group members can step up to take over the membership and become the new Primary.
• If no one takes over, the membership will end, and all access to tools, vaults, and services will be discontinued.

Yes. We take your privacy seriously and follow strict protocols to protect your data. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

No. We never sell your data. Information may only be shared with third parties when necessary to process claims or fulfill services, and always under secure conditions.

No. Dead Serious is a member-supported mutual aid collective, not an insurance company. We do not promise guaranteed payouts (payouts are subject to fund availability). We operate on a community-based, trust-first model.

The waiting period helps protect the integrity of our community and ensures sustainability. It also allows us to build trust and ensure that funds are available for long-term support.

We know loss doesn’t follow a schedule. But to keep this model sustainable and affordable for all, we currently limit one approved death claim per subscriber group, per calendar year.
If multiple losses occur, you’ll still have access to our grief resources and community support — but financial benefits are limited to one payout annually.

We’re working on long-term solutions to better support families in extraordinary circumstances.

Yes — we’re not here to trap anyone. You can cancel your  membership anytime. Just note that if you rejoin later, the 12-month waiting period will start over.

We’ll always be here when you’re ready to return.

Each tier covers:

• 1 primary adult
• A set number of additional adults (1, 2, or 3 depending on tier)
• minor children in your household

We do not require birth certificates or proof of household. We operate on trust — and we trust you to honor that.

No. We’re not a life insurance company. We don’t ask for health screenings, medical records, or financial info.

This is a trust-based, human-first model focused on dignity, not gatekeeping.

You can always reach out to our support team at support@deadserious.living. We’re here to help.