An online resource from The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C.
Aaron Herbert Wrongful Death and Family Support Center
Grief support, counseling and practical help for Texas families after a sudden death. Find a starting point, reach independent support programs, and talk with a board-certified trial lawyer when you are ready.
Your loved one may have earned the paycheck, driven the kids to school or reminded a parent to take medicine. When that person is gone, the household changes overnight. This center lists the help families ask us about most, sorted by what you may need first.
This is an online information center, not a counseling clinic or aid agency. The organizations listed here are independent, and listing them does not mean a partnership with the firm. You can contact any of them without hiring us. Confirm services, costs and openings directly before you rely on them.
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If you need help right now
| Situation | Who to contact | What to say |
|---|---|---|
| Someone is in danger tonight | Call 911. | Give the address and who needs help. |
| Thoughts of suicide or overwhelming distress | Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. | You can call for yourself or for someone else. |
| No safe place to sleep, no food, a utility shutoff. | Call 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905 (Texas 2-1-1). | Give your ZIP code, the need and the deadline. |
| A vehicle or other evidence is about to be released or scrapped. | Call our office at 214-200-4878. | Tell us where it is and the release date. |
Our intake line is not a crisis service. 2-1-1 helps you find programs; it does not approve money or housing by itself.
A short plan for the first days
| When | Focus on | Small, concrete steps |
|---|---|---|
| Today | Safety and basic needs | A safe bed for everyone, food, medications, a trusted adult staying nearby. |
| Next 72 hours | Urgent deadlines | The funeral home or medical examiner contact, rent or utility due dates, any vehicle storage deadline. |
| First week | Income and care | The employer's benefits office, school transportation, one grief resource to try. |
| Following weeks | What changed | A new insurance gap, a caregiver who has to leave, a child who is struggling at school. |
Ask one trusted person to keep a call log: who was contacted, what was asked and when to follow up. When friends offer help, give them a specific job, such as one evening meal, a grocery run or two hours of childcare.
Which kind of help does what
| Professional | What they do | What they do not do |
|---|---|---|
| Peer grief group | Connects you with people who have had a similar loss. | Clinical therapy. |
| Licensed counselor | Individual, couples, family or child-focused treatment | Legal or benefits advice. |
| Resource navigator or social worker | Finds local practical assistance | Guarantee approval or funding. |
| Probate attorney | Explains estate authority, probate and asset transfers. | Investigate the death. |
| Wrongful death attorney | Investigates liability, preserves evidence and pursues the family's claims. | Provide counseling or emergency aid. |
Ask each provider what they charge and what falls outside their role.
Grief support in Dallas–Fort Worth
| Program | Who it serves | Contact | Ask about |
|---|---|---|---|
| The WARM Place, Fort Worth | Grieving children and their families, at no cost; peer groups and caregiver support. | 817-870-2272 | Age groups, virtual options, current openings. |
| GriefWorks (ChristianWorks) | Children ages 5–18 and their adult family members in Dallas and Fort Worth; free support groups. | Dallas 972-960-9981; Fort Worth 817-502-7789 | Orientation, Camp Sunrise dates. Groups are not therapy; counseling is separate and may cost a reduced fee. |
| Journey of Hope (a Wellspring Counseling Center program). | Children, families and young adults in North Texas; free peer support in Plano and Frisco. | 903-751-5255 | Current locations; counseling is a separate service. |
| Grief and Loss Center of North Texas. | Adults, children and teens; no-cost groups, some virtual. | 214-452-3105 | Groups for spouse, partner or child loss. |
A group that fits one relative may not fit another. It is fine to try more than one.
After the death of a child
Parents, grandparents and siblings may each need a separate place to grieve, including after the death of an adult child.
| Resource | What it offers | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| The Compassionate Friends | Support after a child dies at any age, from any cause; local chapters and online groups. | Use its chapter locator for Texas meetings. |
| MISS Foundation | Counseling information, peer support and help with traumatic grief. | Confirm whether a service is in Texas, online or elsewhere, and whether it is free. |
| TEARS Foundation | Funeral and memorial help after the death of a baby or child, when funding allows. | Confirm your county, the child's age and whether costs must be approved first. |
Helping children and teenagers
Children do best with honest, age-appropriate explanations, room for questions and dependable adults. Ask the school for a short-term plan covering attendance, assignments and one adult the child can go to during the day.
| Resource | Use it for |
|---|---|
| National Alliance for Children's Grief | A directory of children's grief centers and camps. |
| Dougy Center | Guides for children, teens and caregivers, including Spanish materials; its in-person groups are in Portland. |
| National Child Traumatic Stress Network | Signs of traumatic grief and when to ask a clinician for an assessment. |
If grief is keeping a child from eating, sleeping or going to school, ask a pediatrician or clinician to assess them. A grief camp can help alongside treatment, not instead of it.
Spouses, partners, siblings and older relatives
| Who | What can help |
|---|---|
| A widowed spouse or partner | Soaring Spirits International offers peer connections, virtual programs and regional groups. |
| Siblings, grandparents and close relatives | griefHaven organizes support by type of loss: a child, spouse, sibling, parent or grandchild. |
| An older adult who relied on the person who died. | Put meals, medication reminders and rides into the family plan right away. |
Emotional closeness and legal standing are different questions. Everyone who is grieving deserves support, whether or not they can bring a claim.
Finding a counselor who fits
Ask your doctor, pediatrician, insurer or a grief program for names of licensed providers.
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Do you work with sudden or traumatic loss? | Experience with this kind of grief can help. |
| Do you take my insurance, or offer a sliding scale? | Avoids surprise bills. |
| Is telehealth available where I live? | The clinician must be allowed to treat you in your state. |
| How long is the waiting list? | You may want a second name in the meantime. |
You can check a Texas counselor's license through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. If the first provider is not a good fit, ask for another referral.
Practical help: meals, bills, rides and childcare
| Need | Where to start | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Arranging details between the death and the funeral. | Carson's Village offers free help organizing practical needs. | Call to learn what it can do in your situation. |
| Rent, utilities, groceries, childcare | Texas 2-1-1 | Ask each program about its area, income rules, documents and waiting list. |
| Rides to work, school and appointments | Relatives, community transit, remote appointments | Mention wheelchair access or car seats up front. |
| Meals and visitors | One friend acting as coordinator | Ask the family before posting a fundraiser or details of the death. |
Keep a simple log of each application. A pending lawsuit or a completed intake form never means money has been approved.
Funeral and burial costs
- Ask the funeral provider for an itemized price list before you approve services.
- Ask a hospital social worker or county office about local burial assistance; rules differ by county.
- Keep funeral contracts, receipts and records of who paid.
- Order the number of death certificates you actually need. Many institutions accept a copy.
Survivor benefits and workplace deaths
| Benefit | Who may qualify | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security survivor benefits | Eligible spouses, former spouses, children and dependent parents of qualifying workers. | Contact Social Security about your circumstances. |
| Employer benefits | Family members named in life insurance, accidental-death or retirement plans; family health coverage. | Ask the employer for forms and deadlines in writing. |
| Texas workers' compensation death benefits | Eligible beneficiaries after a covered work-related death. | File with the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation; the general deadline is one year from the date of death. |
These benefits are separate from any lawsuit.
Texas Crime Victims' Compensation
This state program can help eligible families after crimes such as intoxicated driving, hit-and-run, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. An ordinary car crash does not qualify by itself.
| Possible help | Requirements to check |
|---|---|
| Funeral costs, counseling, loss of support | Reporting to police, cooperation with the investigation, application deadlines, other payment sources. |
Ask the investigating agency's victim-services staff or the program itself about your case.
Legal guidance alongside family support
You do not have to prove anyone was negligent before you use any resource on this page. Counseling and practical help can start while the facts are still being investigated.
| Question | The short answer under Texas law |
|---|---|
| Who can bring a wrongful death claim? | The surviving spouse, children and parents (Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.004). |
| What is a survival claim? | A separate claim, brought through the estate, for the injuries the person suffered before death (§ 71.021). |
| How long do families have? | Generally two years from the date of death (§ 16.003(b)), but exceptions and notice rules can shorten the time. Get advice early. |
| Who handles the estate? | A probate attorney; we can tell you whether separate estate counsel is needed. |
A family's hardship does not decide whether someone is legally responsible or what compensation is recoverable. Every case depends on its facts.
A family support plan you can use
Write down the three most urgent concerns. For each one, note the person helping, the next step, any permission needed, the cost and a follow-up date.
| Example: a Fort Worth parent | Who helps | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| School rides for two children | An aunt | Set up a weekday schedule for the next two weeks. |
| Rent due in five days | Texas 2-1-1 | Ask about emergency rent programs in Tarrant County. |
| A teenager who will not talk about it. | A children's grief program | Call to ask about teen groups and intake. |
| Questions about a claim | Our office | Schedule a free case review. |
None of these referrals guarantees funding or a spot in a program. Revisit the plan as the family learns what is available.
Guide
Surviving family needs assessment and support plan
Walk through twelve areas families tell us matter most, from tonight's housing to estate questions, and turn them into a short plan.
Open the needs assessment →Form
Confidential family questionnaire
A printable questionnaire to organize what your family needs before a conversation with us. Complete only what you can.
Get the questionnaire →For families
How we help families after a wrongful death
What we do in the first days, what to ask any lawyer you are considering, and how a free case review works.
See how we help →Questions families often ask
Can we get support if we cannot afford counseling?
Yes. Several North Texas programs listed above offer free peer grief groups. Peer groups are not individual therapy, so ask counselors about insurance and reduced fees.
Do we need a police finding or a lawsuit to join a grief group?
No. The grief programs here support families after a death. Crime victims' compensation is different and has its own eligibility rules.
Will the center pay our bills or provide therapy?
No. The center points you to independent providers, who set their own eligibility, fees and availability. Ask us directly if you have questions about your situation.
Is what we tell the firm automatically privileged?
Not always. Ask an attorney about confidentiality before you share treatment records or sign any release.
What if the first organization cannot help?
Ask why. It may be age, location, cost or a waiting list. Ask where else to try, and use national directories or 2-1-1 if you live outside Dallas–Fort Worth.
Do we have to choose between grieving and seeking justice?
No. You can get emotional support and legal advice at the same time. A settlement or verdict cannot bring closure, and we will tell you which decisions can wait.
Begin with one conversation
If you believe someone's negligence caused your loved one's death, call The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C. at 214-200-4878 or 817-500-4878 for a free case review.
Aaron A. Herbert is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Our first question is usually a simple one: what does your family need to get through tonight, the next week and the months ahead?
General information only. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Independent providers decide clinical care and aid eligibility. Resource details checked October 29, 2026.