Who Says Kaddish, How Long?

My brother died a month ago. He never married nor had any children. Must I continue saying kaddish for him? And for an additional 10 or 11 months? I find this a very difficult commitment.

I am so sorry to hear of your brother's passing. May Hashem comfort the entire extended family among the other mourners of Zion and may you know no more sorrow.

It is correct to say kaddish for your brother for entire 12 months since the date of his passing. The Sages teach that the maximum amount of time that a person spends in Gehinom (Purgatory) is twelve months, as could happen to a person who did not lead his life in this world according to the way that God commanded. If you feel that it is too much of a commitment it would be correct to pay someone to recite Kaddish for the entire twelve month period (not eleven months).

The custom is that a child does not say Kaddish for the whole twelve months after the passing of a parent. Rather, they stop reciting Kaddish at the end of the eleventh month and refrain from implying that the parent was wicked. However, this is not applicable to Kaddish that is being recited for anyone other than a parent.