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Home→Articles→Articles for Planning Ahead

Articles for Planning Ahead

Articles for the person putting a plan in place: what a will and a revocable trust each do, how powers of attorney work, how beneficiary designations pass property, and what each choice costs.

AllPlanning aheadSettling an estate
All topics353Probate and estate administration90Estate, inheritance, and gift taxes109Trusts102Wills15Powers of attorney and incapacity11Beneficiaries and inheritance17Medicaid and long-term care2Digital assets5
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271 articles

What Being a Trustee Really Means

What Being a Trustee Really Means

Being a trustee is more than taking on a title. It’s a commitment to juggling someone else’s assets with care, integrity, and good judgment.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 14, 2025
Estate Planning Is for Everyone, Not Just the Wealthy

Estate Planning Is for Everyone, Not Just the Wealthy

Estate planning serves everyone, not just the wealthy. It helps real people protect what matters most through simple, practical steps that work whether you…
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 8, 2025
How Splitting Assets in Divorce Works

How Splitting Assets in Divorce Works

Understanding how splitting assets in divorce works can make the divorce process smoother and more equitable.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 29, 2025
The Joy of Estate Planning for Grandchildren

The Joy of Estate Planning for Grandchildren

Estate planning for grandchildren creates lasting legacies through trusts, education funds, and meaningful gifts that support their dreams and futures.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 23, 2025
Estate Planning

Estate Planning

Start with the building blocks of a solid estate plan—from key legal terms to choosing fiduciaries—so you can protect your loved ones and your assets with…
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 23, 2025
Life Stages

Life Stages

Major life events—marriage, a new baby, buying a home—change your estate-planning needs overnight. Follow our step-by-step guides to keep your plan current at…
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 23, 2025
Trusts and Wills

Trusts and Wills

Compare trusts, wills, and other transfer tools side-by-side, learn when each document makes sense, and see real-world examples that demystify the legal jargon.
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 23, 2025
5 Ways To Protect Separate Property in Divorce

5 Ways To Protect Separate Property in Divorce

Protecting separate property in divorce takes smart planning and documentation. Without it, what’s separate can easily turn communal.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 22, 2025
Understanding Community Property and Separate Property

Understanding Community Property and Separate Property

Knowing the difference between community property and separate property can help you manage and distribute assets with clarity and fairness.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 21, 2025
Adding Pets to Estate Plans: Meet Benny

Adding Pets to Estate Plans: Meet Benny

Adding pets to estate plans: you can’t leave your dog or cat a credit card, but you can make sure they’re taken care of forever.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 17, 2025
The Uncertainty of Life Without An Estate Plan

The Uncertainty of Life Without An Estate Plan

What happens without an estate plan? Not having a trust or will can lead to delays, disputes, and unintended outcomes.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 15, 2025
Trusts for Small Business Offer Vital Protection

Trusts for Small Business Offer Vital Protection

Discover how trusts for small business can protect your legacy, simplify succession, and reduce stress for everyone involved.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 10, 2025
5 Assets Not for Trusts: What Not to Fund in Your Trust

5 Assets Not for Trusts: What Not to Fund in Your Trust

Some assets just aren’t trust material. Here’s a list of five assets not for trusts—five things to keep out and why.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 7, 2025
Revising Estate Plans Post-Divorce Is Smart, Necessary

Revising Estate Plans Post-Divorce Is Smart, Necessary

Once the dust settles, revising estate plans post-divorce is a high priority. Because old plans no longer reflect new lives.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 1, 2025
Updating Estate Plans Post-Adoption Protects a Growing Family

Updating Estate Plans Post-Adoption Protects a Growing Family

Updating estate plans post-adoption is crucial for protecting a new (or growing) family. Here’s why.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 26, 2025
Simple Trusts and Complex Trusts: The Differences

Simple Trusts and Complex Trusts: The Differences

An overview of the key differences between simple trusts and complex trusts—how they work and which is better in certain circumstances.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 24, 2025
Estate Planning for Empty Nesters

Estate Planning for Empty Nesters

Adjusting to a quieter, cleaner household is a good time to tackle estate planning for empty nesters.
Financial Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 23, 2025
How Remarrying Impacts Inheritances

How Remarrying Impacts Inheritances

Blended families bring love—but also legal complications. Remarrying impacts inheritances, so you have to plan accordingly.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 20, 2025
Planning Ahead: Trusts and Long-Term Illness

Planning Ahead: Trusts and Long-Term Illness

Read about trusts and long-term illness: how trusts can bring stability and support when managing chronic or progressive health conditions.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 17, 2025
What Does It Mean To Be a Beneficiary?

What Does It Mean To Be a Beneficiary?

Discover what it means to be a beneficiary in estate planning—understand your rights, responsibilities, and secure your financial future.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 16, 2025
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