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Revocable Living TrustCreate a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.Last Will and TestamentName your heirs, guardians, and final wishes. Free for every state.Pour-Over WillCatch anything outside your trust. Pairs with your revocable trust.Healthcare Power of AttorneyName someone to make medical decisions if you can't.Financial Power of AttorneyName someone to manage your finances if you can't.Transfer on Death DeedTransfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate. Available in 34 states and the District of Columbia.Vehicle Transfer on DeathName a beneficiary to inherit your vehicle at death without probate. Available in 26 states and the District of Columbia.Living WillState in advance which life-sustaining treatments you want or refuse, in the document your state recognizes, with signing instructions from the statute.

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Estate Planning Cost CalculatorCompare costs across estate planning providers including online services and attorneys.Revocable Living Trust Cost CalculatorCompare revocable living trust costs across providers including online services and attorneys.Will Cost CalculatorCompare will costs across providers plus probate costs your heirs will pay.Life Insurance CalculatorCalculate your life insurance needs based on income, debts, and family situation.Beneficiary Designation CheckerCheck how divorce, creditors, and state laws affect your beneficiary designations.State Estate Law GuideSee probate costs, will requirements, trust rules, and intestacy laws for your state.Estate Planning Service ComparisonCompare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker, and when your documents are actually done.Name a Guardian GuideSee how a parent names a guardian for their minor children, what weight the court gives your choice, and your options for temporary care.Burial & Cremation Law GuideSee who controls final arrangements, cremation and burial rules, and what your state allows.Signing Requirements CheckerFind witness, notary, and remote signing requirements for all 50 states.Document Portability CheckerCheck if estate planning documents signed in one state are valid in another.Trust Need AssessmentFind out if a revocable trust makes sense based on your state, estate value, and family situation.TOD Deed AssessmentFind out if a transfer on death deed can keep your property out of probate.Vehicle TOD AssessmentFind out if you can name a beneficiary on your vehicle title to skip probate.Trust Account Opening GuideCompare trust-account requirements bank by bank: how a revocable trust account is opened or retitled, what proves the trust, and what the successor trustee faces.Trust or Will Decision ToolCompare the cost of probate vs a trust for your state and estate value.

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Who Inherits CalculatorFind out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will.Estate & Inheritance Tax CalculatorCalculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.Inheritance Tax GuideInheritance tax by state, federal tax on inheritance, and timeline estimates for receiving money, property, or retirement assets.Step-Up Basis CalculatorCalculate the new cost basis on inherited assets under IRC § 1014 and project capital gains tax savings.Inherited IRA Withdrawal RulesSee which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the tax for a missed withdrawal.Post-Death Tax Filing GuideFind out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.

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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.

All Planning ahead Settling an estate

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All topics353 Probate and estate administration90 Estate, inheritance, and gift taxes109 Trusts102 Wills15 Powers of attorney and incapacity11 Beneficiaries and inheritance17 Medicaid and long-term care2 Digital assets5

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All states Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

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271 articles

Heir vs. Beneficiary: What’s the Difference?

Heir vs. Beneficiary: What’s the Difference?

Heir vs. beneficiary: what’s the difference. While subtle, there are key differences between the two estate planning concepts.

Estate Planning Terms

SimplyTrust EditorialApril 24, 2025

What Is an Attorney-in-Fact and Why Are They Important?

What Is an Attorney-in-Fact and Why Are They Important?

Read about what an attorney-in-fact is (hint: it’s not necessarily an attorney) and why it’s so important in estate planning?

Estate Planning 101

SimplyTrust EditorialApril 17, 2025

What Is a Codicil to a Will?

What Is a Codicil to a Will?

Read about what a codicil is and how to use it to make amendments, additions, or deletions to an existing will.

Estate Planning Terms

SimplyTrust EditorialApril 16, 2025

A Living Trust Is a Revocable Trust Is a Living Revocable Trust

A Living Trust Is a Revocable Trust Is a Living Revocable Trust

Call it what you want, but simplify you estate plans with a living revocable trust—control your assets, ensure privacy, and avoid probate.

SimplyTrust EditorialApril 14, 2025

The Benefits of Including Life Insurance in Estate Planning

The Benefits of Including Life Insurance in Estate Planning

Life insurance in estate planning can offer security and flexibility that other assets simply can’t match.

Estate Planning

SimplyTrust EditorialApril 11, 2025

Estate Planning Charitable Giving: An Explanation

Estate Planning Charitable Giving: An Explanation

Future generations benefiting from the seeds you plant today: that’s the power of estate planning charitable giving.

Estate Planning

SimplyTrust EditorialApril 8, 2025

Some Concerning Estate Plan Statistics

Some Concerning Estate Plan Statistics

High-level takeaway of recent estate plan statistics: only about a third of Americans have an estate plan. Read why.

Estate Planning

SimplyTrust EditorialApril 7, 2025

8 Reasons Why Trust Funding Is Vital

8 Reasons Why Trust Funding Is Vital

Why funding a trust is so vital. It ensures asset protection, management, and distribution according to your wishes.

SimplyTrust EditorialApril 4, 2025

10 Most Common Trust Mistakes

10 Most Common Trust Mistakes

Learn about the 10 most common trust mistakes and how to avoid them to protect your assets and ensure your wishes are carried out.

SimplyTrust EditorialApril 2, 2025

5 Types of Power of Attorney

5 Types of Power of Attorney

A power of attorney is crucial legal document for managing financial and healthcare decisions, ensuring peace of mind and future security.

Estate Planning 101

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 31, 2025

Education Trusts 101

Education Trusts 101

Education trusts secure funds for a child’s schooling, offering control, flexibility, and protection. Here’s a quick overview.

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 26, 2025

Non-Financial Assets in Trusts? Yes.

Non-Financial Assets in Trusts? Yes.

Explore how trusts can hold non-financial assets like artwork and family heirlooms, offering control, protection, and privacy.

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 24, 2025

What Is a Health Care Proxy and How Does It Work?

What Is a Health Care Proxy and How Does It Work?

A health care proxy is a legal document appointing someone to make medical decisions for you if you’re incapacitated.

Estate Planning 101

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 19, 2025

Guardianship in Estate Management

Guardianship in Estate Management

Guardianship in estate management is crucial to ensuring loved ones get the care you want them to. Learn about types, importance, and steps.

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 18, 2025

What Is a Special Needs Trust?

What Is a Special Needs Trust?

A special needs trust provides financial security for individuals with disabilities without affecting government benefits. Learn how they work, their types,…

Estate Planning Terms

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 14, 2025

A Quick Overview of Wills

A Quick Overview of Wills

A will outlines asset distribution, names guardians for minors, and prevents family disputes. Regular updates ensure it reflects life changes.

Estate Planning 101

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 12, 2025

Advance Health Care Directives: A Quick Overview

Advance Health Care Directives: A Quick Overview

Advance health care directives are legal documents that outline your medical wishes if you’re unable to communicate them. They offer peace of mind.

Estate Planning Terms

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 11, 2025

10 Reasons People Delay Estate Planning

10 Reasons People Delay Estate Planning

Future planning isn’t exciting, and excuses aren’t hard to find. Here are 10 (bad) reasons people delay estate planning.

Estate Planning

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 6, 2025

30 Reasons to Update Your Trust

30 Reasons to Update Your Trust

Life changes and legal updates may necessitate revisiting a trust. Here are 30 reasons to update your trust.

Estate Planning

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 4, 2025

What Is a Pour-Over Will?

What Is a Pour-Over Will?

A pour-over will acts as a safety net, ensuring any assets not initially placed in a living trust transfer over, simplifying estate management.

SimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 28, 2025

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