Skip to main content
SimplyTrust
SimplyTrust
TrustCreate a TrustEstateSettle an EstateFormsForms & ToolsFreeResources
Estate PlanningEstate SettlementAll articles
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
ArticlesNewsLife Events
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.
EIN ApplicationGet the tax ID number (EIN) banks require to open an estate account or trust account after someone dies.Petition for Probate and LettersOpen probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.Notice to CreditorsNotify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.Renunciation of ExecutorDecline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.Affidavit of HeirshipPrepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.Small Estate AffidavitCollect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.Estate InventoryPrepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, with your state's filing or delivery instructions.Estate ClosingPrepare the paperwork that closes the estate — the state's closing instrument with its closing instructions, and the optional federal forms.Letter of InstructionPrepare the letter a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement, addressed to its claims department.Digital Assets Recovery LetterPrepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Browse all forms
I'm planning ahead
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.
I'm inheriting
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.
Someone I love died
Death Certificate CalculatorCalculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.Probate Decision ToolFind out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.Estate Settlement PlanPersonalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.What to Do When Someone Dies ChecklistA step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
I'm an executor
Probate Cost CalculatorEstimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate.Executor Fee CalculatorCalculate how much an executor can charge for administering an estate.Self-File Probate AssessmentFind out if you can handle probate yourself with estimated cost savings and a filing checklist.Executor Appointment GuideSee the court, petition, bond, and documents needed to be appointed and receive your Letters.Creditor Claims DeadlinesFind creditor claim deadlines, notice requirements, and payment priority order for your state.Insolvent Estate CalculatorSee the order your state pays an insolvent estate's debts and which claims go unpaid.Estate Account Opening GuideCompare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.Personal Property Value EstimatorEstimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
I'm a trustee
Trustee Compensation CalculatorFind out what fair compensation looks like for serving as trustee.Trust Settlement PlanPersonalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away.
I'm inheriting
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.
Browse all tools
State Benefit Programs
Medicaid Estate RecoveryUnclaimed PropertyUnemployment BenefitsPublic PensionsVital Records
Federal Agencies
Administration for Community Living (ACL)Black Lung Benefits ProgramBureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)Defense Health Agency (DHA)Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)DOD Casualty Assistance ProgramDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Energy Employees Occupational Illness Program (EEOICPA)Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)Federal Election Commission (FEC)Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Federal Student Aid (FSA)Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Indian Health Service (IHS)Internal Revenue Service (IRS)National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)NOAA Commissioned Officer CorpsOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)Radiation Exposure Compensation Program (RECA)Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF)Social Security Administration (SSA)Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)Transportation Security Administration (TSA)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)U.S. Coast Guard Casualty Assistance ProgramU.S. Copyright OfficeU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of the TreasuryU.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS)U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)United States Postal Service (USPS)USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Browse all agencies
Estate PlanningEstate SettlementAll articles
State
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Articles
ArticlesNewsLife Events
Forms
Revocable Living TrustLast Will and TestamentPour-Over WillHealthcare Power of AttorneyFinancial Power of AttorneyTransfer on Death DeedVehicle Transfer on DeathLiving WillEIN ApplicationPetition for Probate and LettersNotice to CreditorsRenunciation of ExecutorAffidavit of HeirshipSmall Estate AffidavitEstate InventoryEstate ClosingLetter of InstructionDigital Assets Recovery Letter
I'm planning ahead
Estate Planning Cost CalculatorRevocable Living Trust Cost CalculatorWill Cost CalculatorLife Insurance CalculatorBeneficiary Designation CheckerState Estate Law GuideEstate Planning Service ComparisonName a Guardian GuideBurial & Cremation Law GuideSigning Requirements CheckerDocument Portability CheckerTrust Need AssessmentTOD Deed AssessmentVehicle TOD AssessmentTrust Account Opening GuideTrust or Will Decision Tool
I'm inheriting
Who Inherits CalculatorEstate & Inheritance Tax CalculatorInheritance Tax GuideStep-Up Basis CalculatorInherited IRA Withdrawal RulesPost-Death Tax Filing Guide
Someone I love died
Death Certificate CalculatorProbate Decision ToolEstate Settlement PlanWhat to Do When Someone Dies Checklist
I'm an executor
Probate Cost CalculatorExecutor Fee CalculatorSelf-File Probate AssessmentExecutor Appointment GuideCreditor Claims DeadlinesInsolvent Estate CalculatorEstate Account Opening GuidePersonal Property Value Estimator
I'm a trustee
Trustee Compensation CalculatorTrust Settlement Plan
I'm inheriting
Who Inherits CalculatorEstate & Inheritance Tax CalculatorInheritance Tax GuideStep-Up Basis CalculatorInherited IRA Withdrawal RulesPost-Death Tax Filing Guide
State Benefit Programs
Medicaid Estate RecoveryUnclaimed PropertyUnemployment BenefitsPublic PensionsVital Records
Federal Agencies
Administration for Community Living (ACL)Black Lung Benefits ProgramBureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)Defense Health Agency (DHA)Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)DOD Casualty Assistance ProgramDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Energy Employees Occupational Illness Program (EEOICPA)Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)Federal Election Commission (FEC)Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Federal Student Aid (FSA)Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Indian Health Service (IHS)Internal Revenue Service (IRS)National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)NOAA Commissioned Officer CorpsOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)Radiation Exposure Compensation Program (RECA)Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF)Social Security Administration (SSA)Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)Transportation Security Administration (TSA)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)U.S. Coast Guard Casualty Assistance ProgramU.S. Copyright OfficeU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of the TreasuryU.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS)U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)United States Postal Service (USPS)USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Browse all formsBrowse all toolsBrowse all agenciesBrowse all institutionsBrowse all digital assets
Home→Articles→Probate and Estate Administration Articles

Probate and Estate Administration Articles

Articles on the probate process: what it costs in each state, how an executor is appointed, the creditor and inventory deadlines, and how an estate is closed.

All topics353Probate and estate administration90Estate, inheritance, and gift taxes109Trusts102Wills15Powers of attorney and incapacity11Beneficiaries and inheritance17Medicaid and long-term care2Digital assets5
All statesAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
ArticlesNews

90 articles

Reimbursable Trustee Expenses: A Clear Overview

Reimbursable Trustee Expenses: A Clear Overview

Which trustee expenses does a trust reimburse?
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 13, 2026
Refundable Executor Expenses: What Estates Cover

Refundable Executor Expenses: What Estates Cover

Learn which out-of-pocket costs executors recover from estates.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 13, 2026
Social Security Administration Notification After Death in Hawaii

Social Security Administration Notification After Death in Hawaii

Learn how Social Security Administration notification after someone passes works.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 24, 2026
Gathering Recent Tax Returns After Someone Passes Away

Gathering Recent Tax Returns After Someone Passes Away

Learn about gathering recent tax returns after someone passes away.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 24, 2026
Collecting Business Documents After Someone Passes Away

Collecting Business Documents After Someone Passes Away

Essential guide to collecting business documents after someone passes away.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 24, 2026
Collecting Real Estate Documents After Someone Passes Away

Collecting Real Estate Documents After Someone Passes Away

Essential steps for gathering property deeds, tax records, and ownership documents after someone passes away.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 24, 2026
Gathering Financial Account Statements After Someone Passes Away

Gathering Financial Account Statements After Someone Passes Away

Learn how to gather financial account statements after someone passes away.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 23, 2026
Collecting and Forwarding Mail After Someone Passes Away

Collecting and Forwarding Mail After Someone Passes Away

Learn who can legally collect mail after someone passes away.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 23, 2026
How to Notify Immediate Family Members After Someone Dies

How to Notify Immediate Family Members After Someone Dies

Learn how to properly notify immediate family members when someone dies
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 23, 2026
How to Secure Property and Valuables After Someone Dies

How to Secure Property and Valuables After Someone Dies

Secure property and valuables immediately after death to protect them.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 23, 2026
Estate Disputes in Alabama: When Family Feuds Meet Legal Battles

Estate Disputes in Alabama: When Family Feuds Meet Legal Battles

Alabama estate disputes reveal costly family battles over inheritance.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 15, 2026
Infamous Estate Disputes of Pennsylvania: Lessons from High-Profile Legal Battles

Infamous Estate Disputes of Pennsylvania: Lessons from High-Profile Legal Battles

Pennsylvania estate disputes reveal costly lessons about family conflicts and poor planning.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 14, 2026
Estate Disputes in Michigan: Lessons from Famous Family Feuds

Estate Disputes in Michigan: Lessons from Famous Family Feuds

Famous estate disputes in Michigan reveal costly family feuds.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 14, 2026
Estate Disputes in New Jersey: 5 Infamous Cases That Changed Everything

Estate Disputes in New Jersey: 5 Infamous Cases That Changed Everything

Famous NJ estate battles reveal costly lessons for families.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 14, 2026
Infamous Estate Disputes in Texas: Lessons from High-Stakes Family Battles

Infamous Estate Disputes in Texas: Lessons from High-Stakes Family Battles

High-profile Texas estate disputes reveal costly lessons about planning.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMarch 31, 2026
Infamous Estate Disputes in Illinois: When Family Fortunes Turn Into Legal Battles

Infamous Estate Disputes in Illinois: When Family Fortunes Turn Into Legal Battles

Explore Illinois’ most notorious estate disputes and family battles.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMarch 31, 2026
Infamous Estate Disputes in New York: When Wills and Wealth Collide

Infamous Estate Disputes in New York: When Wills and Wealth Collide

High-profile estate battles reveal how wealth and family drama collide.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMarch 31, 2026
Infamous Estate Disputes in Florida: When Family Fortunes Turn to Legal Battles

Infamous Estate Disputes in Florida: When Family Fortunes Turn to Legal Battles

Florida’s most notorious estate battles reveal costly mistakes.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMarch 31, 2026
Estate Disputes in California: Famous Cases That Changed Estate Planning

Estate Disputes in California: Famous Cases That Changed Estate Planning

Famous estate disputes in California reveal costly lessons about planning.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMarch 31, 2026
What Do Probate Clerks Do? Essential Support in Estate Administration

What Do Probate Clerks Do? Essential Support in Estate Administration

Probate clerks handle court paperwork and guide families through estate administration procedures.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMarch 27, 2026
12345
2...5
Next
SimplyTrust Logo

Every family deserves a plan. We'll help.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Forms

  • Revocable Living Trust
  • Last Will and Testament
  • Pour-Over Will
  • Healthcare Power of Attorney
  • Financial Power of Attorney
  • Transfer on Death Deed
  • Vehicle Transfer on Death
  • Living Will
  • Forms for Planning Your Estate
  • All forms

Tools

  • Trust vs Will
  • Probate Calculator
  • Who Inherits
  • Settle an Estate
  • Estate Tax Calculator
  • Life Insurance
  • Tools for Planning Your Estate
  • Tools for Heirs and Beneficiaries
  • All tools

Compare

  • Compare Services
  • vs LegalZoom
  • vs Trust & Will
  • vs Rocket Lawyer
  • vs Quicken WillMaker

Learn

  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Last Wills
  • Articles
  • News
  • State Guides
  • Estate Law
  • Life Events

Directories

  • Law Firms
  • Financial Institutions
  • Digital Assets
  • Government Agencies

Company

  • About
  • Contact
  • Create a Trust

SimplyTrust is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal counsel, or attorney review. Information on this platform is for general informational purposes only. Use of SimplyTrust does not create an attorney-client relationship. You are solely responsible for all documents you create. Laws, fees, forms, and office details change. Information here may contain errors or be out of date; confirm current requirements with the relevant court, agency, brand, or statute before acting. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy·Terms of Service·Security··AI Access

All content, data, and calculations are proprietary. Automated scraping, systematic downloading, or data extraction is prohibited under our Terms of Service. Product visuals are simulated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual experience. Logos provided by Logo.dev.