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
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
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
EIN ApplicationPetition for Probate and LettersNotice to CreditorsRenunciation of ExecutorAffidavit of HeirshipSmall Estate AffidavitEstate InventoryEstate ClosingLetter of InstructionDigital Assets Recovery Letter
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→Articles for Settling an Estate

Articles for Settling an Estate

Articles for the person settling an estate or a trust after a death: opening probate, the executor and trustee duties, creditor claims, estate accounts, the tax returns that follow a death, and the final distribution.

AllPlanning aheadSettling an estate
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

82 articles

Cost of Probate in Hawaii

Cost of Probate in Hawaii

Hawaii probate costs range from 2-6% of estate value
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 14, 2026
What Is the Cost of Probate in Georgia?

What Is the Cost of Probate in Georgia?

Georgia probate costs 2 to 5 percent of the estate value, plus a $200 filing fee.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 14, 2026
What Is the Cost of Probate in Florida?

What Is the Cost of Probate in Florida?

Learn about Florida probate costs, attorney fees, and expenses
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 14, 2026
Cost of Probate in DC: How Much Is It?

Cost of Probate in DC: How Much Is It?

DC probate costs include no court fees but 2 to 4 percent attorney fees
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 14, 2026
Cost of Probate in Delaware: What Families Should Expect

Cost of Probate in Delaware: What Families Should Expect

Delaware probate costs include $200 court fees plus attorney fees.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 12, 2026
What Is the Cost of Probate in Connecticut?

What Is the Cost of Probate in Connecticut?

Connecticut probate costs include $150 court fees plus 2 to 4 percent in attorney fees.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 12, 2026
Cost of Probate in Colorado: An Overview

Cost of Probate in Colorado: An Overview

Learn about probate costs in Colorado including court fees, attorney expenses, and ways to minimize costs.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 11, 2026
The Cost of Probate in California: A Breakdown

The Cost of Probate in California: A Breakdown

California probate costs range from thousands to tens of thousands.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 11, 2026
Cost of Probate in Arkansas: Complete Breakdown of Fees and Expenses

Cost of Probate in Arkansas: Complete Breakdown of Fees and Expenses

Arkansas probate costs typically include $165 court fees plus statutory attorney fees based on estate value.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 11, 2026
Cost of Probate in Arizona: A Breakdown

Cost of Probate in Arizona: A Breakdown

Arizona probate costs typically include $306 filing fees plus attorney fees.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 11, 2026
Cost of Probate in Alaska: Fees and Expenses

Cost of Probate in Alaska: Fees and Expenses

Alaska probate costs include $75 court fees plus 2-4% attorney fees typically.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 11, 2026
Cost of Probate in Alabama: Complete Guide to Expenses

Cost of Probate in Alabama: Complete Guide to Expenses

Alabama probate costs typically range from 2 to 8 percent of the total estate value.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 11, 2026
7 Reasons for Bypassing Probate

7 Reasons for Bypassing Probate

Bypassing probate saves families thousands in costs and months of court delays while maintaining privacy and reducing stress during an already difficult time.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialDecember 26, 2025
What Is Probate? (The DMV of Estate Planning)

What Is Probate? (The DMV of Estate Planning)

Probate is the court-supervised legal process of settling someone’s estate after death, involving will validation, debt payment, and asset distribution to…
Estate Planning 101
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialDecember 26, 2025
Avoid Probate with a Trust

Avoid Probate with a Trust

Trusts help avoid probate by transferring assets directly to beneficiaries without court involvement, saving time, money, and maintaining privacy.
Wills
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialDecember 22, 2025
Transitioning From Successor Trustee to Trustee: The Gist

Transitioning From Successor Trustee to Trustee: The Gist

A guide to understanding the transition from successor trustee to trustee, including the key steps and considerations for managing this important…
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 22, 2025
7 Common Trust Administration Issues

7 Common Trust Administration Issues

Trust administration issues can surface in the first weeks then recur again and again. The good news? Most trust administration issues are predictable.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 22, 2025
Trustee Liability: What Trustees Should Know

Trustee Liability: What Trustees Should Know

Trustee liability is the flip side of trustee authority. When someone accepts control over a trust, they also accept legal duties—and consequences if things go…
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 14, 2025
The Ultimate Trustee Checklist, Step By Step

The Ultimate Trustee Checklist, Step By Step

Serving as a trustee? This comprehensive trustee checklist guides you through every responsibility step-by-step—from asset management to beneficiary…
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 1, 2025
Trust FAQs

Trust FAQs

Understand what really happens after someone passes away, how probate works in plain English, and the practical steps families can take to streamline the…
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 23, 2025
Previous
12345
1...35
Next
SimplyTrust Logo

Every family deserves a plan. We'll help.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Forms

  • EIN Application
  • Petition for Probate and Letters
  • Notice to Creditors
  • Renunciation of Executor
  • Affidavit of Heirship
  • Small Estate Affidavit
  • Estate Inventory
  • Estate Closing
  • Letter of Instruction
  • Digital Assets Recovery Letter
  • Forms for When Someone Dies
  • Forms for Estate Executors
  • Forms for Trustees
  • Forms for Heirs and Beneficiaries
  • All forms

Tools

  • Do I Need Probate
  • Probate Calculator
  • Settle an Estate
  • Settle a Trust
  • Executor Fee Calculator
  • Trustee Compensation
  • Tools for When Someone Dies
  • Tools for Estate Executors
  • Tools for Trustees
  • 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.