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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.
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.
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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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→Estate and Inheritance Tax Articles

Estate and Inheritance Tax Articles

Articles on the taxes that reach an estate: the federal exemption, the state estate and inheritance taxes, gift tax rules, step-up in basis, and the returns filed after a death.

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

109 articles

Inheritance Tax in Wyoming: What to Know

Inheritance Tax in Wyoming: What to Know

Wyoming has no inheritance tax, making it tax-friendly for families. Read about its history.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 3, 2026
Estate Tax in Wyoming, the Cowboy State

Estate Tax in Wyoming, the Cowboy State

Wyoming has no estate tax, keeping more wealth in families. Learn why and what it means.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 3, 2026
Inheritance Tax in Wisconsin: What Residents Need to Know

Inheritance Tax in Wisconsin: What Residents Need to Know

Wisconsin has no inheritance tax, making wealth transfer easier
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 3, 2026
Estate Tax in Wisconsin: A Guide

Estate Tax in Wisconsin: A Guide

Wisconsin has no estate tax, making it tax-friendly for families. Read what it means.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 3, 2026
Inheritance Tax in West Virginia: What You Need to Know

Inheritance Tax in West Virginia: What You Need to Know

West Virginia has no inheritance tax, making it tax-friendly for property owners.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 3, 2026
Estate Tax in West Virginia: What You Need to Know

Estate Tax in West Virginia: What You Need to Know

Read about why West Virginia has no estate or inheritance tax as of 2026.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 3, 2026
Inheritance Tax in Virginia: What You Need to Know

Inheritance Tax in Virginia: What You Need to Know

Virginia has no inheritance or estate tax, simplifying planning. Read about inheritance tax in Virginia and what it means for families.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 2, 2026
Estate Tax in Virginia: Old Dominion Doesn’t Tax Legacies

Estate Tax in Virginia: Old Dominion Doesn’t Tax Legacies

Read about estate tax in Virginia, how the state compares to other states, and what it all means for Virginia families.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 2, 2026
The History of Inheritance Tax in Utah

The History of Inheritance Tax in Utah

Read about the history of inheritance tax in Utah and how the state’s lack of inheritance tax impacts property owners in the state.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 2, 2026
The History of Estate Tax in Utah

The History of Estate Tax in Utah

Read about the history of estate tax in Utah and what no estate tax means for Utah families and their estate planning.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 2, 2026
The History of Inheritance Tax in Texas

The History of Inheritance Tax in Texas

Texas never adopted inheritance taxes, reflecting its philosophy on estate taxes. Read about the history of inheritance tax in Texas.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 31, 2026
The History of Estate Tax in Texas: A Timeline of Changes

The History of Estate Tax in Texas: A Timeline of Changes

Texas never had its own estate tax, choosing instead to let federal pickup taxes expire in 2005. Read why the state went this way.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 31, 2026
Tennessee Inheritance Tax History: From Revenue Source to Tax-Free State

Tennessee Inheritance Tax History: From Revenue Source to Tax-Free State

Read about the history of inheritance tax in Tennessee, including when the state levied one and why it no longer does.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 31, 2026
The History of Estate Tax in Tennessee: From Implementation to Elimination

The History of Estate Tax in Tennessee: From Implementation to Elimination

Tennessee eliminated its estate tax in 2005 following federal changes. Read about the history of estate tax in Tennessee.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 31, 2026
Is There Inheritance Tax in South Dakota?

Is There Inheritance Tax in South Dakota?

South Dakota has no inheritance tax, making it tax-friendly for those inheriting. Read about why there’s no inheritance tax in South Dakota.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 31, 2026
The History of Estate Tax in South Dakota

The History of Estate Tax in South Dakota

South Dakota has never imposed estate or inheritance taxes. Why no estate tax in South Dakota? Here’s a quick primer for you.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 31, 2026
The History of Inheritance Tax in Oklahoma

The History of Inheritance Tax in Oklahoma

Oklahoma never imposed inheritance tax. Learn what this means for families doing estate planning in the state.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 31, 2026
The History of Estate Tax in Oklahoma

The History of Estate Tax in Oklahoma

Learn why there’s no estate tax in Oklahoma and what that means for property owners and residents in the state.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 31, 2026
Does Ohio Have an Inheritance Tax? The History

Does Ohio Have an Inheritance Tax? The History

Ohio eliminated inheritance tax in 2013, simplifying estates for property owners. Read about inheritance tax in Ohio.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 30, 2026
Ohio Estate Tax History: From Collection to Elimination

Ohio Estate Tax History: From Collection to Elimination

Ohio eliminated its estate tax in 2013, simplifying planning for property owners. Read about the history of estate tax in Ohio.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 30, 2026
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