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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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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

Why There’s No Inheritance Tax in Hawaii

Why There’s No Inheritance Tax in Hawaii

Learn about inheritance tax in Hawaii, including why there isn’t one and what it means for residents and property owners in the real world.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 14, 2025
Understanding the Hawaii Estate Tax: A Guide

Understanding the Hawaii Estate Tax: A Guide

Understanding the Hawaii estate tax, including why the state has an estate tax and how the tax fits in with federal tax rules.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 14, 2025
Why There’s No Inheritance Tax in Nevada

Why There’s No Inheritance Tax in Nevada

Learn why there’s no inheritance tax in Nevada, one of the reasons the state is an attractive one for estate planning.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 13, 2025
Why There’s No Estate Tax in Nevada

Why There’s No Estate Tax in Nevada

Discover why there’s no estate tax in Nevada, which is one of the reasons that it’s an attractive state for estate planning.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 13, 2025
A Short History of Inheritance Tax in Washington State

A Short History of Inheritance Tax in Washington State

There’s no inheritance tax in Washington. Here’s a short history on the inheritance tax and why the state got rid of it.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 10, 2025
Washington Estate Tax: How We Got Here and Who Pays

Washington Estate Tax: How We Got Here and Who Pays

Navigating the Washington estate tax requires understanding specific exemptions and rates, essential for effective estate planning.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 10, 2025
No, There’s No Inheritance Tax in Vermont

No, There’s No Inheritance Tax in Vermont

Vermont has no inheritance tax but does levy an estate tax on estates over $5 million, emphasizing the need for strategic estate planning.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 8, 2025
Vermont Estate Tax: What It Is and Who Pays

Vermont Estate Tax: What It Is and Who Pays

Learn about the Vermont estate tax landscape, including why the tax exists and important deadlines and practical steps for residents on property owners.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 8, 2025
Why There’s No Inheritance Tax in Rhode Island

Why There’s No Inheritance Tax in Rhode Island

There’s no inheritance tax in Rhode Island. Learn why that’s the case and what it means for state residents and property owners.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 7, 2025
A Rundown of the Rhode Island Estate Tax

A Rundown of the Rhode Island Estate Tax

Understand the Rhode Island estate tax, exemptions, and what it all means for residents and property owners in the state.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 7, 2025
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax: What To Know

Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax: What To Know

Learn about inheritance tax in Pennsylvania, including who has to pay, the applicable tax rates, filing deadlines, and discounts.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 6, 2025
A Short History of Estate Tax in Pennsylvania

A Short History of Estate Tax in Pennsylvania

Is there an estate tax in Pennsylvania? No. So, what does that mean for folks who live in or own property in Pennsylvania. Here’s an overview.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 6, 2025
A Short History of Estate Tax in South Carolina

A Short History of Estate Tax in South Carolina

Explore the ins and outs of estate tax in South Carolina, focusing on federal implications since the state levy does not exist.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 3, 2025
What Happened to Inheritance Tax in Oregon?

What Happened to Inheritance Tax in Oregon?

Learn why there’s no inheritance tax in Oregon and what that means for residents and property owners in the state.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2025
Estate Tax Versus Inheritance Tax: Who Takes the Bite

Estate Tax Versus Inheritance Tax: Who Takes the Bite

Estate tax and inheritance tax are distinct: one is levied on the estate and the other on assets received by beneficiaries, with laws varying by state.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2025
Oregon Estate Tax: The Why and What of It

Oregon Estate Tax: The Why and What of It

Learn about the Oregon estate tax, its history, why it still exists, and what its presence means for residents or property owners.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2025
Inheritance Tax in New York: Why It Doesn’t Exist

Inheritance Tax in New York: Why It Doesn’t Exist

Understand why New York imposes no inheritance tax and what it means for estate planning within the state.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 1, 2025
New York Estate Tax and How the “Cliff” Works

New York Estate Tax and How the “Cliff” Works

Learn about New York’s estate tax, why it exists, and how to manage the “cliff” effect for better estate planning.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 1, 2025
Exploring the Absence of Inheritance Tax in the District of Columbia

Exploring the Absence of Inheritance Tax in the District of Columbia

Discover why there’s no inheritance tax in D.C. and explore what this means for residents or property owners doing estate planning.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 30, 2025
A Rundown of the District of Columbia Estate Tax

A Rundown of the District of Columbia Estate Tax

Navigate the District of Columbia estate tax landscape by understanding why it’s there, who has to pay it and its thresholds.
State
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 30, 2025
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