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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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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.

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Medicaid Estate Recovery Unclaimed Property Unemployment Benefits Public Pensions Vital Records

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Administration for Community Living (ACL)Black Lung Benefits Program Bureau 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 Program Drug 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 Corps Office 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 Program U.S. Copyright Office U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of the Treasury U.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)

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Estate Planning Estate Settlement All articles

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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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Articles News Life Events

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 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

I'm planning ahead

Estate Planning Cost Calculator Revocable Living Trust Cost Calculator Will Cost Calculator Life Insurance Calculator Beneficiary Designation Checker State Estate Law Guide Estate Planning Service Comparison Name a Guardian Guide Burial & Cremation Law Guide Signing Requirements Checker Document Portability Checker Trust Need Assessment TOD Deed Assessment Vehicle TOD Assessment Trust Account Opening Guide Trust or Will Decision Tool

I'm inheriting

Who Inherits Calculator Estate & Inheritance Tax Calculator Inheritance Tax Guide Step-Up Basis Calculator Inherited IRA Withdrawal Rules Post-Death Tax Filing Guide

Someone I love died

Death Certificate Calculator Probate Decision Tool Estate Settlement Plan What to Do When Someone Dies Checklist

I'm an executor

Probate Cost Calculator Executor Fee Calculator Self-File Probate Assessment Executor Appointment Guide Creditor Claims Deadlines Insolvent Estate Calculator Estate Account Opening Guide Personal Property Value Estimator

I'm a trustee

Trustee Compensation Calculator Trust Settlement Plan

I'm inheriting

Who Inherits Calculator Estate & Inheritance Tax Calculator Inheritance Tax Guide Step-Up Basis Calculator Inherited IRA Withdrawal Rules Post-Death Tax Filing Guide

State Benefit Programs

Medicaid Estate Recovery Unclaimed Property Unemployment Benefits Public Pensions Vital Records

Federal Agencies

Administration for Community Living (ACL)Black Lung Benefits Program Bureau 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 Program Drug 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 Corps Office 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 Program U.S. Copyright Office U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of the Treasury U.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)

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Home→Articles→Will Articles

Will Articles

Articles on wills: what a will covers, the signing and witness requirements by state, what a will costs, and how a will is admitted to probate.

Topic

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

State

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

Type

15 articles

Why Amending Wills Is So Difficult: The Legal Hurdles You Face

Why Amending Wills Is So Difficult: The Legal Hurdles You Face

Legal hurdles make amending wills complex and risky.

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 27, 2026

What Is a Precatory Clause in Estate Planning Documents?

What Is a Precatory Clause in Estate Planning Documents?

Learn what precatory clauses are and how they work in wills.

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 13, 2026

Living Wills Versus Last Wills: Understanding the Critical Differences

Living Wills Versus Last Wills: Understanding the Critical Differences

Learn the key differences between living wills and last wills.

SimplyTrust EditorialMarch 9, 2026

Trust vs. Will: What’s the Difference?

Trust vs. Will: What’s the Difference?

Planning your estate involves choosing between wills and trusts. Understand their differences to make informed decisions for asset management and family care.

Estate Planning Terms

SimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 29, 2026

The Role of Witnesses in Trusts and Wills

The Role of Witnesses in Trusts and Wills

Witnesses serve as crucial validators of estate planning documents, verifying signatures and providing legal assurance that protects against future disputes…

Estate Planning 101

SimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 8, 2026

Wills vs. Pour-Over Wills: A Snapshot

Wills vs. Pour-Over Wills: A Snapshot

Wills vs. pour-over wills. Understand the differences between these very different estate management tools.

Estate Planning 101

SimplyTrust 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.

SimplyTrust EditorialDecember 22, 2025

Estate Inventory Checklist: Complete Guide to Cataloging Your Assets

Estate Inventory Checklist: Complete Guide to Cataloging Your Assets

An estate inventory checklist simplifies asset management and distribution by helping you organize everything from financial accounts and real estate to…

Estate Planning 101

SimplyTrust EditorialDecember 16, 2025

Average Will Attorney Fees Over Time

Average Will Attorney Fees Over Time

Understanding will attorney fees over time is essential for anyone looking to maintain a will that reflects their current wishes.

SimplyTrust EditorialDecember 1, 2025

Average Attorney Fees for Establishing Wills

Average Attorney Fees for Establishing Wills

One of the most common questions associated with estate planning is what average attorney fees for establishing wills are.

SimplyTrust EditorialNovember 26, 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

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

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

20 Common Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Estate planning is crucial for asset management and family care. Avoid common mistakes like outdated wills, missing trusts, or neglecting digital assets.

Estate Planning

SimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 6, 2025

Contesting a Trust vs. Contesting a Will

Contesting a trust or a will involves understanding key differences: legal processes, timing, and complexity. This guide explores crucial distinctions.

Estate Planning 101

SimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 30, 2025

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