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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, composed to your state's statute, with the state's filing or delivery instructions.Estate ClosingPrepare the paperwork that closes the estate — the state's closing statement, petition for discharge, or final account, with the state's 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.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, and what proves the trust.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 missed-withdrawal tax.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 AssessmentWhether your state lets you open probate yourself, and what it costs with a lawyer and without one.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 missed-withdrawal tax.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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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)
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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)
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Home→News

Estate Planning News

Estate planning and estate settlement news: tax exemptions, probate court changes, trust and will law, and the rulings that reach families. Summarized for families, not firms.

AllPlanning aheadSettling an estate
All topics911Probate and estate administration389Estate, inheritance, and gift taxes278Trusts114Wills36Powers of attorney and incapacity97Beneficiaries and inheritance349Medicaid and long-term care38Digital assets14
All statesAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
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911 news posts

Ancillary Probate in Washington: How to Avoid It

Ancillary Probate in Washington: How to Avoid It

Washington residents who own out-of-state real estate may face two separate probate proceedings. Here's how to avoid it.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 7, 2026
NC Mobile Home Title Transfer Without Probate

NC Mobile Home Title Transfer Without Probate

NC law allows mobile home title transfers without full probate using Form MVR-317, but survivorship language and heir cooperation determine the outcome.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 5, 2026
Using a Trust to Keep a Parent's Home Out of NC Probate

Using a Trust to Keep a Parent's Home Out of NC Probate

A North Carolina trust keeps a parent's home out of probate only when a deed is signed, delivered, and recorded — not just when the trust is signed.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 5, 2026
Challenging Probate Administration in North Carolina

Challenging Probate Administration in North Carolina

North Carolina law gives heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors tools to challenge a personal representative's conduct during probate.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 5, 2026
North Carolina Probate Litigation: What Families Face

North Carolina Probate Litigation: What Families Face

North Carolina probate litigation covers will contests, executor disputes, and spousal claims — with deadlines as short as 10 days.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 4, 2026
Estate Planning for California Parents with Minor Children

Estate Planning for California Parents with Minor Children

California parents need more than a will. A funded trust protects children, preserves relationships, and avoids costly probate delays.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2026
Wrongful Death and Probate in New Mexico

Wrongful Death and Probate in New Mexico

When a loved one dies unexpectedly in New Mexico, wrongful death claims and probate often run simultaneously. Here's what families need to know.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2026
Wisconsin Estate Planning After Divorce: What to Update

Wisconsin Estate Planning After Divorce: What to Update

Divorce triggers urgent estate planning updates in Wisconsin. Learn what state law changes automatically — and what it misses.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2026
Colorado Homestead Exemptions: What Families Need to Know

Colorado Homestead Exemptions: What Families Need to Know

Colorado has two homestead protections — creditor and property tax — with different rules, limits, and estate planning implications.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2026
Missouri Small Estate Affidavit: Skip Probate Under $40K

Missouri Small Estate Affidavit: Skip Probate Under $40K

Missouri families can bypass full probate for estates under $40,000 using a simplified affidavit process filed with the probate court.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2026
How Often Kansas Families Should Update Estate Plans

How Often Kansas Families Should Update Estate Plans

Kansas families should review estate plans every 3–5 years and after major life events. Here's what Kansas law requires and what to check.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2026
IRA Beneficiary Mistakes That Trigger Wisconsin Probate

IRA Beneficiary Mistakes That Trigger Wisconsin Probate

Naming your estate as an IRA beneficiary in Wisconsin can trigger probate, compressed tax brackets, and accelerated distributions.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 1, 2026

Beneficiary Designation Mistakes That Haunt New York Estates

Outdated beneficiary designations override wills in New York. Here's what families need to know about keeping designations coordinated.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 1, 2026
Charitable Giving in Wisconsin Estate Plans

Charitable Giving in Wisconsin Estate Plans

Wisconsin families can integrate charitable giving into estate plans through wills, trusts, and retirement accounts while protecting family inheritances.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 30, 2026

Massachusetts Estate Tax and the Step-Up Basis Trap

A Massachusetts estate planning attorney's 30-year practice reveals how the state's $2M estate tax threshold creates hidden capital gains risks.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 29, 2026
Invalid POA Used on NC Bank Records: What to Do

Invalid POA Used on NC Bank Records: What to Do

A disputed POA used to access NC bank records raises urgent questions about document validity, agent authority, and how to respond.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 22, 2026
Challenging a Power of Attorney in North Carolina

Challenging a Power of Attorney in North Carolina

North Carolina law provides specific courts and procedures for challenging a power of attorney used without proper authority.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 22, 2026
California Probate Attorney Fees: What Families Pay

California Probate Attorney Fees: What Families Pay

California sets probate attorney fees by statute. Here's what families actually pay and what questions matter most before hiring.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 22, 2026
Transferring Savings Bonds in NC Probate: What Executors Need

Transferring Savings Bonds in NC Probate: What Executors Need

NC executors transferring savings bonds need Letters Testamentary, death certificates, and Treasury forms. Registration controls whether bonds enter probate.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 22, 2026
NC Probate Documents After Estate Transfer Forms Are Mailed

NC Probate Documents After Estate Transfer Forms Are Mailed

NC executors can submit supplemental probate documents after mailing estate transfer forms. Here's what the process requires.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 21, 2026
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