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Home→News→News for Planning Ahead

News for Planning Ahead

News that changes a plan made ahead of time: federal and state tax exemptions, will and trust law, powers of attorney, transfer on death rules, and the court decisions that reach them.

AllPlanning aheadSettling an estate
All topics911Probate and estate administration389Estate, inheritance, and gift taxes278Trusts114Wills36Powers of attorney and incapacity97Beneficiaries and inheritance349Medicaid and long-term care38Digital assets14
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766 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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