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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

Connecticut Estate Planning Strategies Reduce Probate Burden

Connecticut Estate Planning Strategies Reduce Probate Burden

Connecticut estate planning strategies can significantly reduce probate costs and timelines through trusts, beneficiary designations, and joint ownership.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 4, 2026
New York Disinheritance Rules: Who Can Be Cut Out of Wills

New York Disinheritance Rules: Who Can Be Cut Out of Wills

New York allows complete disinheritance of children but protects surviving spouses with mandatory 33% elective share rights
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 4, 2026
Wisconsin Digital Assets Need Trust Updates for 2026

Wisconsin Digital Assets Need Trust Updates for 2026

Wisconsin families need updated trust documents to manage digital assets as 2026 brings new challenges for cryptocurrency, cloud storage, and online accounts.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 4, 2026
Personal Property Memorandums Simplify Estate Asset Distribution

Personal Property Memorandums Simplify Estate Asset Distribution

Personal property memorandums offer flexible estate planning solutions for distributing meaningful belongings without formal document amendments.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 4, 2026
When Estate Plans Start Feeling Outdated in Georgia

When Estate Plans Start Feeling Outdated in Georgia

Georgia estate planning attorneys identify warning signs that indicate when estate plans lose alignment with current life circumstances and priorities.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 4, 2026
Wisconsin Medicaid Lookback Rules Create Home Protection Challenges

Wisconsin Medicaid Lookback Rules Create Home Protection Challenges

Wisconsin's 60-month Medicaid lookback creates complex planning challenges for families trying to protect homes from long-term care costs.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 4, 2026
Young Adults Need Estate Planning Documents at 18

Young Adults Need Estate Planning Documents at 18

Young adults in Oklahoma need basic estate planning documents at 18 when parents lose automatic authority over medical and financial decisions.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 4, 2026
Estate Planning Myths: Not Just for the Wealthy in Georgia

Estate Planning Myths: Not Just for the Wealthy in Georgia

Georgia families often avoid estate planning due to wealth myths, but middle-class estates face significant probate costs and delays without proper planning.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 4, 2026
Power of Attorney Account Access Issues in North Carolina

Power of Attorney Account Access Issues in North Carolina

North Carolina residents are finding themselves locked out of their own bank accounts after granting power of attorney, creating barriers instead of assistance.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 4, 2026
Louisiana Power of Attorney vs Interdiction: Planning Choices

Louisiana Power of Attorney vs Interdiction: Planning Choices

Louisiana families can choose proactive power of attorney planning or face reactive interdiction proceedings when incapacity strikes.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 4, 2026
Understanding the Three Key Roles in Family Trusts

Understanding the Three Key Roles in Family Trusts

Estate planning attorney explains how every family trust operates through three key roles: trustor (creator), trustee (manager), and beneficiaries (inheritors).
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 3, 2026
Average Inheritances Double to $1 Million as Wealth Transfer Accelerates

Average Inheritances Double to $1 Million as Wealth Transfer Accelerates

New research shows average inheritances will double to $1 million over the next decade as families navigate increasingly complex asset transfers.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 3, 2026
Texas Ladybird Deed Disclaimers Offer Strategic Creditor Protection

Texas Ladybird Deed Disclaimers Offer Strategic Creditor Protection

Texas families can disclaim Ladybird deed inheritances for creditor protection, though Medicaid recipients face transfer penalties under lookback rules.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 3, 2026
Wisconsin Trust vs Will Debate: What Families Need to Know

Wisconsin Trust vs Will Debate: What Families Need to Know

Wisconsin estate planning requires understanding both trusts and wills, as each serves different purposes in protecting assets and family interests.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 28, 2026
Alternative Burial Methods Change Estate Planning in Idaho

Alternative Burial Methods Change Estate Planning in Idaho

Idaho families increasingly choose alternative burial methods like terramation and eco-friendly options, creating new estate planning considerations for costs…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 28, 2026
Wisconsin Parents Face Court Decisions Without Estate Plans

Wisconsin Parents Face Court Decisions Without Estate Plans

Wisconsin parents without estate plans risk court-appointed guardians and frozen assets during probate, making comprehensive planning essential for family…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 27, 2026
Montana Families Face Probate Without Estate Planning

Montana Families Face Probate Without Estate Planning

Montana families face court supervision, attorney fees, and delays when estates lack proper trust planning, with probate costs typically ranging 2-4% of estate…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 25, 2026
Estate Planning Software Updates Reflect Growing DIY Trend

Estate Planning Software Updates Reflect Growing DIY Trend

Estate planning software continues evolving with comprehensive tools for creating wills, trusts, and other documents without attorney involvement.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 25, 2026
Wisconsin Estate Planning Covers Financial and Medical Decisions

Wisconsin Estate Planning Covers Financial and Medical Decisions

Wisconsin estate planning requires integrated financial and medical planning tools beyond wills to protect families during incapacity situations.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 23, 2026
Estate Planning Conversations: Breaking Missouri Family Silence

Estate Planning Conversations: Breaking Missouri Family Silence

Missouri families who avoid estate planning conversations face costly probate processes and family disputes when silence replaces clear communication.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 23, 2026
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