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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

Hawaii Tax Season Reveals Critical Estate Planning Gap

Hawaii Tax Season Reveals Critical Estate Planning Gap

Hawaii families complete tax prep with full financial pictures but miss critical estate planning updates, creating hidden vulnerabilities in high-stakes…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 23, 2026
Wisconsin Trust Myths: Why You Might Still Face Probate

Wisconsin Trust Myths: Why You Might Still Face Probate

Wisconsin families with trusts may still face probate due to unfunded assets, missing beneficiary designations, and common planning oversights.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 22, 2026
Why 18-Year-Olds Need Estate Planning Documents in Alabama

Why 18-Year-Olds Need Estate Planning Documents in Alabama

Alabama families must prepare essential legal documents when children turn 18, as privacy laws immediately restrict parental access to medical and financial…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 22, 2026
Massachusetts Law Firm Hosts Parent Estate Planning Seminar

Massachusetts Law Firm Hosts Parent Estate Planning Seminar

Massachusetts law firm announces free parent estate planning seminar covering guardianship, inheritance protection, and family planning strategies.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 22, 2026
IRA Beneficiary Rules: 6 Key Questions for Proper Distribution

IRA Beneficiary Rules: 6 Key Questions for Proper Distribution

New guidance clarifies six essential questions for determining IRA beneficiary payout structures under SECURE Act rules affecting retirement planning.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 22, 2026
Montana Trust Funding Guide: Essential Steps After Creation

Montana Trust Funding Guide: Essential Steps After Creation

Montana Elder Law explains why trust funding is essential after creation, detailing transfer processes and consequences of unfunded trusts in Montana's probate…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 22, 2026
Idaho Funeral Planning Changes Estate Planning Decisions

Idaho Funeral Planning Changes Estate Planning Decisions

Idaho guidance connects funeral pre-planning to estate planning, showing how advance decisions protect families from financial stress during grief periods.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 21, 2026
Illinois Elective Share Rules Protect Surviving Spouses

Illinois Elective Share Rules Protect Surviving Spouses

Illinois elective share laws allow surviving spouses to claim one-third of a deceased spouse's estate even when disinherited through a will.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 21, 2026
Solo Aging Drives Estate Planning Urgency in Arkansas

Solo Aging Drives Estate Planning Urgency in Arkansas

Solo aging drives urgent estate planning needs as 21% of Arkansas adults 50+ live alone, yet only 37% have medical powers of attorney.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 20, 2026
North Carolina Power of Attorney Setup Guide: Legal Requirements

North Carolina Power of Attorney Setup Guide: Legal Requirements

North Carolina families need to understand specific legal requirements when establishing power of attorney for aging parents, including notarization rules.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 18, 2026
Wisconsin Blended Family Estate Planning Challenges Emerge

Wisconsin Blended Family Estate Planning Challenges Emerge

Wisconsin blended families face unique inheritance challenges under the state's community property laws, requiring strategic planning to protect biological…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 17, 2026
Maryland Medicaid Planning Strategies Protect Family Assets

Maryland Medicaid Planning Strategies Protect Family Assets

Maryland families can protect assets while qualifying for Medicaid through strategic planning, including irrevocable trusts and proper asset restructuring.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 17, 2026
Kansas Powers of Attorney: Essential Estate Planning Protection

Kansas Powers of Attorney: Essential Estate Planning Protection

Kansas estate planning experts emphasize powers of attorney as essential protection during incapacity, avoiding costly court proceedings.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 16, 2026
Nevada Estate Planning: Why Simple Trusts Work Better

Nevada Estate Planning: Why Simple Trusts Work Better

Nevada estate planning attorney emphasizes simple trust design over complex provisions to reduce administration challenges and family conflicts.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 16, 2026
Wisconsin Estate Planning Reduces Inheritance Burdens and Delays

Wisconsin Estate Planning Reduces Inheritance Burdens and Delays

Wisconsin estate planning can eliminate inheritance delays and reduce administrative burdens through strategic use of trusts and proper documentation.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 15, 2026
Estate Planning Delays Can Cost Families Everything

Estate Planning Delays Can Cost Families Everything

Michigan attorney shares how a woman who inherited smoothly from her parents' well-planned estate left her own family facing avoidable probate delays.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 15, 2026
Estate Planning for Families with Adult Children Facing Addiction

Estate Planning for Families with Adult Children Facing Addiction

Missouri families face complex decisions when addiction affects inheritance planning, requiring protective trusts and structured distributions.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 14, 2026
Idaho Funeral Planning and Estate Costs: What Families Face

Idaho Funeral Planning and Estate Costs: What Families Face

Idaho families face both funeral costs and probate expenses after death, but advance planning can eliminate court costs while funeral pre-planning reduces…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 14, 2026
When Estate Planning Requires Professional Legal Help

When Estate Planning Requires Professional Legal Help

Analysis of when estate planning requires professional legal help versus DIY solutions, examining complexity factors and coordination challenges.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 14, 2026
How Beneficiary Designations Override Wills in Maryland

How Beneficiary Designations Override Wills in Maryland

Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance override wills, creating unintended consequences when estate planning documents aren’t…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 14, 2026
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