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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

Wisconsin Pour-Over Wills Serve as Estate Planning Safety Net

Wisconsin Pour-Over Wills Serve as Estate Planning Safety Net

Wisconsin estate planning firms highlight pour-over wills as safety nets for unfunded trust assets, though proper trust funding remains the best probate…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 13, 2026
How Payable-on-Death Accounts Reshape Minnesota Estate Plans

How Payable-on-Death Accounts Reshape Minnesota Estate Plans

POD accounts bypass probate but can override wills, creating coordination challenges for Minnesota families with comprehensive estate plans.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 13, 2026
Kentucky Estate Planning: Unknown Laws and Hidden Threats

Kentucky Estate Planning: Unknown Laws and Hidden Threats

Kentucky estate planning requires understanding complex state laws and external threats that can undermine even well-crafted plans.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 13, 2026
Estate Tax Reform Proposal Could Transform Wealth Taxation

Estate Tax Reform Proposal Could Transform Wealth Taxation

Tax scholar proposes abolishing estate tax and taxing inheritances as income instead, potentially transforming wealth taxation for billionaires.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 13, 2026
New Jersey Trusts: When Revocable vs Irrevocable Makes Sense

New Jersey Trusts: When Revocable vs Irrevocable Makes Sense

New Jersey attorney explains when revocable vs irrevocable trusts make sense for asset protection, highlighting the state’s unique probate advantages.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 12, 2026
Colorado Trust Trustee Selection: Key Considerations for Families

Colorado Trust Trustee Selection: Key Considerations for Families

Colorado families face critical decisions when selecting trustees, with choices affecting investment management, tax compliance, and family dynamics for…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 9, 2026
Wisconsin Special Needs Trust Guide: Protecting Benefits

Wisconsin Special Needs Trust Guide: Protecting Benefits

Wisconsin families with disabled loved ones need specialized estate planning to protect government benefits while providing financial support through trusts.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 9, 2026
How to Keep Your Missouri Estate Plan Current and Effective

How to Keep Your Missouri Estate Plan Current and Effective

Missouri families risk costly probate delays when estate plans become outdated, particularly with conflicting beneficiary designations that override trust…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 9, 2026
New York Will Requirements: Digital Wills and Execution Rules

New York Will Requirements: Digital Wills and Execution Rules

New York’s new digital will legislation requires strict compliance, including court filing within 30 days, while traditional execution requirements remain…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 9, 2026
Retirement Account Inheritance Rights for Surviving Spouses

Retirement Account Inheritance Rights for Surviving Spouses

401(k) plans provide automatic spousal inheritance protection under ERISA, but IRAs rely entirely on beneficiary forms – creating major gaps when accounts roll…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 9, 2026
Illinois Estate Plan Updates After Marriage, Divorce, or Death

Illinois Estate Plan Updates After Marriage, Divorce, or Death

Illinois estate plans need updates after marriage, divorce, or death to prevent assets going to wrong recipients and family conflicts.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 9, 2026
Basic Estate Plan Components Required Under North Carolina Law

Basic Estate Plan Components Required Under North Carolina Law

North Carolina residents need four core estate planning documents: will, healthcare proxy, financial power of attorney, and advance directive to protect…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 9, 2026
Understanding Wills vs Power of Attorney in North Carolina

Understanding Wills vs Power of Attorney in North Carolina

North Carolina law requires different execution standards for wills and powers of attorney, with each document serving distinct purposes in estate planning.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 9, 2026
Virginia Intestacy Laws: What Happens Without a Will

Virginia Intestacy Laws: What Happens Without a Will

Virginia’s intestacy laws create rigid inheritance patterns that often conflict with family expectations, particularly affecting blended families and real…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 7, 2026
Wisconsin Estate Planning: Wills vs Trusts for Asset Protection

Wisconsin Estate Planning: Wills vs Trusts for Asset Protection

Wisconsin estate planning requires understanding key differences between wills and trusts, especially given the state’s marital property laws and probate…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 7, 2026
Dave Ramsey Emphasizes Estate Planning for All Americans

Dave Ramsey Emphasizes Estate Planning for All Americans

Financial advisor Dave Ramsey emphasizes estate planning as essential for all adults, not just the wealthy, warning against costly assumptions.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 7, 2026
Trump Accounts Program Launches with BNY as Initial Trustee

Trump Accounts Program Launches with BNY as Initial Trustee

Treasury designates BNY as initial trustee for Trump Accounts program, with rollover options to successor trustees starting July 2026.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 7, 2026
Oregon vs Washington Estate Tax Changes Create Planning Urgency

Oregon vs Washington Estate Tax Changes Create Planning Urgency

Oregon keeps nation’s lowest $1M estate tax exemption while Washington raises threshold to $3.076M but imposes 35% top rate, creating complex planning…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 6, 2026
Kansas Living Trust Benefits: Avoiding Probate and Protecting Families

Kansas Living Trust Benefits: Avoiding Probate and Protecting Families

Kansas families benefit from living trusts to avoid 9-15 month probate delays, reduce 2-4% estate costs, and maintain privacy for children and assets.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 6, 2026
Connecticut Guardian Nominations: Protecting Children’s Future

Connecticut Guardian Nominations: Protecting Children’s Future

Connecticut requires guardian nominations through properly executed wills. Without documentation, probate courts decide based on children’s best interests.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 6, 2026
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