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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
All statesAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
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766 news posts

NC Estate Planning Documents That Work Together

NC Estate Planning Documents That Work Together

A NC law firm explains why wills, deeds, trusts, and beneficiary forms must align—and what happens when they don't.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 21, 2026
Disinheriting Someone in California: What the Law Says

Disinheriting Someone in California: What the Law Says

California lets you disinherit adult children but not a spouse. Community property and omitted heir rules determine what your documents can actually control.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 21, 2026
California Conservatorship Powers: What Families Need to Know

California Conservatorship Powers: What Families Need to Know

California's 7 conservatorship powers apply only to limited conservatorships for adults with developmental disabilities, not aging parents.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 20, 2026
Elder Financial Exploitation: Damages and POA Risk

Elder Financial Exploitation: Damages and POA Risk

A $789K West Virginia judgment shows how POA abuse triggers treble damages—and what Virginia families can do to protect against it.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 20, 2026
Out-of-State Heirs and Virginia Probate Rights

Out-of-State Heirs and Virginia Probate Rights

Out-of-state heirs hold equal legal rights in Virginia probate. Learn how distance affects executor duties, bonding, and small estate procedures.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 20, 2026
Trust as IRA Beneficiary: Colorado Rules Explained

Trust as IRA Beneficiary: Colorado Rules Explained

Federal inherited IRA rules changed dramatically. Colorado families need to know how trusts interact with the 10-year withdrawal rule.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 19, 2026
Settling a California Estate Without a Lawyer

Settling a California Estate Without a Lawyer

California families can often settle small estates without a lawyer—if the numbers fit the simplified thresholds.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 19, 2026
Revocable Living Trusts: Key Questions Answered

Revocable Living Trusts: Key Questions Answered

A Q&A guide breaks down how revocable living trusts work, who controls them, and why funding matters for families of all income levels.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 18, 2026
California Trustee Fiduciary Duties Explained

California Trustee Fiduciary Duties Explained

California trustees face strict legal duties under state law. Learn what those duties require and what happens when they're breached.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 18, 2026
Oregon Farm Estate Planning: Trusts, Taxes & Succession

Oregon Farm Estate Planning: Trusts, Taxes & Succession

Oregon's $1M state estate tax exemption and 6–12 month probate make farm succession planning urgent for agricultural families.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 17, 2026
Estate Planning in Missouri: Why Timing Matters

Estate Planning in Missouri: Why Timing Matters

Missouri families face probate timelines of 12–18 months and statutory attorney fees. Early estate planning protects against these costs.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 17, 2026
Protecting an Inheritance from Divorce in California

Protecting an Inheritance from Divorce in California

Inherited assets are separate property in California, but commingling with marital funds can erase that protection. Here's what parents need to know.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 17, 2026
Virginia Military Families: SGLI, POA, and Trust Planning

Virginia Military Families: SGLI, POA, and Trust Planning

Virginia military families face unique estate planning challenges. SGLI, POA, and revocable trusts must work together to protect families.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 17, 2026
California Trust Disputes: What Beneficiaries Can Do

California Trust Disputes: What Beneficiaries Can Do

California trust disputes hinge on deadlines and rights most beneficiaries don't know they have. Here's what the law actually allows.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 17, 2026
Update Your Georgia Will or Trust Before International Travel

Update Your Georgia Will or Trust Before International Travel

International travel reveals outdated Georgia estate plans. Review fiduciaries, trust funding, and beneficiary designations before you leave.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 16, 2026
Estate Planning Checklist Before International Travel

Estate Planning Checklist Before International Travel

International travel forces Georgia families to confront estate planning gaps. Here's what to review before departure.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 16, 2026
NC Probate Final Accounting: What Approval Means

NC Probate Final Accounting: What Approval Means

North Carolina probate final accounting approval requires clerk audit and endorsement — a filing receipt is not enough.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 15, 2026
AI Estate Planning Documents: What Georgia Residents Should Know

AI Estate Planning Documents: What Georgia Residents Should Know

AI tools can draft estate documents, but Georgia's specific legal requirements create real risks for documents created without expert guidance.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 15, 2026
Selling a Trust Home After Death in California

Selling a Trust Home After Death in California

California successor trustees can sell trust property without probate—if the home was properly titled. Here's what the process requires.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 15, 2026
Power of Attorney Over a Parent in California

Power of Attorney Over a Parent in California

A California guide explains why POA must be granted by a capable parent — and what happens when families wait too long.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 14, 2026
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