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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

Why Trust Funding Matters for Maryland Families

Why Trust Funding Matters for Maryland Families

A Maryland law firm's August 2026 guide explains why an unfunded trust fails families—and what Maryland's probate costs mean for residents.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 25, 2026
Trust Funding in Maryland: Why Empty Trusts Fail Families

Trust Funding in Maryland: Why Empty Trusts Fail Families

Maryland families who create trusts but skip funding face the same probate process they tried to avoid. Here's what that means in practice.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 25, 2026
Trust Funding Gaps in Texas: What Families Risk

Trust Funding Gaps in Texas: What Families Risk

An unfunded Texas trust triggers the probate it was built to avoid. Here's what families risk and how funding gaps happen.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 24, 2026
Kids Protection Plans: Beyond Guardian Nomination

Kids Protection Plans: Beyond Guardian Nomination

Guardian nomination is only one piece of child protection planning. Here's what a complete plan actually covers.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 24, 2026
Do NJ Executors Really Need a Lawyer for Probate?

Do NJ Executors Really Need a Lawyer for Probate?

A NJ elder law attorney says most executors don't need legal help. Here's what that means for New Jersey estate administration.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 24, 2026
Montana Probate: Informal vs. Formal Court Paths

Montana Probate: Informal vs. Formal Court Paths

Montana probate takes two paths. Most estates qualify for informal proceedings. Here's what determines which route applies.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 24, 2026
European Inheritance Taxes vs. Georgia Estate Rules

European Inheritance Taxes vs. Georgia Estate Rules

Europe's 2026 inheritance tax data reveals wide global variation. Here's what it means for Georgia families under state and federal law.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 24, 2026
Missouri Estate Planning: Beyond the Will

Missouri Estate Planning: Beyond the Will

Missouri estate planning requires more than a will. Learn what a complete plan includes and where families most often leave costly gaps.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 22, 2026
Wisconsin Medicaid Recovery: Protecting Your Home

Wisconsin Medicaid Recovery: Protecting Your Home

Wisconsin's Medicaid recovery program can reach non-probate assets, including revocable trusts. Here's what families need to know.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 21, 2026
Per Stirpes in Virginia Wills and Trusts Explained

Per Stirpes in Virginia Wills and Trusts Explained

Virginia uses Modern Per Stirpes distribution by default. Here's what that means for your will, trust, and family inheritance plan.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 20, 2026
What to Do in the First 48 Hours After a Death

What to Do in the First 48 Hours After a Death

The first 48 hours after a death carry real legal and financial risks. Here's what families face and how preparation changes everything.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 20, 2026
Retirement Planning Gaps by Generation in Arkansas

Retirement Planning Gaps by Generation in Arkansas

Fidelity's 2025 study reveals retirement confidence gaps across generations—and what Arkansas families can do in estate planning.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 19, 2026
Estate Planning for Missouri Mothers: A Practical Guide

Estate Planning for Missouri Mothers: A Practical Guide

Missouri mothers face specific legal rules on guardians, probate costs, and powers of attorney. Here's what the state data means for your family.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 18, 2026
Inherited an IRA in California? The 10-Year Rule Explained

Inherited an IRA in California? The 10-Year Rule Explained

California heirs face a 10-year deadline to withdraw inherited IRAs. Here's what the rule means for state income taxes and estate planning.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 18, 2026
When a Beneficiary Dies First: Georgia Inheritance Rules

When a Beneficiary Dies First: Georgia Inheritance Rules

When a Georgia beneficiary dies first, the inheritance rarely goes where families assume. Here's how state law actually works.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 18, 2026
Undue Influence vs. Duress in Virginia Will Contests

Undue Influence vs. Duress in Virginia Will Contests

Undue influence and duress are distinct legal theories in will contests. Here's what Virginia families need to know.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 18, 2026
Virginia Spousal Elective Share: What Spouses Must Know

Virginia Spousal Elective Share: What Spouses Must Know

Virginia law protects surviving spouses from disinheritance through elective share rights and augmented estate rules.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 18, 2026
Which Assets Belong in a Kansas Trust?

Which Assets Belong in a Kansas Trust?

Kansas families risk losing probate protection when trusts go unfunded. Here's what belongs inside—and what stays out.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 18, 2026
Trust Fund Access Denied: The Reiner Case Explained

Trust Fund Access Denied: The Reiner Case Explained

The Nick Reiner trust dispute reveals how age-based distributions, trustee duties, and California's Slayer Statute intersect.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 17, 2026
2026 Federal and State Estate Tax Law Changes Explained

2026 Federal and State Estate Tax Law Changes Explained

The Big Beautiful Bill raises the federal estate tax exemption to $15M per person. Here's what that means for families in MD, DC, and VA.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 17, 2026
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