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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

Malcolm-Jamal Warner Estate: Texas Trust Lessons

Malcolm-Jamal Warner Estate: Texas Trust Lessons

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's estate shows what happens when a 1996 trust meets a 2022 postnuptial agreement in Texas court.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 13, 2026
SC Estate Tax Exemption Now $15M: What Families Need to Know

SC Estate Tax Exemption Now $15M: What Families Need to Know

Congress permanently raised the federal estate tax exemption to $15M per person in 2026. Here's what South Carolina families need to review.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 9, 2026
Divorce and Your California Estate Plan: What Changes

Divorce and Your California Estate Plan: What Changes

Divorce finalizes in court, but your estate plan doesn't update itself. Here's what California law does—and doesn't—change automatically.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Elder Care Options in Georgia Estate Plans

Elder Care Options in Georgia Estate Plans

Georgia elder care planning intersects directly with wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Here's what families need to know.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
How to Reduce Will Contest Risk in Illinois

How to Reduce Will Contest Risk in Illinois

Illinois families can reduce will contest risk through proper execution, capacity documentation, trusts, and no-contest clauses.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Estate Planning 101: A Life-Stage Roadmap

Estate Planning 101: A Life-Stage Roadmap

A life-stage roadmap for estate planning: from powers of attorney at 18 to trusts in retirement, here is what each phase requires.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Guardianship vs. Conservatorship in Virginia

Guardianship vs. Conservatorship in Virginia

Virginia treats guardianship and conservatorship as separate legal roles. Here's what each covers and how proactive planning can avoid court entirely.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
IRS Gift Tax Fix for Trump Accounts Explained

IRS Gift Tax Fix for Trump Accounts Explained

IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-25 creates a gift tax safe harbor for Trump account contributions, sparing millions of families from Form 709 filing requirements.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts: Minnesota Families Need to Know

Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts: Minnesota Families Need to Know

Minnesota families explore Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts to protect assets from long-term care costs. Here's how MAPTs work and where they fall short.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Trump Accounts and Gift Tax Returns: What Donors Need to Know

Trump Accounts and Gift Tax Returns: What Donors Need to Know

New IRS guidance lets most Trump account donors skip gift tax returns if they stay within the $19,000 annual exclusion safe harbor.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Will vs. Living Trust in Georgia: Key Differences

Will vs. Living Trust in Georgia: Key Differences

Georgia wills and living trusts serve different purposes. Most families with real estate benefit from having both documents working together.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 23, 2026
How Georgia Families Avoid Probate With a Living Trust

How Georgia Families Avoid Probate With a Living Trust

Georgia probate runs 9-12 months and costs 2-4% of estate value. A funded living trust bypasses the process entirely.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 23, 2026
Liam Payne's Estate: What $28M Teaches Parents

Liam Payne's Estate: What $28M Teaches Parents

Liam Payne died without a will at 31, leaving a $28M estate to his 9-year-old son. Here's what that means for your family's plan.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 23, 2026
Avoiding Guardianship in South Carolina: What to Know

Avoiding Guardianship in South Carolina: What to Know

Court-appointed guardianship in South Carolina strips decision-making rights. These legal documents prevent it.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 23, 2026
Georgia Estate Planning Tools: How They Work Together

Georgia Estate Planning Tools: How They Work Together

Georgia estate planning requires coordinated tools—wills, trusts, POAs, and beneficiary designations—to protect families and avoid probate.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 23, 2026
Downsizing in Retirement: What Massachusetts Families Need to Know

Downsizing in Retirement: What Massachusetts Families Need to Know

Massachusetts retirees discover that selling the family home no longer guarantees a financial windfall, reshaping estate planning priorities.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 23, 2026
What to Bring to Your SC Estate Planning Meeting

What to Bring to Your SC Estate Planning Meeting

South Carolina families preparing for an estate planning meeting benefit from gathering documents across five key categories before the consultation.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 23, 2026
FIRE Movement Estate Planning: Michigan Guide

FIRE Movement Estate Planning: Michigan Guide

Michigan FIRE retirees face unique estate planning challenges. Here's what Michigan law means for early retirees building a lasting legacy.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 23, 2026
Estate Planning After Divorce in Kansas

Estate Planning After Divorce in Kansas

Divorce triggers critical estate planning updates in Kansas. Learn what changes automatically and what requires action.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 20, 2026
Elderly Guardianship in Maryland: A Step-by-Step Guide

Elderly Guardianship in Maryland: A Step-by-Step Guide

Maryland's elderly guardianship process involves court petitions, medical proof, and ongoing reporting duties. Proactive planning avoids it entirely.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 20, 2026
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