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Revocable Living TrustCreate a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.Last Will and TestamentName your heirs, guardians, and final wishes. Free for every state.Pour-Over WillCatch anything outside your trust. Pairs with your revocable trust.Healthcare Power of AttorneyName someone to make medical decisions if you can't.Financial Power of AttorneyName someone to manage your finances if you can't.Transfer on Death DeedTransfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate. Available in 34 states and the District of Columbia.Vehicle Transfer on DeathName a beneficiary to inherit your vehicle at death without probate. Available in 26 states and the District of Columbia.Living WillState in advance which life-sustaining treatments you want or refuse, in the document your state recognizes, with signing instructions from the statute.
EIN ApplicationGet the tax ID number (EIN) banks require to open an estate account or trust account after someone dies.Petition for Probate and LettersOpen probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.Notice to CreditorsNotify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.Renunciation of ExecutorDecline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.Affidavit of HeirshipPrepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.Small Estate AffidavitCollect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.Estate InventoryPrepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, with your state's filing or delivery instructions.Estate ClosingPrepare the paperwork that closes the estate — the state's closing instrument with its closing instructions, and the optional federal forms.Letter of InstructionPrepare the letter a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement, addressed to its claims department.Digital Assets Recovery LetterPrepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
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Estate Planning Cost CalculatorCompare costs across estate planning providers including online services and attorneys.Revocable Living Trust Cost CalculatorCompare revocable living trust costs across providers including online services and attorneys.Will Cost CalculatorCompare will costs across providers plus probate costs your heirs will pay.Life Insurance CalculatorCalculate your life insurance needs based on income, debts, and family situation.Beneficiary Designation CheckerCheck how divorce, creditors, and state laws affect your beneficiary designations.State Estate Law GuideSee probate costs, will requirements, trust rules, and intestacy laws for your state.Estate Planning Service ComparisonCompare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker, and when your documents are actually done.Name a Guardian GuideSee how a parent names a guardian for their minor children, what weight the court gives your choice, and your options for temporary care.Burial & Cremation Law GuideSee who controls final arrangements, cremation and burial rules, and what your state allows.Signing Requirements CheckerFind witness, notary, and remote signing requirements for all 50 states.Document Portability CheckerCheck if estate planning documents signed in one state are valid in another.Trust Need AssessmentFind out if a revocable trust makes sense based on your state, estate value, and family situation.TOD Deed AssessmentFind out if a transfer on death deed can keep your property out of probate.Vehicle TOD AssessmentFind out if you can name a beneficiary on your vehicle title to skip probate.Trust Account Opening GuideCompare trust-account requirements bank by bank: how a revocable trust account is opened or retitled, what proves the trust, and what the successor trustee faces.Trust or Will Decision ToolCompare the cost of probate vs a trust for your state and estate value.
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Who Inherits CalculatorFind out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will.Estate & Inheritance Tax CalculatorCalculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.Inheritance Tax GuideInheritance tax by state, federal tax on inheritance, and timeline estimates for receiving money, property, or retirement assets.Step-Up Basis CalculatorCalculate the new cost basis on inherited assets under IRC § 1014 and project capital gains tax savings.Inherited IRA Withdrawal RulesSee which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the tax for a missed withdrawal.Post-Death Tax Filing GuideFind out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
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Death Certificate CalculatorCalculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.Probate Decision ToolFind out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.Estate Settlement PlanPersonalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.What to Do When Someone Dies ChecklistA step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
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Probate Cost CalculatorEstimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate.Executor Fee CalculatorCalculate how much an executor can charge for administering an estate.Self-File Probate AssessmentFind out if you can handle probate yourself with estimated cost savings and a filing checklist.Executor Appointment GuideSee the court, petition, bond, and documents needed to be appointed and receive your Letters.Creditor Claims DeadlinesFind creditor claim deadlines, notice requirements, and payment priority order for your state.Insolvent Estate CalculatorSee the order your state pays an insolvent estate's debts and which claims go unpaid.Estate Account Opening GuideCompare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.Personal Property Value EstimatorEstimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
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Trustee Compensation CalculatorFind out what fair compensation looks like for serving as trustee.Trust Settlement PlanPersonalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away.
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Who Inherits CalculatorFind out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will.Estate & Inheritance Tax CalculatorCalculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.Inheritance Tax GuideInheritance tax by state, federal tax on inheritance, and timeline estimates for receiving money, property, or retirement assets.Step-Up Basis CalculatorCalculate the new cost basis on inherited assets under IRC § 1014 and project capital gains tax savings.Inherited IRA Withdrawal RulesSee which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the tax for a missed withdrawal.Post-Death Tax Filing GuideFind out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
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Home→News→Beneficiary and Inheritance News

Beneficiary and Inheritance News

News on inheritance: beneficiary designation and survivorship rulings, intestacy changes, inheritance disputes, and the transfer of wealth between generations.

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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349 news posts

Wisconsin Estate Planning After Divorce: What to Update

Wisconsin Estate Planning After Divorce: What to Update

Divorce triggers urgent estate planning updates in Wisconsin. Learn what state law changes automatically — and what it misses.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2026
IRA Beneficiary Mistakes That Trigger Wisconsin Probate

IRA Beneficiary Mistakes That Trigger Wisconsin Probate

Naming your estate as an IRA beneficiary in Wisconsin can trigger probate, compressed tax brackets, and accelerated distributions.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 1, 2026

Beneficiary Designation Mistakes That Haunt New York Estates

Outdated beneficiary designations override wills in New York. Here's what families need to know about keeping designations coordinated.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 1, 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
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
Leaving a House to Multiple Children: What Happens Next

Leaving a House to Multiple Children: What Happens Next

Leaving a home to multiple children equally sounds fair—until siblings disagree on selling, living there, or covering costs.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 11, 2026
DNA Testing and Missouri Estate Planning Risks

DNA Testing and Missouri Estate Planning Risks

DNA test discoveries can threaten Missouri estate plans when documents use vague beneficiary language. Here's what families need to know.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 3, 2026
Life Insurance and Estate Plans Must Work Together

Life Insurance and Estate Plans Must Work Together

Life insurance proceeds follow beneficiary forms, not wills or trusts. Here's what families need to know about coordinating both.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 3, 2026
Malcolm-Jamal Warner Estate Plan Gap Warning

Malcolm-Jamal Warner Estate Plan Gap Warning

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's estate dispute shows why signed documents alone don't make a functioning estate plan.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 2, 2026
Blended Families in Washington: Beneficiary Designation Risks

Blended Families in Washington: Beneficiary Designation Risks

Outdated beneficiary designations create serious risks for blended families in Washington, where community property rules add complexity.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 2, 2026
7 Steps to Prepare for Estate Planning

7 Steps to Prepare for Estate Planning

Seven preparation steps help families get more from estate planning, whether meeting an attorney or starting a trust online.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 1, 2026
Wisconsin HSA Beneficiary Designations: The Tax Trap

Wisconsin HSA Beneficiary Designations: The Tax Trap

Wisconsin HSAs become fully taxable at death for non-spouse beneficiaries. Learn how beneficiary choices affect your family's tax bill.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 31, 2026
When Inheritance Goes Wrong: Protecting Your Estate

When Inheritance Goes Wrong: Protecting Your Estate

A viral inheritance dispute reveals why beneficiary designations can override a will—and how trusts prevent this outcome.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 31, 2026
When a Clear Will Still Tears Families Apart

When a Clear Will Still Tears Families Apart

A clear will didn't stop siblings from demanding equal shares of an $800,000 estate. Here's what the law actually says.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 29, 2026
Wisconsin Estate Alignment: Property, Retirement, and Beneficiaries

Wisconsin Estate Alignment: Property, Retirement, and Beneficiaries

Wisconsin families risk asset misalignment when wills, beneficiary forms, and property titles point in different directions.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 27, 2026
Missouri Estate Planning Mistakes That Cost Families

Missouri Estate Planning Mistakes That Cost Families

Missouri estate planning mistakes carry real legal costs. Here's what families need to know about avoiding them under state law.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 27, 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
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
$36 Trillion Boomer Wealth Transfer: Who Actually Gets It

$36 Trillion Boomer Wealth Transfer: Who Actually Gets It

Visa projects $36T in boomer wealth transfers, but 75% flows to top earners. Most millennials expecting inheritances will receive nothing.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 17, 2026
Malcolm-Jamal Warner Estate Case: Intention vs. Implementation

Malcolm-Jamal Warner Estate Case: Intention vs. Implementation

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's estate case reveals why signing documents is only the first step — implementation gaps can undo even well-intentioned plans.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 13, 2026
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