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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, composed to your state's statute, with the state's filing or delivery instructions.Estate ClosingPrepare the paperwork that closes the estate — the state's closing statement, petition for discharge, or final account, with the state's 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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I'm planning ahead
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.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, and what proves the trust.Trust or Will Decision ToolCompare the cost of probate vs a trust for your state and estate value.
I'm inheriting
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 missed-withdrawal tax.Post-Death Tax Filing GuideFind out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
Someone I love died
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.
I'm an executor
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 AssessmentWhether your state lets you open probate yourself, and what it costs with a lawyer and without one.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.
I'm a trustee
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.
I'm inheriting
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 missed-withdrawal tax.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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State Benefit Programs
Medicaid Estate RecoveryUnclaimed PropertyUnemployment BenefitsPublic PensionsVital Records
Federal Agencies
Administration for Community Living (ACL)Black Lung Benefits ProgramBureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)Defense Health Agency (DHA)Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)DOD Casualty Assistance ProgramDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Energy Employees Occupational Illness Program (EEOICPA)Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)Federal Election Commission (FEC)Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Federal Student Aid (FSA)Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Indian Health Service (IHS)Internal Revenue Service (IRS)National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)NOAA Commissioned Officer CorpsOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)Radiation Exposure Compensation Program (RECA)Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF)Social Security Administration (SSA)Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)Transportation Security Administration (TSA)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)U.S. Coast Guard Casualty Assistance ProgramU.S. Copyright OfficeU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of the TreasuryU.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS)U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)United States Postal Service (USPS)USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
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ArticlesNewsLife Events
Forms
Revocable Living TrustLast Will and TestamentPour-Over WillHealthcare Power of AttorneyFinancial Power of AttorneyTransfer on Death DeedVehicle Transfer on DeathLiving WillEIN ApplicationPetition for Probate and LettersNotice to CreditorsRenunciation of ExecutorAffidavit of HeirshipSmall Estate AffidavitEstate InventoryEstate ClosingLetter of InstructionDigital Assets Recovery Letter
I'm planning ahead
Estate Planning Cost CalculatorRevocable Living Trust Cost CalculatorWill Cost CalculatorLife Insurance CalculatorBeneficiary Designation CheckerState Estate Law GuideEstate Planning Service ComparisonName a Guardian GuideBurial & Cremation Law GuideSigning Requirements CheckerDocument Portability CheckerTrust Need AssessmentTOD Deed AssessmentVehicle TOD AssessmentTrust Account Opening GuideTrust or Will Decision Tool
I'm inheriting
Who Inherits CalculatorEstate & Inheritance Tax CalculatorInheritance Tax GuideStep-Up Basis CalculatorInherited IRA Withdrawal RulesPost-Death Tax Filing Guide
Someone I love died
Death Certificate CalculatorProbate Decision ToolEstate Settlement PlanWhat to Do When Someone Dies Checklist
I'm an executor
Probate Cost CalculatorExecutor Fee CalculatorSelf-File Probate AssessmentExecutor Appointment GuideCreditor Claims DeadlinesInsolvent Estate CalculatorEstate Account Opening GuidePersonal Property Value Estimator
I'm a trustee
Trustee Compensation CalculatorTrust Settlement Plan
I'm inheriting
Who Inherits CalculatorEstate & Inheritance Tax CalculatorInheritance Tax GuideStep-Up Basis CalculatorInherited IRA Withdrawal RulesPost-Death Tax Filing Guide
State Benefit Programs
Medicaid Estate RecoveryUnclaimed PropertyUnemployment BenefitsPublic PensionsVital Records
Federal Agencies
Administration for Community Living (ACL)Black Lung Benefits ProgramBureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)Defense Health Agency (DHA)Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)DOD Casualty Assistance ProgramDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Energy Employees Occupational Illness Program (EEOICPA)Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)Federal Election Commission (FEC)Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Federal Student Aid (FSA)Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Indian Health Service (IHS)Internal Revenue Service (IRS)National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)NOAA Commissioned Officer CorpsOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)Radiation Exposure Compensation Program (RECA)Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF)Social Security Administration (SSA)Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)Transportation Security Administration (TSA)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)U.S. Coast Guard Casualty Assistance ProgramU.S. Copyright OfficeU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of the TreasuryU.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS)U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)United States Postal Service (USPS)USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
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Home→News

Estate Planning News

Estate planning and estate settlement news: tax exemptions, probate court changes, trust and will law, and the rulings that reach families. Summarized for families, not firms.

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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911 news posts

Estate Plans That Stop Working: Common Issues and Solutions

Estate Plans That Stop Working: Common Issues and Solutions

Estate plans can quietly become ineffective as life changes while documents remain static, creating unexpected probate costs and family complications.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 2, 2026
Wisconsin Probate Threatens Business Operations Without Planning

Wisconsin Probate Threatens Business Operations Without Planning

Wisconsin probate can disrupt business operations for months, creating uncertainty over management authority and ownership disputes among heirs.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 2, 2026
Forward Inheritance Tackles $84 Trillion Wealth Transfer Crisis

Forward Inheritance Tackles $84 Trillion Wealth Transfer Crisis

Forward Inheritance CEO discusses how traditional inheritance timing fails families, with wealth arriving in their 60s rather than wealth-building 30s.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 2, 2026
$124 Trillion Wealth Transfer Reshapes Estate Planning

$124 Trillion Wealth Transfer Reshapes Estate Planning

New research reveals 70% of heirs drop family advisors during the $124 trillion wealth transfer by 2048, fundamentally changing estate planning relationships.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 2, 2026
Wisconsin Probate: Fast-Track Strategies to Avoid Delays

Wisconsin Probate: Fast-Track Strategies to Avoid Delays

Wisconsin probate delays stem from poor recordkeeping, will contests, and mandatory waiting periods that extend typical 9-12 month timelines significantly.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 2, 2026
Massachusetts Estate Planning: What Happens Without a Plan

Massachusetts Estate Planning: What Happens Without a Plan

Massachusetts families without estate plans face lengthy probate, court fees up to $390, and intestate succession laws that may not reflect their wishes.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 2, 2026
Texas Dependent Administration: When Courts Supervise Probate

Texas Dependent Administration: When Courts Supervise Probate

Texas dependent administration requires court supervision for estate actions, making probate more expensive and time-consuming than independent administration.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 2, 2026
Wisconsin Parents Need Estate Planning for Child Protection

Wisconsin Parents Need Estate Planning for Child Protection

Wisconsin parents need estate planning now, not later. Without proper trusts and guardianship planning, courts decide children's futures and family finances.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
Alabama Attorney Discusses Probate Dispute Prevention Strategies

Alabama Attorney Discusses Probate Dispute Prevention Strategies

Alabama attorney educates medical professionals on preventing costly probate disputes through proper estate planning and clear distribution strategies.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
Georgia Estate Planning: Starting When You Feel Overwhelmed

Georgia Estate Planning: Starting When You Feel Overwhelmed

Georgia estate planning guidance addresses common overwhelm from conflicting online information, emphasizing professional consultation over self-research.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
Alabama Elder Law Firm Expands Team with New Estate Attorney

Alabama Elder Law Firm Expands Team with New Estate Attorney

Alabama elder law firm adds new estate planning attorney, reflecting growing demand for professional guidance navigating state probate requirements.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
Missouri Intestacy Laws: Who Inherits Without a Will in 2026

Missouri Intestacy Laws: Who Inherits Without a Will in 2026

Missouri's intestacy laws create rigid inheritance rules that often don't reflect modern families' wishes, with complex formulas for spouse and children shares.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
Anna Nicole Smith's Estate Planning Mistakes Offer Lessons

Anna Nicole Smith's Estate Planning Mistakes Offer Lessons

Anna Nicole Smith's estate planning failures led to years of litigation and unintended consequences, offering important lessons about contingent beneficiaries.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
Missouri Executor Compensation: Understanding Statutory Fee Structure

Missouri Executor Compensation: Understanding Statutory Fee Structure

Missouri's statutory executor compensation follows a tiered percentage structure, with fees ranging from 2% to 5% based on estate value, but many personal…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
North Carolina Updates Lady Bird Deed Rules in 2025

North Carolina Updates Lady Bird Deed Rules in 2025

North Carolina clarifies Lady Bird Deed rules in 2025 manual update, confirming no Medicaid lookback but creating new complexity for investment properties.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
Wisconsin Trust Strategies Shield Inheritances from Divorce Claims

Wisconsin Trust Strategies Shield Inheritances from Divorce Claims

Wisconsin families can protect inheritances from divorce and creditors through strategic trust planning that prevents asset commingling.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
90% of Americans Lack Key Power of Attorney Documents

90% of Americans Lack Key Power of Attorney Documents

New research shows 90% of Americans lack essential power of attorney documents, leaving families vulnerable to costly court proceedings during medical…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
Moving Stock Investments to Living Trusts: What Happens

Moving Stock Investments to Living Trusts: What Happens

Transferring stock investments to living trusts preserves portfolio operations while changing ownership structure to avoid probate and provide direct…
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
California Probate Fees vs Trust Administration Costs in 2026

California Probate Fees vs Trust Administration Costs in 2026

California's probate fees often exceed 5% of estate value, while trust administration typically costs 1-2%, creating substantial savings for families.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 25, 2026
Estate Planning Wisdom from Benjamin Franklin's Timeless Principles

Estate Planning Wisdom from Benjamin Franklin's Timeless Principles

Kansas City attorney connects Benjamin Franklin's practical wisdom to modern estate planning, emphasizing preparation and clarity.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 24, 2026
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