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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→Power of Attorney and Incapacity News

Power of Attorney and Incapacity News

News on powers of attorney and incapacity: statutory form changes, agent misuse and bank acceptance cases, guardianship reform, and healthcare directive rules.

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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97 news posts

Coma Without a POA: What Maryland Law Does

Coma Without a POA: What Maryland Law Does

Maryland law does not grant spouses automatic authority during incapacity. Here is what happens without a POA and what documents prevent it.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 31, 2026
Incapacity Without a POA: What Kansas Families Face

Incapacity Without a POA: What Kansas Families Face

Kansas families face conservatorship courts and frozen accounts when incapacity strikes without a power of attorney in place.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 28, 2026
Choosing Estate Plan Roles in Colorado

Choosing Estate Plan Roles in Colorado

Selecting the right executor, trustee, and agents in Colorado determines whether your estate plan works when it matters most.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 27, 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
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
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
4 Estate Planning Documents Virginia Parents Need

4 Estate Planning Documents Virginia Parents Need

Virginia parents need 4 key estate planning documents before their children turn 18. Here's what they are and why timing matters.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 13, 2026
When Your Child Turns 18: Estate Documents for College Families

When Your Child Turns 18: Estate Documents for College Families

When a child turns 18, parents lose automatic medical and financial access. Three documents restore that authority before college starts.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 12, 2026
Incapacity Planning in Missouri: What Families Need

Incapacity Planning in Missouri: What Families Need

Missouri families face real legal gaps without incapacity planning. Learn what documents the state requires and why timing matters.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 11, 2026
Estate Planning When Your Kids Live in Different States

Estate Planning When Your Kids Live in Different States

When children live in different states, Colorado estate plans face real logistical risks around probate, POAs, and property ownership.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 10, 2026
LGBTQ+ Estate Planning in California: What Families Need to Know

LGBTQ+ Estate Planning in California: What Families Need to Know

California's intestate laws leave unmarried partners legally unprotected. Here's what LGBTQ+ families need to know about estate planning.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 6, 2026
When Kentucky Banks Reject Your Power of Attorney

When Kentucky Banks Reject Your Power of Attorney

Kentucky banks can legally reject a power of attorney. Here is what families need to know and what steps to take when it happens.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialAugust 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
POA Misuse After a Parent's Death: NC Guide

POA Misuse After a Parent's Death: NC Guide

A North Carolina heir discovers possible POA misuse. Here's how the estate process, fiduciary duties, and court deadlines apply.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
When Power of Attorney Ends at Death in NC

When Power of Attorney Ends at Death in NC

A financial power of attorney ends at death in NC. Here's what authority actually governs estate administration after someone passes away.
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
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
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
Dementia Planning and Estate Planning in Missouri

Dementia Planning and Estate Planning in Missouri

Rising dementia rates make incapacity planning essential. Missouri's POA and healthcare directive rules mean timing is everything.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 20, 2026
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