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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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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, 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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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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
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Home→News→Probate and Estate Administration News

Probate and Estate Administration News

News that reaches an estate in administration: probate court changes, small estate thresholds, executor and administrator rulings, and filing deadlines.

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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389 news posts

Ancillary Probate in Washington: How to Avoid It

Ancillary Probate in Washington: How to Avoid It

Washington residents who own out-of-state real estate may face two separate probate proceedings. Here's how to avoid it.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 7, 2026
NC Mobile Home Title Transfer Without Probate

NC Mobile Home Title Transfer Without Probate

NC law allows mobile home title transfers without full probate using Form MVR-317, but survivorship language and heir cooperation determine the outcome.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 5, 2026
Using a Trust to Keep a Parent's Home Out of NC Probate

Using a Trust to Keep a Parent's Home Out of NC Probate

A North Carolina trust keeps a parent's home out of probate only when a deed is signed, delivered, and recorded — not just when the trust is signed.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 5, 2026
Challenging Probate Administration in North Carolina

Challenging Probate Administration in North Carolina

North Carolina law gives heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors tools to challenge a personal representative's conduct during probate.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 5, 2026
Wrongful Death and Probate in New Mexico

Wrongful Death and Probate in New Mexico

When a loved one dies unexpectedly in New Mexico, wrongful death claims and probate often run simultaneously. Here's what families need to know.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2026
Missouri Small Estate Affidavit: Skip Probate Under $40K

Missouri Small Estate Affidavit: Skip Probate Under $40K

Missouri families can bypass full probate for estates under $40,000 using a simplified affidavit process filed with the probate court.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 2, 2026
How Often Kansas Families Should Update Estate Plans

How Often Kansas Families Should Update Estate Plans

Kansas families should review estate plans every 3–5 years and after major life events. Here's what Kansas law requires and what to check.
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

Massachusetts Estate Tax and the Step-Up Basis Trap

A Massachusetts estate planning attorney's 30-year practice reveals how the state's $2M estate tax threshold creates hidden capital gains risks.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 29, 2026
California Probate Attorney Fees: What Families Pay

California Probate Attorney Fees: What Families Pay

California sets probate attorney fees by statute. Here's what families actually pay and what questions matter most before hiring.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 22, 2026
Transferring Savings Bonds in NC Probate: What Executors Need

Transferring Savings Bonds in NC Probate: What Executors Need

NC executors transferring savings bonds need Letters Testamentary, death certificates, and Treasury forms. Registration controls whether bonds enter probate.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 22, 2026
NC Probate Documents After Estate Transfer Forms Are Mailed

NC Probate Documents After Estate Transfer Forms Are Mailed

NC executors can submit supplemental probate documents after mailing estate transfer forms. Here's what the process requires.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 21, 2026
NC Estate Planning Documents That Work Together

NC Estate Planning Documents That Work Together

A NC law firm explains why wills, deeds, trusts, and beneficiary forms must align—and what happens when they don't.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 21, 2026
Out-of-State Heirs and Virginia Probate Rights

Out-of-State Heirs and Virginia Probate Rights

Out-of-state heirs hold equal legal rights in Virginia probate. Learn how distance affects executor duties, bonding, and small estate procedures.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 20, 2026
Settling a California Estate Without a Lawyer

Settling a California Estate Without a Lawyer

California families can often settle small estates without a lawyer—if the numbers fit the simplified thresholds.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 19, 2026
Revocable Living Trusts: Key Questions Answered

Revocable Living Trusts: Key Questions Answered

A Q&A guide breaks down how revocable living trusts work, who controls them, and why funding matters for families of all income levels.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 18, 2026
Oregon Farm Estate Planning: Trusts, Taxes & Succession

Oregon Farm Estate Planning: Trusts, Taxes & Succession

Oregon's $1M state estate tax exemption and 6–12 month probate make farm succession planning urgent for agricultural families.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 17, 2026
Estate Planning in Missouri: Why Timing Matters

Estate Planning in Missouri: Why Timing Matters

Missouri families face probate timelines of 12–18 months and statutory attorney fees. Early estate planning protects against these costs.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 17, 2026
Estate Planning Checklist Before International Travel

Estate Planning Checklist Before International Travel

International travel forces Georgia families to confront estate planning gaps. Here's what to review before departure.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 16, 2026
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