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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

NC Probate Final Accounting: What Approval Means

NC Probate Final Accounting: What Approval Means

North Carolina probate final accounting approval requires clerk audit and endorsement — a filing receipt is not enough.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 15, 2026
Civil Judgments and NC Probate: What Families Face

Civil Judgments and NC Probate: What Families Face

A pre-death civil judgment can become an estate claim in NC, reducing what beneficiaries receive and complicating probate administration.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 13, 2026
Living Trusts and Privacy in New Jersey Estates

Living Trusts and Privacy in New Jersey Estates

A NJ elder law attorney now cites privacy as a key reason for living trusts, especially for blended families navigating public probate records.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 13, 2026
Delaware Asset Protection Trusts: What Families Should Know

Delaware Asset Protection Trusts: What Families Should Know

Delaware's Court of Chancery and professional trustee industry make it a strong choice for asset protection trusts. Here's what families need to know.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 11, 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
When to Review Your Georgia Estate Plan

When to Review Your Georgia Estate Plan

Georgia estate plans need regular reviews. Divorce, fiduciary changes, and federal tax shifts can all make an existing plan work against your family.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 10, 2026
Digital Assets in a Georgia Estate Plan

Digital Assets in a Georgia Estate Plan

Georgia estate plans regularly miss digital assets. Here's what the gap costs families and how Georgia law addresses it.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 10, 2026
When Georgia Estates Skip Full Probate

When Georgia Estates Skip Full Probate

Georgia law provides several paths to settle estates without full probate. Here is what families need to know about each option.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 10, 2026
IRAs, Trusts, and Wisconsin Estate Plans: Aligning All Three

IRAs, Trusts, and Wisconsin Estate Plans: Aligning All Three

Wisconsin families often hold IRAs, trusts, and beneficiary forms that conflict. Here's how to align all three under state law.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 9, 2026
Safe-Deposit Box Access After Death in Wisconsin

Safe-Deposit Box Access After Death in Wisconsin

Wisconsin families face legal hurdles accessing safe-deposit boxes after death. Learn how probate authority, affidavits, and estate size affect access.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 8, 2026
What Idaho Living Trusts Do and Don't Do

What Idaho Living Trusts Do and Don't Do

Idaho living trusts avoid probate and protect privacy, but won't reduce taxes, qualify you for Medicaid, or shield assets from creditors while you live.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 4, 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
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
Ancillary Probate in North Carolina: What Heirs Need to Know

Ancillary Probate in North Carolina: What Heirs Need to Know

When a parent dies without a will and owns North Carolina land, ancillary probate is almost always required — even if an estate is open in another state.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 2, 2026
Connecticut Domicile Rules and Estate Tax Disputes

Connecticut Domicile Rules and Estate Tax Disputes

A Connecticut estate tax dispute open since 2015 highlights how domicile rules affect families who live across state lines.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 1, 2026
Talking to Aging Parents About Estate Plans in MN

Talking to Aging Parents About Estate Plans in MN

Minnesota families face real legal and financial consequences when aging parents lack estate plans. Here's what the conversation covers.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 1, 2026
Do You Need a Probate Attorney in Massachusetts?

Do You Need a Probate Attorney in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts allows self-representation in probate, but personal liability and strict deadlines make the process risky without legal guidance.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 1, 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
Why Georgia Families File Wills with Probate Court

Why Georgia Families File Wills with Probate Court

Georgia families file wills with probate court to confirm validity, authorize executors, and prevent heir disputes — even when full probate isn't required.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 1, 2026
Oregon's Estate Planning Diversity Gap and What It Means

Oregon's Estate Planning Diversity Gap and What It Means

ACTEC Foundation grants reveal Oregon has only 4 Black T&E attorneys. Here's what that gap means for Oregon estate planning.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 1, 2026
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