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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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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
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Home→News→Estate and Inheritance Tax News

Estate and Inheritance Tax News

News on estate, inheritance, and gift taxes: exemption changes, state repeals and rate changes, IRS guidance, and the rulings that reach estates and trusts.

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
NewsArticles

278 news posts

How the GOP Tax Bill Could Redefine Your Estate Planning Strategy

How the GOP Tax Bill Could Redefine Your Estate Planning Strategy

The GOP’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ could redefine your estate planning. Find out how this new tax law could impact you.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 21, 2025
Washington’s New Estate and Capital Gains Tax Changes Explained

Washington’s New Estate and Capital Gains Tax Changes Explained

Discover how Washington’s new tax law affects your estate planning.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 21, 2025
New Estate Tax Changes: What You Need to Know

New Estate Tax Changes: What You Need to Know

New estate tax laws will significantly increase exemptions in 2026. Find out how this impacts your estate planning strategies.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 15, 2025
New Estate Tax Law: A Windfall for the Wealthy

New Estate Tax Law: A Windfall for the Wealthy

Explore the impact of the new $15 million estate tax exemption on wealth transfer.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 15, 2025
Understanding the Impact of the New Tax Bill on Estate Planning

Understanding the Impact of the New Tax Bill on Estate Planning

Discover how the new tax bill impacts your estate planning strategies. Understand the changes and stay ahead of the game.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialMay 12, 2025
Navigating the 2025 Tax Cliff: How ‘Death Taxes’ Impact Farm Families

Navigating the 2025 Tax Cliff: How ‘Death Taxes’ Impact Farm Families

Discover how the ‘death taxes’ looming in 2025 could impact farm families, and why estate planning has never been more crucial.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 21, 2025
Demystifying the 2025 Tax Debate: Impact on Estate and Gift Taxes

Demystifying the 2025 Tax Debate: Impact on Estate and Gift Taxes

What will the expiration of key TCJA provisions mean for estate taxes in 2025? Discover how this might impact your estate planning strategies.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 9, 2025
Maryland Keeps Estate Tax Exemptions Steady for 2025

Maryland Keeps Estate Tax Exemptions Steady for 2025

Discover how Maryland’s unchanged estate tax laws impact your estate planning in 2025.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 8, 2025
Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025: What It Means for You

Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025: What It Means for You

Discover how the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025 could impact your estate planning and inheritance.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 16, 2025
Demystifying Roth Conversion Changes in the Trump Tax Cut Law

Demystifying Roth Conversion Changes in the Trump Tax Cut Law

Discover how the Trump Tax Cut Law’s changes to Roth conversions can impact your estate planning and what steps you should consider next.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 14, 2025
Navigating 2025’s Tax Laws and Brackets: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating 2025’s Tax Laws and Brackets: A Comprehensive Guide

Understand the projected 2025 tax laws and how they could influence your estate planning and retirement strategies. Stay ahead and plan smartly!
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 30, 2025
Understanding Upcoming Changes to Tax Brackets in 2025

Understanding Upcoming Changes to Tax Brackets in 2025

Discover how proposed tax bracket changes in 2025 could impact your estate planning decisions!
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 30, 2025
Key 2025 Estate Planning Updates You Need to Know

Key 2025 Estate Planning Updates You Need to Know

Explore the key updates to estate planning laws for 2025 and how they impact you.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 7, 2025
Navigating Tax Implications in the Era of Great Wealth Transfer

Navigating Tax Implications in the Era of Great Wealth Transfer

Uncover the tax implications of the impending Great Wealth Transfer. Understand the potential impact on you and how to prepare for it.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialDecember 12, 2024
Key Estate Planning Changes You Need to Know for 2025

Key Estate Planning Changes You Need to Know for 2025

Upcoming changes in estate planning laws could affect your finances. Are you ready for 2025?
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialNovember 15, 2024
Estate Tax Exemption 2025: The Impact of The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ on Your Estate

Estate Tax Exemption 2025: The Impact of The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ on Your Estate

Discover the impact of the 2025 ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ on estate tax exemptions and how it could save your estate from hefty taxes.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialOctober 23, 2024
Mastering Estate Planning: Navigating Exemptions Amidst Uncertainty

Mastering Estate Planning: Navigating Exemptions Amidst Uncertainty

Navigating the complex world of estate/gift and GST exemptions? Learn how to safeguard your assets amidst uncertainty.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialSeptember 20, 2024
Unpacking 2025’s Tax Changes: What to Know for Your Estate Planning

Unpacking 2025’s Tax Changes: What to Know for Your Estate Planning

The 2025 tax landscape is shifting. Understand these changes for better estate planning and secure your financial future.
News
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 28, 2021
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