Topic
Estate Planning Basics
New to estate planning? Start here. These guides cover checklists, beneficiary designations, digital assets, and tax strategies.
11 guides
Estate Planning Checklist — Everything You Need to Get Your Affairs in Order
A comprehensive estate planning checklist organized by phase — from the essential documents every adult needs to advanced planning for larger estates and business owners. Use this guide to identify what you have, what you are missing, and what to tackle first.
Estate Tax Guide: Who Actually Pays, and How to Plan
Estate tax is widely misunderstood — most Americans will never owe a dollar of federal estate tax, but state-level rules and the looming "sunset" of current exemptions make it worth understanding. This guide explains who actually pays estate tax, how it differs from inheritance tax, and which planning strategies can reduce or eliminate the bill.
Digital Assets and Estate Planning: What Happens to Your Online Life
Digital assets estate planning requires deliberate action because online accounts, cryptocurrency, and digital files don't transfer automatically the way physical property does. This guide explains what counts as a digital asset, how to document what you own, and how to give your executor legal access without compromising your security today.
How to Update Beneficiaries on Your Financial Accounts
Knowing how to update beneficiaries is one of the most important — and most overlooked — steps in estate planning, because beneficiary designations override your will entirely. This guide explains which accounts have them, when to update them, and the costly mistakes that trip up even well-intentioned families.
What Is a Beneficiary? A Complete Guide to Beneficiary Designations
Understand what a beneficiary is, the difference between primary and contingent beneficiaries, and why keeping designations updated is critical.
What Happens to Debt When You Die?
Your debts don't simply disappear when you die. Learn which debts your estate must pay, which family members are responsible, and how to protect your heirs.
How to Name a Guardian for Your Children in Your Will
Learn how to choose and legally name a guardian for your minor children, what happens without one, and the key factors courts consider.
Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship Explained
Joint tenancy automatically transfers property to surviving co-owners when one dies — but it comes with tax, control, and creditor risks worth understanding.
10 Estate Planning Mistakes That Can Devastate Your Family
The most common estate planning errors — from outdated beneficiaries to unfunded trusts — and exactly how to fix them before it's too late.
Transfer-on-Death Deed: Pass Real Estate Without Probate
A transfer-on-death deed lets you name a beneficiary for your home who receives it automatically when you die — without probate, trusts, or joint tenancy risks.
Step-Up in Basis: How Inherited Assets Reduce Your Tax Bill
The step-up in basis rule resets the cost basis of inherited assets to their value at death, potentially eliminating years of capital gains taxes.