Estate planning &
settlement resources

Find unclaimed retirement benefits left by a deceased person using free national and state databases. Guide updated October 2026.

Understand how a joint bank account is handled after an owner dies, from instant transfers to managing probate in October 2026.

Learn how probate attorneys use IRS records to find hidden estate assets, with transcript types and search tips for October 2026.

Discover how to track down bank accounts, retirement plans, and insurance policies left behind after a death, updated for October 2026.

See how pour-over wills pair with living trusts, why they don't avoid probate, and what happens if a trust fails. October 2026 guide.

Learn how to search for unclaimed life insurance policies using free tools like the NAIC locator. An October 2026 guide for families.

Just inherited a paid-off house? Learn how probate, step-up in basis, and co-ownership with siblings work in this October 2026 guide.

Searching for a deceased parent's unclaimed property? This September 2026 guide covers databases, heir documents, life insurance policies, and more.

A 2026 guide to executor and beneficiary tax duties for inherited IRAs and 401(k)s, covering RMD rules and missed-distribution penalties.

A September 2026 guide to managing digital accounts after someone dies, including email access, cancelling subscriptions, and crypto assets.

September 2026 intestate guide: who inherits without a will, how probate runs, which assets are subject to state succession law, and the heir hierarchy.

A POA ends at death. Learn why, and how executor authority is properly established. September 2026.

Executor vs. trustee in September 2026: one answers to probate court, the other to the trust document. Learn how each role works after a death.

After a death, credit card debt is settled by the estate. See who can be held personally liable and who is legally protected. September 2026.

Understand probate timelines, executor duties, and costs in September 2026. See how Elayne supports families through estate settlement.

Next of kin governs inheritance and medical decisions. Learn how state law sets the hierarchy. September 2026.

Learn how a Texas Transfer on Death Deed works, including filing steps, recording fees, and beneficiary rules. September 2026.

New York skips inheritance tax but has an estate tax cliff. Learn about exemptions, rates, and what executors need to file. (September 2026)

September 2026 guide on managing a parent's estate across state lines, from ancillary probate to SECURE Act 2.0 inherited IRA deadlines.

What counts as an estate expense, how executor reimbursement works, and how to document costs properly during settlement. September 2026.

A September 2026 guide to probate documents for estate attorneys, from opening filings and Letters Testamentary to creditor notices and tax forms.

Learn about how inheritance works in September 2026, from beneficiary designations and probate to tax matters and SECURE Act 2.0 RMD rules.

When someone dies in Florida without a valid will, state law determines who inherits. This guide covers how homestead rules apply, probate, and more in 2026.

What happens to a 529 account when the owner dies? Learn about successor ownership, probate rules, and tax matters in September 2026.