Author: michal

Kentucky is one of only a handful of states that still collects an inheritance tax, and the amount owed depends entirely on your relationship to the person who died. A valid Kentucky will needs your signature and two witnesses under KRS 394.040. Without a will, state law, not your family, decides who inherits. Whether you…

Kansas charges no state estate tax and no inheritance tax, so your heirs will not owe Kansas tax on what they receive. A valid will still requires your signature plus two witnesses under K.S.A. 59-606. Without a will, Kansas intestacy law, not your wishes, decides who inherits your property. Whether you are raising a family…

Estate planning in Iowa means signing a valid will under Iowa Code section 633.279 (two witnesses, no notary required to be valid), naming an executor and guardians, and deciding whether a trust is needed to skip probate. Iowa no longer collects an inheritance tax on deaths after January 1, 2025, but probate and intestacy rules…

Estate planning in Indiana means preparing a valid will, plus often a trust, financial and health care powers of attorney, so your assets pass as you intend. Indiana repealed its inheritance tax in 2013 and has no estate tax, but it does offer a small estate procedure that can spare families full probate. Estate planning…

Illinois is one of a small number of states with its own estate tax, applied separately from the federal estate tax and at a much lower exemption. A valid Illinois will must be signed by the testator and by two witnesses, each signing in the testator’s presence. Because Illinois taxes estates at a lower threshold…

Idaho charges no state estate tax and no inheritance tax, so most residents only need to think about the federal estate tax, which applies above $15 million per person in 2026. Idaho is also a community property state, which changes how assets are owned and inherited between spouses. A solid Idaho estate plan usually includes…

Hawaii is one of a small number of states that charges its own estate tax, separate from the federal estate tax, with a fixed exemption that is not indexed to the federal amount. A valid Hawaii will must be signed by the testator and by two witnesses, or it can be entirely handwritten as a…

Georgia charges no state estate tax and no inheritance tax, so most families only need to think about the federal estate tax, which applies above $15 million per person in 2026. A valid Georgia will must be in writing, signed by the testator, and attested and subscribed by two competent witnesses. A solid Georgia estate…

Estate planning in Florida means putting a will, healthcare directives, and often a power of attorney or trust in place so your assets and medical care follow your wishes instead of a court’s default rules. Florida’s homestead protections, retirement-heavy population, and specific witness and notarization requirements make the state’s rules worth understanding before you start.…

Delaware charges no state estate tax and no inheritance tax, and its probate process is generally faster and less expensive than in many other states. A valid Delaware will must be in writing, signed by the testator, and attested by two credible witnesses in the testator’s presence. Delaware is also known nationally for its trust-friendly…