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Estate planning · None

I'm a Retirement Editor, But My Parents' Estate Tripped Me Up with a Snake, a Gun and a Mystery Box

My parents took meticulous care of their home and estate planning. But when it came time to sell their house of 54 years, all hell broke loose. Here are the five lessons I learned.

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What changed

My parents took meticulous care of their home and estate planning. But when it came time to sell their house of 54 years, all hell broke loose. Here are the five lessons I learned.

Planning context

Why it matters

Connect the development to the governing primary source and the relevant evergreen guide before applying it.

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Start planning

What Is Estate Planning?Last Will and TestamentBeneficiary DesignationsFinancial Power of AttorneyAdvance Health Care Directive and Living Will

Trusts

Revocable Living TrustIrrevocable TrustThird-Party Special Needs Trust

Taxes

Federal Estate TaxFederal Gift Tax and Form 709Generation-Skipping Transfer TaxIncome-Tax Basis at DeathState Estate and Inheritance Taxes

Administration

What Is Probate?Probate TimelineExecutor ResponsibilitiesWhat to Do After a DeathChoose Executors, Trustees, and Agents

Tools

Estate Planning WorkbenchFederal Estate Tax CalculatorGift Tax Reporting IllustratorProbate Cost EstimatorEstate Liquidity CalculatorInherited Asset Basis IllustratorEstate plan checklistMap your estate