A map of what matters — and what happens next.

Professional architecture

Professionals and advisor education

A neutral framework for finding the right kind of help and for advanced readers following tax, trust-administration, case-law, and workflow developments. The Estate Guide does not endorse or rank individual professionals.

Legal

Estate Planning Attorneys

Document design, state law, tax, business, special-needs, charitable, and administration work can call for different legal experience.

  • State
  • Wills and trusts
  • Tax
  • Administration
Tax

CPAs and Tax Attorneys

Transfer-tax returns, fiduciary income tax, basis, valuation, elections, and audit representation can require specialized tax work.

  • Form 706
  • Form 709
  • Fiduciary income tax
Fiduciary

Trust Companies and Corporate Trustees

Professional fiduciaries may provide continuity, administration, accounting, investment oversight, and distribution processes.

  • Trust administration
  • Custody
  • Accounting
Advisory

Financial and Insurance Professionals

Investment, liquidity, retirement-account, beneficiary, and insurance work should be coordinated with the governing legal and tax plan.

  • Investments
  • Retirement
  • Insurance
Valuation

Business Valuation Firms

Closely held interests, real estate, discounts, transactions, and tax reporting can require qualified valuation work.

  • Business interests
  • Real estate
  • Appraisals
Family office

Multidisciplinary Family-Office Coordination

Complex families may coordinate tax, legal, governance, philanthropy, investments, insurance, and fiduciary administration across advisers.

  • Governance
  • Philanthropy
  • Next generation

Directory standard

Editorial and commercial separation

  • Credentials and disciplinary history must be independently verified.
  • Any future paid placement will be labeled and separated from editorial content.
  • A listing is not an endorsement, referral, or suitability determination.
  • Readers should interview multiple qualified professionals.

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