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🏛️ Estate Planning · Free Tools & Guides

Plan Your Legacy.
Protect Your Family.

Free estate planning tools, calculators, and plain-English guides. No lawyer required to get started. Understand your options, know your gaps, and take action — today.

67%
of Americans have no will
$12T
transferred in the Great Wealth Transfer
$0
cost to understand your options
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If you die without a will, the state decides everything.
Who gets your money, who raises your kids, who inherits your home — these decisions are made by a judge following state law, not your wishes. It takes less than 2 hours to fix this. This page shows you how.
⚡ First-of-its-kind tool

Happens to Your Estate
If You Die Without a Will?

Select your situation and see exactly what happens to your assets, your family, and your wishes under intestacy law.

⚡ Interactive Tool · No signup required
The "What If I Die Today?" Scenario Tool
Select your current life situation and see the exact legal outcome if you died today without any estate documents in place.
I am currently…
🧑 Single With No Children — Here's What Happens:
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Your assets go to your parents first
Under intestacy law, your entire estate typically passes to your parents equally — even if you're estranged or they don't need it.
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If parents are deceased, assets go to siblings
Your estate splits equally among your siblings. Half-siblings often have equal or limited rights depending on your state.
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Your partner gets NOTHING
A long-term boyfriend or girlfriend — even someone you've lived with for 20 years — has zero legal claim to your estate without a will.
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Your home and belongings are distributed by probate court
A judge oversees distribution. This is a public process that typically takes 6–18 months and costs 3–7% of the estate value in fees.
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Your charitable wishes are ignored
Any causes you care about receive nothing. Only a will or beneficiary designation can direct assets to charity.
⚠️ Bottom Line
Without a will, you lose all control over who gets your assets, your belongings, and even your digital accounts. A basic will takes 1–2 hours and costs $100–400. A trust gives you even more control. Fix this today.
💍 Married Without Children — Here's What Happens:
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Your spouse gets most assets — but not necessarily all
In many states, your spouse inherits everything. But in others, assets split between your spouse and your parents, even if you're close. Varies significantly by state.
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Joint property passes automatically — separate property may not
Assets held "jointly with right of survivorship" skip probate. But any property solely in your name may go through probate regardless.
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Retirement accounts and insurance may ignore your spouse
IRAs, 401(k)s, and life insurance follow beneficiary designations — NOT your will. If you named your parents or forgot to update after marriage, they could get the money.
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No instructions for your spouse's future
Without a trust, when your spouse dies, where does the money go? A will and trust ensure it reaches your chosen beneficiaries, not a court's decision.
⚠️ Biggest Risk for Married Couples
Outdated beneficiary designations are the #1 estate planning mistake. If your 401(k) still lists your mother as beneficiary from before you married, she gets that money — not your spouse. Check all beneficiaries today.
👨‍👩‍👧 Married With Children — Here's What Happens:
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A judge — not you — picks your children's guardian
Without a will naming a guardian, a probate court decides who raises your children if both parents die. This could be someone you would never choose.
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Children receive assets at age 18 — all at once
Without a trust, an 18-year-old inherits their full share immediately. A $500,000 inheritance with no restrictions handed to an 18-year-old is rarely a good outcome.
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Estate splits between spouse AND children in many states
Many states don't give 100% to the surviving spouse when children are involved. A portion may go to children directly, complicating the surviving spouse's finances.
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No asset protection for minor children
A testamentary trust or living trust can hold assets for children with conditions — for college, specific ages, life milestones. Without one, there are no guardrails.
🚨 Most Critical Scenario — Act Now
If you have children, not having a will is a family emergency. Naming a guardian alone is worth the cost of a will. A revocable living trust adds control over when and how your children receive assets. This is not optional.
👩‍👧 Single Parent — Here's What Happens:
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Guardian decision goes to court immediately
As a single parent, if you die without naming a guardian, a court decides who raises your children — often the other biological parent, even if estranged or unsuitable.
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All assets go to children at 18 with no conditions
Without a trust, children receive everything outright at 18. No restrictions on how it's spent, no protection from poor decisions.
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Your home goes through probate
Probate can take 1–2 years. During that time, who lives in the house? Who pays the mortgage? Without planning, this becomes a crisis for your children.
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No letter of instruction for your children's caregiver
Schools, medical providers, daily routines, values you want instilled — none of this is communicated without a Letter of Instruction alongside your will.
🚨 Urgent Priority
For single parents, estate planning is the most important financial task you can complete. A will, guardian designation, and basic trust can be completed in one afternoon for a few hundred dollars. Your children's future depends on it.
🤝 Unmarried Partner — Here's What Happens:
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Your partner gets absolutely NOTHING
Unmarried partners have zero inheritance rights under intestacy law in every state. Zero. Your partner is a legal stranger to your estate no matter how long you've been together.
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Your family of origin inherits everything
Parents, siblings, nieces and nephews — your biological relatives inherit everything while your partner gets nothing, potentially losing a shared home.
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Shared home may be lost
Unless the home is jointly titled, your partner may be forced to vacate a home you shared for decades because your family inherits your ownership stake.
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Joint accounts may freeze during probate
Accounts in your name only can be frozen until probate concludes — leaving your partner without access to funds for months.
🚨 Most Vulnerable Situation
Unmarried partners have the most to lose from poor estate planning. A will, beneficiary updates, and potentially a domestic partnership agreement or joint title on property can prevent your partner from losing everything. This is fixable — but only if you act before something happens.
📋 Divorced or Widowed — Here's What Happens:
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Old wills may still name your ex
Some states automatically revoke provisions for an ex-spouse after divorce. Others don't. If you haven't updated your will since divorce, your ex may still be named beneficiary.
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Beneficiary designations almost never update automatically
Your 401(k), IRA, and life insurance beneficiary designations are not affected by divorce. If your ex is still named, they legally get that money — regardless of your divorce decree.
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Children from prior relationships may be overlooked
Without an updated will, stepchildren typically have no inheritance rights. Biological children from prior relationships need explicit inclusion.
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Your "new start" needs new documents
A life change of this magnitude requires a complete estate plan review: new will, new powers of attorney, updated beneficiaries on all accounts, and potentially a new trust.
⚠️ Most Common Oversight
The #1 estate planning mistake after divorce: forgetting to update beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance. Courts have consistently upheld payments to ex-spouses named as beneficiaries, even when divorced. Update these immediately.
Estate Planning Tools

Calculators & Checklists

Run the numbers, audit your gaps, and understand your options — all in one place.

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Federal Estate Tax Calculator
Will your estate owe federal estate tax? Most won't — but find out for sure
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Federal Exemption$13,610,000
Taxable Amount$0
Estimated Federal Tax$0
Tax Status✅ No federal tax owed
⚠️ The 2017 TCJA exemption sunsets after 2025 unless renewed — dropping to ~$7M. If your estate is between $7M–$13.6M, this is critical to plan for now.
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Will vs. Living Trust Analyzer
Answer 5 questions and get a personalized recommendation: will, trust, or both
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RecommendationLiving Trust
Avoids Probate✅ Yes
Estimated Cost$1,000–$3,000
A revocable living trust avoids probate, keeps your affairs private, and gives you control. Pair it with a "pour-over" will to catch any assets not transferred to the trust.
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State Inheritance & Estate Tax
Does your state have inheritance tax? Many people don't know until it's too late
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State Tax Situation—
Estimated State Tax—
Planning Priority—
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Annual Gift Tax Calculator
How much can you gift tax-free each year? Plan your wealth transfer strategy
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Annual Exclusion per Person (2025)$18,000
Your Annual Tax-Free Total$54,000
Total Over Selected Years$540,000
Lifetime Exemption Remaining$13.61M (2025)
💡 Gift-splitting allows married couples to give $36,000/year per recipient ($18K each) without any gift tax filing requirement. This is one of the most powerful — and underused — wealth transfer strategies.
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Executor Duties Checklist
If you're an executor — or naming one — here's exactly what's involved
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Your Progress0 of 12 complete
Obtain certified copies of death certificate (10–15 copies)
You'll need these for every financial institution, insurance company, and government agency
Locate and file the will with probate court
Most states require filing within 30 days of death
Notify Social Security Administration
Benefits must stop; overpayments must be returned
Notify all financial institutions and creditors
Banks, credit cards, mortgage lenders, investment accounts
Inventory all estate assets and debts
Everything with a value: real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, personal property
Open estate bank account
All estate income and expenses flow through this account during probate
Pay valid debts and final bills
Creditors have a limited window to make claims; pay legitimate ones before distributing to heirs
File final income tax return (Form 1040)
Due April 15 of the year following death; may also need to file estate tax return (Form 706)
Transfer titled property (home, vehicles)
Requires probate court order in most cases; retitling takes time and paperwork
Close digital accounts and handle digital assets
Email, social media, online banking — each platform has its own process
Distribute remaining assets to beneficiaries
Get signed receipts from all beneficiaries; keep records for 3–7 years
File final accounting with probate court and close estate
Submit detailed records of all income, expenses, and distributions to formally close the estate
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Beneficiary Audit Checklist
The #1 estate planning mistake is outdated beneficiaries. Audit yours now.
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Accounts Audited0 of 10 reviewed
401(k) / 403(b) — Primary & Contingent beneficiaries
This supersedes your will. If wrong, your estate plan is broken.
Roth IRA & Traditional IRA
Check both primary and contingent; inherited IRA rules changed with SECURE 2.0
Life insurance policies
Including employer-provided group life insurance — often overlooked
Health Savings Account (HSA)
If spouse is the beneficiary, it transfers tax-free. Anyone else pays income tax.
Bank accounts (POD — Payable on Death)
Add a POD designation to keep accounts out of probate entirely
Brokerage / investment accounts (TOD — Transfer on Death)
Same as POD but for investment accounts — bypasses probate instantly
Annuities
Have their own beneficiary designation separate from your will
Pension / defined benefit plans
Survivor benefit options are irrevocable once chosen at retirement
529 college savings plans
Successor owner designation — not beneficiary — is how ownership transfers
Digital assets policy (Google Inactive Account, Apple Legacy Contact)
Set up digital legacy contacts with major tech platforms to preserve access for heirs
Estate Planning Guides

-English Guides

No legal jargon. No upsells. Just clear explanations of what you need, when you need it, and how to get it done.

🏛️ Core Documents
Will vs. Living Trust: Which One Do You Actually Need?
The most common estate planning question — finally answered clearly. Includes a decision framework based on your estate size, family situation, and privacy needs.
📖 12 min read⭐ Most Popular
Read Guide →
✅ Action Guide
The Complete Beneficiary Audit: Fix the #1 Estate Planning Mistake
Outdated beneficiary designations have derailed thousands of estate plans. Here's how to audit every account you own in one afternoon — and why it matters so much.
📖 9 min read🔥 High Impact
Read Guide →
📋 Checklist
The Complete Estate Planning Checklist (By Life Stage)
What you need at 25 is different from what you need at 45 or 65. This guide gives you the right documents, accounts, and conversations for every stage of life.
📖 14 min read📌 Essential
Read Guide →
👶 Parents
Estate Planning for Parents: The Non-Negotiable Moves
If you have children and no will, this is a family emergency. Here's everything you need to do — guardian designation, trusts, life insurance, and more — explained for regular people.
📖 11 min read🚨 Urgent
Read Guide →
💻 New
Your Digital Estate: The Estate Planning Problem Nobody's Talking About
Crypto wallets, social media accounts, email, cloud storage, online banking — your digital life has real financial value. Here's how to plan for it.
📖 10 min read⚡ First of its kind
Read Guide →
📄 Legal Docs
Power of Attorney Explained: What It Is and Why You Need One Now
A power of attorney protects you while you're alive — not just when you die. It's one of the most important and most overlooked documents in any estate plan.
📖 8 min read📌 Essential
Read Guide →
Ready to Take Action?

Your Documents Done

Once you understand your options, these services make it affordable and fast to create real legal documents.

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Trust & Will
Create a legally valid will or living trust online. Starting at $199. Attorney-reviewed documents in all 50 states.
Create your will →
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LegalZoom
Comprehensive estate planning packages. Wills, trusts, healthcare directives, and powers of attorney bundled together.
Explore packages →
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Fabric by Gerber Life
Free will creation for parents. Also offers term life insurance — a complete protection solution in one place.
Start for free →
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Estate Attorney
Complex estates, blended families, business ownership, or high net worth? A local estate attorney is worth every dollar.
Find an attorney →

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⚠️ Important Disclosure
DigitalWealthSource publishes educational financial content. Nothing on this site constitutes personalized financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Every person's financial situation is unique. We strongly encourage consulting with a qualified financial advisor, CPA, or attorney before making significant financial decisions. Content is provided for informational and educational purposes only.
Sources: IRS: Estate Tax · CFPB: Estate Planning
✅Content reviewed by Derek Giordano · Our methodology · Educational content only — not financial advice
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Written & reviewed by Derek Giordano
Derek reviews all content on DigitalWealthSource. Background in business marketing with hands-on experience in debt payoff, homebuying, tax strategy, and long-term investing. Our methodology →
✓
Independently Researched & Fact-Checked
All figures cited to official government data, regulatory filings, and peer-reviewed research. No sponsored content.