50 State U.S. Inheritance Law Guide
Welcome to Inheritance Law for Your State & Zip Code
Welcome to the fastest and easiest way to find out about Inheritance Law in your state. Here, you'll find clear and accurate information about how to inherit property, including:
- Whether or not your state has an inheritance or estate tax
- How probate works in your state
- Whether your state's small estate procedure will allow you to avoid probate
- How to get a federal tax identification number for an estate or trust
- What taxes need to be filed after someone has died
- How capital gains are calculated on inherited property
- How to manage property inherited by minors
- How to inherit an IRAs and other retirement accounts in your state
- How to inherit life insurance
- How to inherit joint tenacy property
- How to inherit payable-on-death accounts in your state
- Who Inherits if a Spouse or Parent dies without a Will in your state
Select Your State
- Inheritance Law Basics - (Basics)
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What You Need to Know About Inheritance Law In Your State
Here is an overview of how this site works and what articles you'll find most useful. It can be confusing to sort out the process, the taxes, and the issues that arise after someone's death. This site will help.
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What You Need to Know About Managing Property for Children in Your State
Children can't inherit more than a small amount of property directly. Find out how State allows you to handle a minor's inheritance.
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How to Claim Life Insurance in Your State
Learn how to find and claim proceeds under life insurance policies.
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What You Need to Know About Joint Tenancy Property in Your State
Joint tenants automatically inherit an asset when the other joint tenant dies. Learn more about how joint tenancy assets are distributed.
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How to Inherit Payable on Death Accounts
Payable on death accounts transfer directly to named beneficiaries and avoid probate. Learn more about how to use payable on death accounts to avoid probate.
- Probate - (Probate)
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Your County's Probate Court info - Updated for 2021
Information about how to handle probate matters with your county probate court.
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Who Inherits When Your Spouse or Parent Dies Without a Will?
Each state has rules, called the laws of intestacy, that determine how to divide property when a spouse dies without a Will. Read this article to find out who inherits if a spouse or parent dies without a Will in State.
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What You Need to Know About Probate in Your State
Each state has its own rules about probate. Find out how they do it in State.
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What You Need to Know About Your State's Small Estates Limit
Small estates don't have to go through probate to be distributed. Find out what State's limit is for this small estates procedure.
- Taxes - (Estate Tax)
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Does Your State Collect an Inheritance Tax?
Only a few states collect their own estate or inheritance tax. Find out if State collects either (or both) taxes on the estate after someone has died.
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What You Need to Know About Capital Gains Taxes
When beneficiaries inherit assets, those assets generally receive what's called a "step up"in basis. Understand how this saves beneficiaries taxes on appreciated assets.
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What's New for 2019 for Federal and State Estate, Inheritance, and Gift Tax Law
Find out what's changed in 2019 for inheritance law.
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What You Need to Know About Getting a Tax Identification Number
In order to settle an estate or a trust, you'll need to get a tax identification number for it. Find out how to do it.
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What State residents need to know about state capital gains taxes
Some states collect their own capital gains taxes. Learn how it works in State.
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What Taxes Need to Be Filed After Someone Dies?
There are several different taxes that need to be filed after there's been a death. Learn more about which taxes to file and how to file them.
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Special Options for Surviving Spouses Who Inherit Retirement Accounts
Surviving spouses don't have to go through probate, usually. Learn more about probate alternatives for surviving spouses.