News & Law Updates
No corporate press releases. No legal-industry gossip. The federal and state changes that affect what your family needs to do, written in plain English, with the practical takeaway up top.
Unless Congress acts, the federal estate-tax exemption drops from roughly $13.6M per person to about $7M at the end of 2025 (rolling into 2026 estates). For families with substantial assets, the planning window has narrowed. We walk through who is affected and the three most common responses: gifting now, funding irrevocable trusts, and life-insurance strategies.
Related on Plan Your Passing →Effective January 2025 in California, the small estate affidavit threshold rose to $200,000 in personal property. Estates under that amount can avoid full probate. The change accelerates settlement and reduces attorney costs for tens of thousands of CA estates per year.
Related on Plan Your Passing →Apple expanded what Legacy Contacts can access including photos, notes, and most messages. Setup remains under-used: most iPhone users have never set a Legacy Contact. We built the 5-minute setup walkthrough to make it less painful.
Related on Plan Your Passing →The IRS finalized rules requiring most non-spouse beneficiaries of inherited IRAs to fully distribute within 10 years. RMDs may also apply within those 10 years depending on the original owner's age. This changes the math on whether to lump-sum withdraw or spread.
A widely-followed federal case reaffirmed the step-up in basis at death for inherited capital assets. While reform proposals continue to circulate, the current rule (heirs receive a basis equal to fair market value at the date of death) remains in force.
Related on Plan Your Passing →Surrogate Court rules in New York now require more frequent executor accountings on estates over $500,000. The change adds administrative burden but improves transparency for beneficiaries. Executors should be more diligent about contemporaneous record-keeping.
Related on Plan Your Passing →A new study compared Texas independent administration to standard probate in 12 high-population states. Texas estates with independent administration close 3 to 5 times faster and cost a fraction of comparable estates in California or New York. Most Texas wills should opt in.
Related on Plan Your Passing →Several provisions of SECURE 2.0 took effect in 2024 and 2025. Roth 401k accounts no longer have lifetime RMDs. Surviving spouses get more flexible distribution options. Inherited 529 plans can now roll into Roth IRAs (up to $35k lifetime). Worth reviewing beneficiary designations.
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