Wills, Probate & Estate Planning — Plain-English Help for Every State
Whether you’re planning ahead or settling a loved one’s estate, we break down exactly what your state’s law says about wills, probate, dying without a will, estate and inheritance tax, and avoiding probate. Real rules from your state’s statutes and courts, explained in plain English, with no sales pitch.
All 51 Jurisdictions Covered
Exact small-estate thresholds, probate costs and timelines, intestate-succession shares, estate and inheritance tax rules, and will requirements for every state plus DC — sourced directly from state probate codes and courts, not vague national summaries.
Written for Families, Not to Sell You a Product
Every guide is written for you — the person planning ahead or settling an estate. We are not a law firm, a will-product company, or a bank. We explain your state’s rules in plain English so you can decide what to do next.
Verified for 2026
Estate rules change — small-estate limits adjust for inflation, the federal estate-tax exemption shifted in 2026, states pass new probate laws. Every page carries a Verified date and is reviewed when the law or the dollar figures change, so you know the numbers are current.
Our Mission
Wills Probate Guide was built for two moments: when you sit down to plan ahead and ask “do I need a will or a trust?”, and when you lose a loved one and suddenly have to deal with probate, a missing will, or an estate-tax question — and you need to know exactly what your state’s law actually says. Most people end up on a confusing court PDF, a single-state law firm trying to sign them as a client, a will-product company’s upsell page, or a federal-only calculator that ignores their state’s rules. About 76% of Americans die without a will, and nearly everyone who hits an estate question searches for the same things: how to make a will, how long probate takes, how much it costs, what happens if there’s no will, whether their state has an estate or inheritance tax, and how to skip probate. We answer all of those questions for all 50 states plus DC. Every state gets its own guides covering how to make a valid will, the exact probate process and cost, intestate-succession shares when there’s no will, estate and inheritance tax rules, small-estate affidavit thresholds, and living trusts. We explain every concept in plain English — probate vs small-estate affidavit, executor vs trustee, per stirpes vs per capita, estate tax vs inheritance tax — and we provide free tools so you can estimate probate cost, estate tax, and small-estate eligibility instantly. On pages for families dealing with a death, we lead with court self-help and free legal aid, never a sales pitch. Our goal is to be the one place that gives you the real, state-specific law and your options, so you can plan or settle an estate without a sales pitch.
Oleg Kachko
Owner & Editor at Wills Probate Guide
I started Wills Probate Guide because I believe everyone deserves access to clear, honest estate planning guides information. Too many people overpay or miss out simply because the industry makes things unnecessarily confusing. Our team researches and verifies every piece of content so you can make informed decisions with confidence.
Connect on LinkedInFrequently Asked Questions
What is Wills Probate Guide?
Wills Probate Guide is a free educational resource that explains wills, probate, and estate planning in your state — how to make a will, the probate process and cost, what happens if you die without a will, estate and inheritance tax, small-estate options, and trusts. We cover all 50 states plus DC with exact, state-specific law, explained in plain English.
Is it free to use?
Yes — Wills Probate Guide is completely free. We never charge readers for access to any of our state guides, tools, or scenario explainers. There is no signup, no email gate, and no required contact form.
Do you provide legal or tax advice?
No. Wills Probate Guide is an informational site, not a law firm, tax advisor, or financial planner. We provide general, state-specific information about wills, probate, and estate planning, then recommend you verify current details with your state, your local probate court, or a licensed attorney — and consult a licensed professional for advice on your specific situation. For urgent matters like an active probate or a tax deadline, contact a licensed attorney in your state.
How do you make money?
Wills Probate Guide earns revenue through several channels: (1) display advertising (Google AdSense), (2) affiliate commissions when you choose to create a will or trust through one of our links (at no cost to you, always disclosed), and (3) referral fees when you choose to connect with an estate-planning attorney (always disclosed). None of these relationships influence our editorial content or our legal information. On pages for families dealing with a death, we do not run product or affiliate sales pitches — we point you to court self-help and free legal aid.
How current are the laws and figures?
Estate, probate, and tax rules are sourced from state probate codes, state courts, state revenue departments, and the IRS, and are reviewed when the law or the dollar figures change. Every page displays a Verified badge showing when it was last reviewed. Small-estate thresholds and estate-tax exemptions change over time and vary by state — always verify the exact figure with your state’s court, statute, or a licensed attorney.
How do I contact you?
Use our Contact page or email [email protected].