Heritas Resource Library
Clear estate-planning guidance, in plain English
Practical guides on probate, trusts, beneficiaries, and protecting your family — plus official IRS and state references, all in one place.
Guides & articles
Clear, trustworthy education to help you plan with confidence.
What Is an Advance Directive (and Why Every Adult Needs One)
It is the document that speaks for you when you cannot speak for yourself — about the medical care you do and do not want. Here is what it covers and how to set yours up.
Read articleWhat Is an Estate Inventory (and Why It Matters More Than Your Will)
A will says who gets what. An estate inventory says what there actually is — and without it, even the best will leaves your family searching in the dark. Here is how to build one.
Read articleHow to Avoid Probate: 6 Legitimate Strategies
Probate is public, slow, and often costly. The good news: most of it is avoidable with a handful of straightforward, completely legal moves. Here are six.
Estate Planning for Business Owners: Protecting What You Built
Your business may be your largest asset and your family's livelihood — yet most owners have no plan for what happens to it if they are gone. Here is what a real succession plan covers.
Trust vs. Will: Which Do You Actually Need?
Everyone says you need a trust. Do you? Here is a plain-English breakdown of what each document actually does, who really benefits from a trust, and how to decide without the sales pitch.
The "If I Die" File: What Your Family Needs to Find
If something happened to you tomorrow, could your family find your accounts, passwords, policies, and wishes? Here is exactly what belongs in your "if I die" file — and how to build one this weekend.
How Much Does Probate Cost? What Families Should Expect
Probate can quietly consume 3–8% of an estate's value through court fees, attorney fees, and executor costs. Here is how the costs break down — and how good planning reduces them.
Do You Need a Lawyer for Probate?
Sometimes yes, sometimes absolutely not — and the wrong call costs either money or months. Here is how to tell whether your estate needs an attorney or can be handled on your own.
How to Create a Home Inventory (for Insurance and Your Estate)
After a fire or a death, “what was in the house?” becomes a painful guessing game. A home inventory answers it in advance — and takes far less time than you think.
Executor Fees: How Much Does an Executor Get Paid?
Settling an estate is real work, and executors are entitled to be paid for it. Here is how executor compensation is calculated, when to take it, and when to waive it.
What Happens to an LLC When the Owner Dies?
Your LLC does not automatically pass to your family the way you might assume — the operating agreement and state law decide its fate. Here is what really happens and how to plan.
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Official references & forms
Authoritative IRS and state sources, plus targeted .gov searches for your state.
- IRS — Estate Tax (overview)Official IRS page on estate tax rules, thresholds, and filing.
- IRS — Gift Tax (overview)Annual exclusion, lifetime exemption, and common scenarios.
- IRS — Form 706 (Estate Tax Return)Form and instructions for filing the U.S. Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return.
- IRS — Form 709 (Gift/ GST Return)Form and instructions for reporting gifts and generation-skipping transfers.
- IRS — Publication 559 (Survivors, Executors, Administrators)Tax guidance for those handling a decedent’s estate.
- Nolo — Estate Planning BasicsPlain-English guides to wills, trusts, probate, and estate taxes (external resource).
- LawHelp.org — Free Legal Aid by StateFind local legal help, court forms, and self-help resources in your state (external resource).
- Eldercare Locator (ACL.gov)Federal service connecting families to local aging, caregiving, and legal-assistance programs.
Heritas does not endorse third-party providers and is not responsible for their content. Verify any template meets your state’s requirements.