Estate Planning

Important Information: The Estate Planning section of the Web site covers a wide variety of concepts and ideas, including estate taxes. Where estate taxes are discussed, most information reflects the federal estate tax exemption amount, rate, and related provisions applicable for 2009. Please be aware that currently for 2010, the estate tax exemption amount is unlimited and no federal estate taxes would apply to the estate of a person who dies in 2010. Among other changes to the law in 2010, the automatic step-up in basis also has been eliminated if death occurs in 2010. However, Congress could amend the laws at any time and may attempt to make them retroactive. To understand how all of the 2010 changes may affect your personal situation, please confer with an estate planning attorney or professional advisor.

An estate plan is an important component of your overall financial plan. You won't create an actual estate plan with this Web site,¹ but these estate planning resources—including interactive tools, checklists, important definitions, and tax strategies—can help you to structure your estate plan or further define your goals.

Prioritize Your Estate Planning Research

After answering a few simple questions, you will receive a prioritized list of research topics with information on how they may impact your situation. Please remember, however, that consulting an estate planning attorney helps to ensure that your unique circumstances are taken into account to set priorities and document your estate plan.

Tools & Resources

Estate Planning Video

Hear from Christine Fahlund, CFP^®, a senior financial planner with T. Rowe Price, on various estate planning topics.

Estate Planning Considerations

Planning for Tomorrow

Executing a Will

Transferring Assets

Considering a Trust

Managing Estate Taxes

Giving to Charity

Creating a Strategy

¹About the estate planning Web site: The estate planning Web site (which includes all attachments) is not intended or written as legal or tax advice, nor are we authorized to give such advice. Nothing is intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by any person, for the purpose of (i) avoiding any tax penalties or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to any other person any transaction or matter addressed herein. We encourage you to seek advice from your own legal or tax counsel. Also, the laws that may impact your situation can vary depending on your specific facts (including your legal state of residence); our goal is to provide the most widely used or understood meanings and explanations as opposed to those of any specific law. If you need to update your estate plan or create one, you should confer with an estate planning attorney or professional advisor to help with your expectations and document your plan to comply with state and federal law.