Estate Planning Checklist Generator

Pick your state, marriage status, and asset size to build a printable, state-specific estate planning checklist. Will, trust, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and the state tax rules that actually change your plan — with the 2026 federal $15M exemption (30M married) now made permanent by OBBBA.

Generate your checklist

Answer four questions. The checklist and the state-specific notes update instantly, and the printable sheet fits a US Letter page.

State Married Have childrenApprox. total assets

NamePlanning date

Name: ________________ — Planning date:

Estate Planning Checklist — California

2026 federal exemption: $15M per person · $30M for a married couple (OBBBA, P.L. 119-21 — permanent). Figures retrieved 2026-08-11.

Completed: 0 of 9 items

✓	Planning item	Owner	Due date	Notes
	Last will & testamenthigh Names your executor, says who inherits what, and — critically — is where you nominate a guardian for minor children. Without a will, state intestacy law and a court decide.
	Credit-shelter trust for married couples / revocable trust as neededmedium A simple will may suffice at this size, but a revocable living trust avoids probate and can be worthwhile for out-of-state real estate, minor children, or blended families. With minor children, include trust provisions (a testamentary trust) so a guardian never receives assets outright.
	Beneficiary designations (retirement accounts & life insurance)high IRAs, 401(k)s, annuities, and life insurance pass by beneficiary designation — not your will. Review them after every major life change, and name contingent beneficiaries.
	Durable financial power of attorneyhigh Names someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Without it, family may have to petition for a court guardianship — slow, public, and expensive.
	Healthcare directive / living willhigh Documents your end-of-life medical wishes and appoints a healthcare proxy to make decisions when you cannot.
	Life insurance reviewmedium Confirm the death benefit, beneficiaries, and ownership match your plan, and keep the policy documents where your executor can find them.
	Property deeds & titles reviewmedium Verify how real estate, vehicles, and accounts are titled — joint tenancy, tenancy by the entirety, TOD/POD. Titles override your will, so mismatched ownership silently breaks the plan.
	Digital assets & passwordsmedium Inventory online accounts, financial logins, crypto, and social media, and document a secure handoff for your executor (many states follow the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act).
	Funeral & burial instructionslow Record burial/cremation wishes, prepaid arrangements, and a contact list — then tell your family where the document lives.

State-specific notes — California

California has no state estate or inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax applies, above the $15M per-person exemption ($30M for a married couple).

Not legal advice. This checklist is an educational planning aid, not a substitute for documents prepared by a licensed estate attorney. Laws vary by state and change over time — have an estate attorney in California review your will, trust, and designations, and keep this list current as your family and finances change.

What is in every estate plan

The generator tailors each item to your answers — for example, the trust item changes with your asset size, and married couples in states without portability (like Massachusetts, New York, Minnesota, and Oregon) get a credit-shelter trust note. The ten core areas:

Last will & testament. Names your executor and, for minor children, their guardian.
Trust (funded, if applicable). Avoids probate and structures exemptions — need depends on asset size and your state.
Beneficiary designations. Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by designation, not your will.
Durable financial power of attorney. Avoids court guardianship if you become incapacitated.
Healthcare directive / living will. Documents end-of-life wishes and appoints a healthcare proxy.
Life insurance review. Check coverage and consider an ILIT at larger asset sizes.
Property deeds & titles. Titles override your will — make them match the plan.
Digital assets & passwords. Give your executor a secure way in after you are gone.
Funeral & burial instructions. Record wishes so family is not guessing.
State-specific notes. Whether your state levies an estate or inheritance tax changes the plan.

Estate taxes are set by your actual filings. See the 50-state estate & inheritance tax matrix, the federal calculator, the cross-state comparison, or the planning simulator for the dollar figures behind each item.

Frequently asked questions

What is the federal estate tax exemption in 2026?

The federal estate tax exemption is $15 million per person in 2026 ($30 million for a married couple). The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA, Pub. L. 119-21, July 2025) made the higher exemption permanent, ending the scheduled 2026 sunset. The top federal rate is 40% above the exemption.

Who needs a trust?

A trust is generally worth considering when you want to avoid probate, protect minor children or blended families, own real estate in more than one state, or reduce estate tax exposure. Estates near or above the federal exemption ($15M per person), married couples in states without portability, and families with large life insurance policies are the most likely to need one. Below $1M, a well-drafted will often suffices.

What is the difference between a will and a trust?

A will takes effect only at death and goes through probate — a public court process that can take months. A trust takes effect when created and funded; it manages assets during your lifetime, avoids probate at death, and can control distributions to heirs for years. Many plans use both: a will for guardianship and residue, a trust for the main assets.

Which states have an estate or inheritance tax?

17 jurisdictions levy a state estate and/or inheritance tax in 2026: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington. The other states have no state estate or inheritance tax — only the federal estate tax applies above the $15M exemption.

How often should I update my estate plan?

Review your estate plan every 3–5 years, and update it immediately after any major life event: marriage or divorce, the birth or death of a family member, a move to another state, buying or selling significant assets, or changes to federal or state tax law (such as the OBBBA 2025 exemption permanence). Beneficiary designations should be checked whenever a named person’s situation changes.

Not legal or tax advice. Estate and inheritance tax is determined by a court or tax authority using your actual filings. Online estimators provide an informal planning figure only. Laws and exemption amounts change every year — always confirm the current rule with the IRS, your state Department of Revenue, or a licensed estate attorney or CPA before relying on any number.