National4 min read
Filing the Final Tax Return for Someone Who Died
The final Form 1040 covers January 1 through the date of death. Who files, how it is signed, and when Form 1310 is needed for a refund.
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Probate Guides & Estate Settlement Articles
Search probate guides, practical articles, and estate settlement resources.1563 in-depth guides • 105 blog posts
Showing 461-470 of 1795 articlesSearch & Filter
National4 min read
How Long Does It Take to Receive an Inheritance?
Beneficiary-designated accounts often pay in weeks. Probate assets wait months, because the executor must clear creditors before distributing.
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National4 min read
How to Find a Will After Someone Dies
Where wills actually turn up: the home files, the safe deposit box, the drafting attorney, and the probate court where wills may be on deposit or already filed.
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National4 min read
How to Transfer a Car Title After a Death
How a car title transfers after the owner dies: what the title itself says, the affidavit paths that skip probate, and when the executor signs instead.
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National4 min read
Inherited 401(k): The Rules by Beneficiary Type
Spouse options, the 10-year rule for most other beneficiaries, plan-level deadlines, and the tax treatment of an inherited 401(k).
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National4 min read
Inherited Annuity: Payout Options and How Gains Are Taxed
Spousal continuation, the payout choices for other beneficiaries, and why annuity gains are ordinary income with no step-up in basis.
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National4 min read
Probate Records: How to Find and Read a Case File
Probate records are public in nearly every state. How to find the right county court, search the case, and read what the file contains.
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National4 min read
VA Survivor Benefits After a Veteran Dies
DIC, Survivors Pension, burial allowances, and memorial honors: what each program is, who qualifies, and where each claim is filed.
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National4 min read
Does Medicare Cover Long-Term Care?
Medicare excludes custodial care by statute. What it does cover: up to 100 days of skilled nursing per benefit period, after a 3-day inpatient hospital stay.
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National4 min read
How to Pay for Nursing Home Care
Private funds, long-term care insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. What each actually covers, and the 2026 federal standards that protect the spouse still at home.
Settled Estate EditorialRead more
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