Corrections and updates

When we find an error, or a law changes, we fix the page and record it here, newest first. To report a problem, email martin@afterkin.com. Our editorial policy explains how the guides are made, including our use of AI tools, and how facts are checked.

State guide review

In September 2026 we rechecked every state guide against current state law, starting with the states our readers use most. Each review covered small-estate limits, creditor deadlines, estate and inheritance tax, a surviving spouse's rights, and will signing rules.

Next scheduled check of yearly dollar figures: January 2027.

September 2026

September 25

• Vermont: this was the last state guide in the review queue — all 50 states have now been reviewed. The page's elective-share citation, 14 VSA § 401 et seq., pointed to a chapter that was repealed in 2009; the current elective share (14 V.S.A. § 319) is one-half of the probate estate, not one-third of an "augmented estate" as the page said (Vermont's elective share doesn't reach lifetime transfers at all). The intestate spousal share (14 V.S.A. § 311) had an invented dollar formula, "first $100,000 plus one-half of the remainder" — Vermont's actual rule has no dollar figure: the spouse takes the entire estate unless the decedent left a descendant who isn't also the spouse's descendant, in which case the spouse gets a flat one-half. The guide's "transfer-on-death deed" section described a statute that doesn't exist (it cited "27 VSA § 451, Act 114 of 2011") — Vermont's actual mechanism is the Enhanced Life Estate Deed Act (27 V.S.A. §§ 651-660, in effect since July 2020), a different kind of instrument where the owner keeps a life estate and full power to sell, mortgage, or revoke. The Advance Directive section said Vermont accepts either two witnesses or a notary; Vermont law (18 V.S.A. § 9703) requires two witnesses with no notary alternative, and also disqualifies the principal's spouse, parent, adult sibling, adult child, and adult grandchild from witnessing, not just the named agent. "POLST" was renamed to Vermont's actual DNR/COLST terminology. The deep-dive page's claim of a flat $275 probate filing fee was replaced with Vermont's real tiered fee schedule ($50 to $3,250 by estate value, 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)), and its "2-4% guideline" for executor compensation was removed as unsupported (14 V.S.A. § 1065 sets no percentage). A separate article, does-a-will-have-to-be-notarized.html, wrongly said Vermont "is unique in requiring three witnesses" — Vermont requires two, like most states.
• Indiana: the guide had Medicaid estate recovery backwards — it said recovery was limited to the probate estate and that joint tenancy, payable-on-death accounts, Transfer on Death deeds, and living trusts were protected. Indiana FSSA's own guidance says the opposite: recovery reaches joint tenancy real estate, bank accounts regardless of a payable-on-death designation, and living trust assets moved in after May 1, 2002. The guide also said the spousal elective share is one-third of the estate; it's one-half of the net personal and real estate (I.C. § 29-1-3-1), with one-third plus a real-estate carve-out applying only to a childless second or later spouse. The intestate spousal share had an invented "spouse gets everything if all children are shared" rule; the real rule is a flat one-half with any surviving child, regardless of whose child (I.C. § 29-1-2-1). The guide said Indiana recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills; it does not — every will needs two witnesses (I.C. § 29-1-5-3), and the section the guide cited for holographic wills actually covers a narrow oral will made only when death is imminent. A second, invented "family exemption" was also removed — Indiana law provides one combined $25,000 survivor's allowance, not two. The deep-dive probate page had a stale $50,000 small-estate threshold and 5-month creditor period, both corrected to the current $100,000 and 3 months.
• Missouri: the guide invented a "refusal to administer" shortcut for estates between $40,000 and $100,000. Missouri's actual refusal-of-letters procedure (RSMo 473.090) is much narrower — it applies only when the estate doesn't exceed the surviving spouse or minor children's exempt property and support allowance, or when the personal estate is $15,000 or less and a creditor applies. The guide also said the $40,000 small-estate affidavit excludes real estate; it doesn't — Missouri's affidavit (RSMo 473.097) can transfer real estate too, recorded with the county recorder of deeds. The guide said Missouri recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills; it does not — every will needs two witnesses (RSMo 474.320). The two advance directive forms had their signing rules swapped: the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care needs notarization, not witnesses, while the Declaration (living will) needs two witnesses, not notarization (RSMo 404.705, 404.810, 459.015). The intestate spousal share was missing the case where a child isn't also the spouse's child, in which the spouse gets half the estate with no $20,000 added on top (RSMo 474.010). The executor fee schedule and the vehicle-transfer affidavit form number were also corrected.
• Louisiana: as a civil-law state, Louisiana uses "succession" rather than probate, with no small-estate affidavit in the usual sense. The small succession threshold (La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 3421) was stale at $125,000; the legislature raised it to $200,000 for a Louisiana resident's succession (Acts 2026, No. 293) — $125,000 is actually the separate, lower threshold for a nonresident's Louisiana property. The page's citation for the affidavit, "La. R.S. 9:1421," was an unrelated law about brokerage accounts, not the succession statute. The affidavit can include Louisiana real estate only for an intestate succession (art. 3432(5)); a decedent who left a will and owned Louisiana real estate needs a judicial succession regardless of size unless every heir and legatee agrees in writing to waive it (art. 3431). The guide also wrongly extended a surviving spouse's usufruct to separate property; it only attaches to the deceased's share of community property (Civ. Code art. 890), and will formalities were rewritten to match a 2025 law change (Acts 2025, No. 30) that replaced the old notarial-will article.
• Kansas: the guide applied Uniform Probate Code assumptions that don't fit Kansas, which kept its own 1939 probate code. It invented a "spouse gets everything if all children are shared" rule; the real rule (K.S.A. 59-504) is that a spouse takes the entire estate only if there are no children at all, and a flat one-half if there are any. The elective share (59-6a202) is a sliding scale of 3% per year of marriage up to 50% at 15 or more years, not a flat one-half, plus a $100,000 floor the guide omitted. The guide also said Kansas recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills; it does not — every will needs two witnesses (K.S.A. 59-606), confirmed against this site's own holographic-wills list, which already excluded Kansas correctly. The deep-dive page's stale $40,000 small-estate threshold was corrected to $75,000, effective July 2023 (K.S.A. 59-1507b).
• Utah: the elective share (75-2-202) was described as "50% of the augmented estate, phased in by marriage length" — it's actually a flat one-third, with no sliding scale in Utah law; added the $112,500 supplemental floor for 2026. The small-estate affidavit's $100,000 cap (75-3-1201) applies to the entire estate, real and personal combined, not personal property alone as the guide implied. The deep-dive page's claim that real property could be transferred by affidavit "under certain circumstances" had no statutory basis and was removed. The creditor bar was stated backwards as "one year, or 60 days from notice, whichever is later"; it's actually the earlier of one year or three months from first publication (75-3-801, -803).
• North Dakota: the small-estate affidavit threshold (30.1-23-01) was stale at $50,000; the legislature raised it to $100,000 in 2025 (HB 1224). Any real property in the estate disqualifies the affidavit entirely — the guide had implied real property was simply excluded from the value count, not that it barred use of the affidavit outright. The elective share (30.1-05-01) is one-half of the augmented estate, not one-third as stated. The intestate spousal share (30.1-04-02) had dollar figures attached to the wrong scenarios, and the creditor period was corrected from a stated 4 months to the actual 3 months (30.1-19-01).
• Alaska: the intestate spousal share (AS 13.12.102) had dollar figures misassigned to the wrong scenarios, including a case where the spouse actually takes the entire estate with no dollar figure at all. The small-estate affidavit (AS 13.16.680) requires the entire estate to consist of vehicles (up to $100,000) plus other personal property (up to $50,000) — any real property disqualifies it, which the guide didn't make clear. Will witnesses don't need to sign in each other's presence, and Medicaid recovery applies to permanently institutionalized recipients at any age, not only 55 and older (AS 47.07.055).
• Oklahoma: the intestate spousal share (84 O.S. § 213) was fabricated — Oklahoma splits "joint industry during coverture" (marital-effort) property from separate property, so a blended family with all shared children gets a flat one-half for the spouse, and a childless spouse does not take everything if a parent or sibling survives, contrary to what the guide said. The elective share (§ 44) is one-half of marital-effort property only, not "half of everything acquired during the marriage" — inherited or gifted property is excluded. The $50,000 small-estate affidavit cap (§ 393) counts all Oklahoma probate property, including a solely owned house, not personal property alone. The guide also wrongly said Oklahoma has no statutory executor fee schedule; it does (58 O.S. § 527: 5%/4%/2.5% tiers).
• North Carolina: the Year's Allowance is $60,000 for a surviving spouse (G.S. 30-15), not $30,000, and each child under 21 gets a separate $10,000 rather than sharing a pot with the spouse (G.S. 30-17) — likely the single largest-impact figure on the page. The intestate spousal share (G.S. 29-14) is calculated separately for real and personal property based on the number of children, not whether they're the spouse's own, and the case where no children but a parent survives was missing entirely. The elective share tiers were incomplete; the missing 25% (5-10 years of marriage) and 33% (10-15 years) brackets were added. The guide also wrongly said North Carolina has no statutory executor fee schedule; G.S. 28A-23-3 caps it at 5% of receipts plus 5% of expenditures.
• New Jersey: a fuller review beyond the inheritance-tax fix noted below found more to correct. The intestate spousal share's 25% base (3B:5-3, minimum $50,000, maximum $200,000) is paid plus half — or three-quarters with a surviving parent — of the balance, not the flat 25% the guide implied. The small-estate affidavit covers real and personal property together ($50,000 for a spouse, $20,000 for other heirs, 3B:10-3/-4), not personal property only as the deep-dive page claimed. The creditor period is a self-executing 9 months from death (3B:22-4) — New Jersey does not require mailing or publishing a notice to creditors. Executor commission follows a statutory tiered schedule (5%/3.5%/2%, 3B:18-14), not "negotiable" terms as the deep-dive page said, and New Jersey does recognize holographic wills, which the guide never mentioned.

September 24

• Nevada: Medicaid recovery in Nevada is expanded, reaching joint tenancy, survivorship interests, life estates, living trusts, and annuities (NRS 422.054, 422.29302) — the guide said recovery was limited to the probate estate and that those assets were protected. The small-estate affidavit is $25,000, or $150,000 for a surviving spouse under a 2025 amendment (NRS 146.080); the deep-dive page said $100,000 for a spouse. Summary administration was raised to $500,000 in 2025 (NRS 145.040), up from a stale $300,000 figure, and the personal representative fee schedule (§ 150.020) was corrected to 4%/3%/2% tiers with 2% applying to everything over $100,000.
• Massachusetts: the estate tax "cliff" was repealed for deaths on or after January 1, 2023; both pages still described the old cliff even though current law gives a $99,600 credit with no tax at all below a $2 million taxable estate (c. 65C § 2A(f),(g)). The intestate spousal share (c. 190B § 2-102) is the entire estate when every descendant is shared with the decedent, not "$100,000 plus one-half" as stated. Voluntary administration is $25,000 in personal property plus one vehicle, filed as a sworn statement after a 30-day wait (§ 3-1201), not a court petition with no minimum wait. The site's own data also understated the creditor period by a factor of 12 — corrected from "1 month" to the actual 1-year bar (§ 3-803).
• Maryland: intestacy (Est. & Trusts § 3-102) now gives a spouse the entire estate unless a minor child survives (then half) or there are non-spouse children with no minor child ($100,000 plus half) — both pages used the outdated pre-reform $40,000 rules. Maryland is the only state with both an estate tax and an inheritance tax, since New Jersey repealed its estate tax in 2018 — the guide said Maryland was "one of two." Portability of a deceased spouse's unused estate tax exclusion does exist in Maryland (Tax-Gen § 7-309(b)(3)); the guide said it didn't. Creditors get the earlier of 6 months after death or 2 months after notice (§ 8-103), not the later, and a personal representative commission example was corrected from $17,280 to the correct $19,080 on a $500,000 estate (§ 7-601).
• West Virginia: West Virginia does recognize holographic (wholly handwritten and signed) wills (§ 41-1-3) — the guide said they weren't valid, in six separate places. The intestate spousal share (§ 42-1-3) is three-fifths when the spouse has other descendants and one-half when the decedent has non-spouse descendants, not three-quarters as stated for both. The elective share (§ 42-3-1) is a sliding 3%-50% of the augmented estate by length of marriage, not a flat one-third. The small-estate process (§ 44-1A-2, up to $50,000 in personal property) was cited to the wrong statute, and the creditor period was corrected from a stated three months to the actual 60 days after first publication (§ 44-3A-4).
• Connecticut: the $40,000 small-estate affidavit (§ 45a-273) is filed with the Probate Court, which can't issue a decree until 30 days later — the guide described a no-court process. The elective share (§ 45a-436) is a life estate in one-third of all property passing under the will, real and personal, not real property only as stated. The intestate spousal share (§ 45a-437) was missing cases, including $100,000 plus three-quarters when a parent survives with no children, and a gift to a witness or their spouse is voided by law (§ 45a-258) unless the will is otherwise properly attested — the guide said it wasn't voided.
• Rhode Island: the small-estate process (§ 33-24-1) is voluntary informal administration — a sworn statement filed with the municipal Probate Court for a $30 fee, limited to $15,000 in personal property and available only to Rhode Island residents — the guide described a no-court affidavit. Rhode Island has no transfer-on-death deed statute, though the site's sidebar had listed one as recognized. The Medicaid lien (§ 40-8-15) applies to the probate estate only and doesn't attach if a spouse, child under 21, or blind or disabled child survives.
• Washington: Washington does not recognize holographic wills — the probate page said it did, but RCW 11.12.020 requires two competent witnesses. Community-property intestacy gives the spouse all of the decedent's community-property share regardless of stepchildren (RCW 11.04.015); the probate page had applied Texas's rule instead. The $100,000 small-estate limit (RCW 11.62.010) is net of liens and excludes the spouse's community-property half, not gross as stated, and a false claim that federal employees get 3 days of paid bereavement leave was removed here and on three other state pages.
• Georgia: the Year's Support petition deadline is 24 months (§ 53-3-5), not 12 as stated. The "discharge without administration" shortcut applies only to intestate estates with no debts where every heir signs (§ 53-2-40) — the probate page described it more broadly. The guide wrongly said Georgia has no executor fee schedule; the default is 2.5% received plus 2.5% paid out (§ 53-6-60). Georgia's transfer-on-death deed took effect July 1, 2024 (SB 420), not the earlier date the page cited.
• Florida: confirmed the $150,000 summary administration threshold is current, but only since July 1, 2026 (ch. 2026-57) — it was $75,000 before that, and two cross-referenced articles still showed the old figure. Creditors get 3 months after first publication or 30 days after service, whichever is later (§ 733.702), not "notice within 30 days" as stated. The elective share deadline is the earlier of 6 months after notice or 2 years after death (§ 732.2135) — the guide had it backwards, and personal representative commission and attorney fees were corrected from "identical and fixed" to the separate, negotiable schedules Florida law actually sets (§§ 733.617, 733.6171).
• Texas: the small-estate affidavit (Est. Code ch. 205) is available only when there's no will and can transfer the homestead if it's the only real property (§ 205.006) — the guide said it covers personal property only. Wills need two witnesses age 14 or older signing in the testator's presence (§ 251.051), not "adult" witnesses who need not sign in each other's presence. With no descendants, a surviving spouse takes all personal property plus half the real estate (§ 201.002); the deep-dive page said parents also took a share of the personal property. Medicaid recovery reaches only the probate estate — the guide said it was expanded to reach trusts.
• California: the small-value real property limit is $69,625 for deaths on or after April 1, 2025, not the stale $61,500 the probate page cited (Prob. Code § 13200). A separate $750,000 primary-residence petition (AB 2016, § 13151) was added alongside the existing $208,850 general affidavit limit. Medi-Cal's probate-only recovery began January 1, 2017 (SB 833), not 2024 as stated, and vehicle transfer (Veh. Code § 5910) has no value limit, no 40-day wait, and needs no notary — the guide described a $100,000 cap and a 40-day wait that don't exist.

September 23

• Michigan probate guide: the page said Michigan has had a transfer-on-death deed for real estate since April 2024 and cited a statute that does not exist. Michigan has no transfer-on-death deed law; homeowners typically use an enhanced life estate ("Lady Bird") deed instead. The page now says so.
• What is a living will: removed a claim about intensive care use attributed to a CDC report that is no longer available and that we could not verify.
• South Dakota: the elective share cited an older law giving one-third. Under current law, the share grows with the length of the marriage, from 3% to 50% of the augmented estate, with a $50,000 minimum (SDCL § 29A-2-202). The guide said real estate can't use an affidavit; real estate worth $50,000 or less can, 60 days after death (§ 29A-3-1203). Creditor deadlines, will and advance directive signing rules, transfer-on-death vehicle titles (since July 2025), and Medicaid recovery were also corrected, and the South Dakota probate page and estimator now show the $100,000 limit and 4-month creditor period.
• Montana: the elective share cited a law repealed in 2019. A surviving spouse can now claim 50% of the marital-property portion of the augmented estate, with up to $75,000 as a minimum (MCA 72-2-232). Medicaid recovery is not limited to the probate estate; it reaches joint tenancy, life estates, and living trusts (MCA 53-6-167). Intestate shares, will witness rules, living will signing rules, and transfer-on-death vehicle titles were also corrected, and the Montana probate page now shows the $100,000 small estate limit.
• Minnesota: the guide said Minnesota recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills. It does not; a will needs two witnesses (Minn. Stat. § 524.2-502). It also said creditors have one year or four months, "whichever is later"; claims are due four months after notice, and one year after death is the outer limit (§ 524.3-803). Added transfer-on-death vehicle titles (§ 168A.125) and corrected how Medicaid recovery works when a spouse survives (§ 256B.15).
• Arkansas: the guide said handwritten wills are not valid; they are, if three disinterested witnesses confirm the handwriting (Ark. Code § 28-25-104). It said the $100,000 small estate affidavit covers personal property only; it covers all property except the homestead and can include real estate (§ 28-41-101). The creditor period is 6 months, not 3 (§ 28-50-101). With no will, children inherit ahead of a spouse (§ 28-9-214), and dower includes one-third of personal property, not only land (§ 28-11-305). Executor fee caps, advance directive signing rules, transfer-on-death vehicle titles, and Medicaid recovery were also corrected.
• Nebraska: inheritance tax rates were the ones in effect before 2023. For deaths on or after January 1, 2023, a spouse pays nothing, close relatives pay 1% over $100,000, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews pay 11% over $40,000, and others pay 15% over $25,000 (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 77-2004 to 77-2006). The guide also said real estate can't use a small-estate affidavit (it can, up to $100,000, § 30-24,129), that Nebraska has no transfer-on-death vehicle titles (it does, § 30-2715.01), and that Medicaid recovery is limited to the probate estate (it includes non-probate assets, § 68-919). Creditor deadlines, will witness rules, and advance directive signing rules were also corrected.
• New Jersey: said six states have an inheritance tax. It is five; Iowa's ended for deaths on or after January 1, 2025.
• Letters of administration and letters testamentary: both articles said letters expire in many states, including California (after 60 days or 6 months) and Texas (after one year). In most states, letters stay in effect until the estate closes. What often has a time limit is the certified copy, since many banks want one dated within the last 60 days. Texas sets an expiration only for guardianship letters. Sources: Texas Estates Code §§ 306.006, 1106.002; California Probate Code § 8400.
• Letters of administration: the article said Texas and New York use "letters testamentary" when there is no will. Both issue letters of administration in that case (Texas Estates Code § 306.002). It also cited the wrong law for California's $435 filing fee, which comes from the 2026 Statewide Civil Fee Schedule.
• Main guide, "Secure the home": the step said not to change locks. It now says to lock the home and vehicles, consider changing locks and codes if keys are missing, contact the landlord if the home was rented, and not lock out anyone who lives there. It also now explains that an executor's legal authority begins when a court appoints them. Sources: AARP after-death checklist; Idaho Code § 15-3-701.
• State guides index: the Delaware card still showed the old $30,000 limit. Corrected to $50,000 to match the Delaware guide.

September 22

• Delaware: the small-estate affidavit limit is $50,000, not $30,000. Source: 12 Del. C. § 2306.
• Virginia: the small-estate affidavit limit is $75,000, not $50,000. Also corrected in the site's tools and four articles. Source: Va. Code § 64.2-601.
• Illinois: the small-estate affidavit limit is $150,000, not $100,000. Source: 755 ILCS 5/25-1.
• Tennessee: since 2023, small estates go through a sworn court petition, not a simple affidavit. Source: Tennessee Small Estate Probate Act (Pub. Ch. 297, 2023).
• Alabama and New Mexico: handwritten (holographic) wills are not valid in either state. The guides said they were. Sources: Ala. Code § 43-8-131; NMSA § 45-2-502.
• New York: New York has allowed transfer-on-death deeds for real estate since 2024. The guide said it did not. Source: N.Y. Real Property Law § 424.
• Oregon: the small-estate affidavit can include real estate. The guide said it could not. Source: ORS 114.515.
• Maine: the guide was based on Maine's old probate code (Title 18-A), which has been replaced. Rewritten to current Title 18-C, including the $52,500 small-estate limit for 2026 deaths.
• Mississippi: the guide said Mississippi still has dower and curtesy rights. Those were abolished long ago. A surviving spouse's protection is the right to renounce the will.
• Kentucky: a 2026 law moved nieces and nephews into the exempt inheritance tax class for deaths on or after January 1, 2026. Source: KRS 140.070.
• Washington: the estate tax exclusion is $3,000,000 for deaths on or after July 1, 2026, and is no longer adjusted for inflation. Source: Washington Department of Revenue.
• State estate tax figures for Connecticut, Maine, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. were updated in the estate tax table and the Probate Cost Estimator.
• Other states in the fully reviewed list above also had corrections to intestacy shares, spousal rights, creditor deadlines, or will signing rules.

September 21

• Small-estate limits were out of date in 17 states, most because of 2025 law changes: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Each figure was checked against the state's statute and corrected everywhere it appears.
• Surviving spouse and family allowances were corrected in Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. Two figures shown on the Oklahoma and West Virginia guides had no basis in current law and were removed.
• Main guide: the recommended number of death certificates was made consistent at 8 to 12 copies across the page.

September 20

• The federal estate tax exemption was updated to $15 million for 2026 on every page that mentioned it. Some pages still showed 2024 or 2025 figures.