Where you live can cost, or save, your estate hundreds of thousands of dollars. In this Tuesday Triage episode, Jill Mastroianni breaks down a listener question about estate taxes, domicile, and owning property in multiple states. Using a real-world scenario involving Washington, D.C., Maine, Georgia, and Kentucky, Jill explains how state estate and inheritance taxes actually work, why domicile is more than just a mailing address, and where people get tripped up when geography and estate planning collide. This episode helps separate fear from facts so you can make informed decisions about where, and how, you live.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why “where you live” is a legal decision, not just a lifestyle choice. Domicile is about intent and objective facts, not where you’d prefer to be.
What domicile really means for estate tax purposes. Courts look at factors like driver’s licenses, voting registration, and where you actually spend your time, not just property ownership.
Why federal estate taxes aren’t the real issue for most people. With a 2026 exemption of $15 million per person, most estates won’t owe federal estate tax.
How state estate taxes can create very different outcomes. The same $10 million estate can trigger dramatically different tax bills depending on whether you live in Washington, D.C., Maine, Georgia, or Kentucky.
Why owning property in another state can still trigger taxes. States like Maine can impose estate tax on non-residents who own real estate there and may place liens until a return is filed.
The difference between estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Estate taxes are paid by the estate. Inheritance taxes are paid by the beneficiary.
Why beneficiary relationships affect tax outcomes. In states like Kentucky, close family members may be exempt, while friends or non-relatives could face significant inheritance tax bills.
How multi-state property ownership can create multiple probates. Without planning, your estate could be probated in every state where you own real estate.
One common strategy to avoid ancillary probate. How revocable trusts can help consolidate administration when property is spread across states.

Resources & Links

Change of Domicile Checklist:

https://www.deathreadiness.com/domicile-change-checklist

Episode 5: Why You Shouldn’t Worry About the Estate Tax:

https://www.deathreadiness.com/podcast/why-you-shouldnt-worry-about-the-estate-tax

Episode 19: Why You Need (or Don’t Need) a Trust:

https://www.deathreadiness.com/podcast/episode-19-how-to-know-if-you-need-a-trust

Get organized with The Death Readiness Playbook:
https://www.deathreadiness.com/playbook

Submit a question for a future Tuesday Triage episode:
https://www.deathreadiness.com/tuesdaytriage

Connect with Jill:

Website: DeathReadiness.com
Email: jill@deathreadiness.com
Learn more about Jill’s solutions
Subscribe to the Death Readiness Dispatch!
Submit a question for Tuesday Triage

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This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state.