Insurance & estate
Protecting what you've built, for a US-based reader: which risks to insure and which to carry yourself, how to choose health, disability, life, auto, home and umbrella cover, identity-theft defenses, and the basic estate documents everyone needs, with 2026 federal figures. The emergency fund that lets you choose higher deductibles is in money basics, HSAs and retirement-account beneficiaries are in retirement and taxes, and why cash-value life insurance is a poor investment connects to investing. The underlying economics (adverse selection, moral hazard) are in microeconomics.
The principle of insurance
Insurance pools risk: many people pay a premium so the few who suffer a loss are made whole. The insurer must cover claims, staff, commissions and profit, so for the buyer the expected value is negative. You buy it anyway when a loss would be catastrophic: the value of avoiding ruin exceeds the premium's expected cost.
| Small loss | Large loss | |
|---|---|---|
| Frequent | budget for it (routine repairs, phone screens) | avoid or reduce the risk |
| Rare | self-insure (emergency fund) | insure (liability, health, disability, death, house) |
Rules that follow
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| insure what would wreck you; self-insure what wouldn't | yes: liability, health, disability, a house; no: extended warranties, phone insurance, rental-car damage cover your card already provides |
| take the highest deductible your emergency fund can absorb | raising an auto deductible from $500 to $1,000 often cuts the collision premium noticeably; you keep the difference in most years |
| don't insure the same risk twice | credit-card rental cover, travel insurance vs existing health cover |
| buy from strong insurers | check AM Best ratings and your state's complaint data (NAIC Consumer Insurance Search) |
| review cover at life events | marriage, children, house purchase, new job, retirement |
| never lie on an application | misrepresentation can void a claim years later |
Expected value example: a $10/month phone plan ($120 a year) against a 10% annual chance of an $800 replacement: expected loss 10% × $800 = $80, less than the $120 premium plus deductibles. Losing an $800 phone is painful, not catastrophic: skip it and self-insure.
Deductibles, premiums and out-of-pocket maximum
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| premium | what you pay for the policy, whether or not you claim |
| deductible | what you pay before the insurer pays anything (per year for health, per claim for auto/home) |
| copay | a fixed fee per service (e.g. $30 per visit) |
| coinsurance | your % share after the deductible (e.g. 20%) |
| out-of-pocket maximum | the most you pay in a year for covered in-network care; premiums don't count |
| network | providers with negotiated rates; out-of-network care can cost far more (or not count at all) |
| elimination period | the disability equivalent of a deductible: days before benefits start |
| exclusion | what the policy does not cover at all |
Worked example: choosing between two health plans
Employer offers, for self-only cover (all in-network, 20% coinsurance after the deductible):
| PPO | HDHP + HSA | |
|---|---|---|
| your premium | $250/month ($3,000/yr) | $100/month ($1,200/yr) |
| deductible | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| out-of-pocket max | $4,000 | $7,000 |
| employer HSA deposit | 0 | $1,000 |
| Medical claims in the year | PPO total cost | HDHP total cost | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $3,500 | $700 | HDHP by $2,800 |
| $3,000 | $4,400 | $3,200 | HDHP by $1,200 |
| $10,000 | $5,800 | $4,600 | HDHP by $1,200 |
| $50,000 (hits both maximums) | $7,000 | $7,200 | PPO by $200 |
The HDHP only loses in years with claims above about $22,000, and then by $200. Add the tax saving on HSA contributions (22% income tax + 7.65% FICA on payroll contributions) and it wins by more. Always compute the worst case (premiums + OOP max) and the typical case, not just the premium. The PPO can still be the better choice if you expect heavy, predictable costs, need specific providers, or can't cover the higher deductible from savings.
Health insurance
| Source | Notes |
|---|---|
| employer plan | usually the best value (employer pays a large share of the premium, pre-tax) |
| ACA marketplace (HealthCare.gov or a state exchange) | open enrollment each autumn (dates vary by state); a special enrollment period of 60 days follows qualifying life events (job loss, move, marriage, birth) |
| COBRA | keep an ex-employer's plan for up to 18 months, paying up to 102% of the full premium; compare with the marketplace |
| Medicaid | income-based; rules vary by state |
| Medicare | from 65; enroll on time or face permanent late-enrollment penalties |
| parent's plan | children can stay on until 26 |
Marketplace metal tiers by actuarial value (average share of costs the plan pays): bronze ~60%, silver ~70%, gold ~80%, platinum ~90%. Low-income enrollees (up to 250% of the federal poverty level) get cost-sharing reductions only on silver plans. The 2026 marketplace out-of-pocket maximum is $10,600 self-only and $21,200 family.
2026 subsidy change: the enhanced premium tax credits (created in 2021 and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act) expired at the end of 2025 and were not extended. For 2026, subsidies again stop at 400% of the federal poverty level (a "cliff" rather than a gradual phase-out), and required contributions below that are higher. Marketplace enrollment fell in 2026 for the first time in seven years (KFF). Early retirees on marketplace plans should manage modified AGI carefully (see Roth conversions in retirement and taxes).
HDHP + HSA: an HSA-qualified plan (2026 minimum deductible $1,700 self-only / $3,400 family; out-of-pocket max no more than $8,500 / $17,000) lets you contribute $4,400 / $8,750 to an HSA. From 2026 bronze and catastrophic marketplace plans also qualify. Best for healthy people with cash reserves.
| Health insurance checklist item | Why |
|---|---|
| your doctors and hospital in network | out-of-network care may not count toward the OOP max |
| drug formulary covers your prescriptions | tier placement drives costs |
| worst-case cost (premium + OOP max) | the number that matters in a bad year |
| referral requirements (HMO vs PPO) | HMOs need a primary-care referral; PPOs don't |
| family deductible embedded or aggregate | an aggregate family deductible can mean one sick child pays the whole family amount first |
Disability insurance
Your ability to earn is, for most working people, their largest asset: $80,000 a year for 30 years is $2.4 million of future income. Disability insurance replaces part of it if illness or injury stops you working. It is the most under-bought cover: people insure their car and phone and not their income. The SSA's oft-quoted estimate is that about 1 in 4 of today's 20-year-olds will become disabled before reaching full retirement age, and most disabilities come from illness (back problems, cancer, heart disease, mental health), not accidents.
| Feature | Options | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| definition of disability | own-occupation (can't do your job) vs any-occupation (can't do any job you're suited for) | own-occ for specialized, high-income jobs (surgeons, dentists); "modified own-occ" is a common middle ground |
| benefit | typically 60% of salary (group plans often cap monthly benefit) | aim for ~60–70% of gross income across all policies |
| elimination period | 30, 60, 90, 180 days | 90 days if your emergency fund covers 3 months |
| benefit period | 2 years, 5 years, to age 65/67 | to 65 or 67: the long disabilities are the catastrophic ones |
| non-cancellable / guaranteed renewable | insurer can't change terms or premium / can raise premiums for a whole class | non-cancellable if affordable |
| riders | residual/partial disability, cost-of-living adjustment, future purchase option | residual benefits and COLA are the valuable ones |
| taxation | employer-paid premiums → benefits taxable; you pay with after-tax money → benefits tax-free | if offered, paying group LTD premiums yourself makes benefits tax-free |
Layers: short-term disability (weeks to months, often employer-provided or state programs in a few states), long-term disability (group LTD through work, plus an individual policy if the group cover is thin or you might change jobs), and SSDI as a last resort: strict any-occupation definition, a 5-month waiting period, and many initial applications are denied.
Life insurance
Who needs it: anyone whose death would leave people who depend on their income or unpaid work (children, a partner, a co-signed mortgage). Single people with no dependants usually don't.
| Type | How it works | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| term life | pays a death benefit if you die within the term (10, 20, 30 years); no cash value | cheap and simple; the right product for almost everyone |
| whole life | permanent cover, level premium, guaranteed cash value growing slowly, dividends | many times the premium of the same amount of term cover; high commissions; poor returns in early years; surrender charges |
| universal life (UL) | flexible premiums, cash value credited with interest | can lapse if underfunded when rates fall; guaranteed UL (no-lapse) is a niche estate tool |
| indexed universal life (IUL) | cash value linked to an index with caps and floors | complex, caps and charges favor the insurer; heavily marketed as a "tax-free retirement plan" |
| variable universal life (VUL) | cash value in sub-accounts | investment risk plus insurance fees |
| group life through work | usually 1–2× salary | a supplement; it ends when you leave the job |
Blunt opinion: for most people, whole life and IUL are sales products, not investments. Fill your 401(k), IRA and HSA first; they give the same tax deferral without the commissions. Permanent insurance has legitimate uses (a lifelong dependant with special needs, funding a buy-sell agreement, liquidity for a taxable estate over $15 million, maxed-out high earners in some cases), which cover a small minority of buyers.
How much
These are heuristics, not rules; a needs analysis is better.
| Method | How |
|---|---|
| 10–12× income | quick rule of thumb |
| DIME | Debt + Income (annual income × years your family needs it) + Mortgage + Education |
| needs analysis | present value of dependants' future spending − existing assets − survivor benefits (Social Security) |
| stay-at-home parent | insure the cost of replacing childcare and household work |
DIME example: $15,000 of debts, $80,000 income × 10 years, $300,000 mortgage, $100,000 education × 2 children: dollars, so a ~$1.3 million 20- to 30-year term policy (subtract existing savings and group cover).
Buy term and invest the difference (BTID): buy term instead of whole life and invest the premium saved. Critiques: many people don't actually invest the difference; permanent cover can suit the few with a lifelong need; whole life's guarantees and creditor protection appeal to some. Response: the discipline problem is solved by automatic 401(k)/IRA contributions, not a 1–3% annual drag.
Laddering: instead of one $1.5 million 30-year policy, buy $750,000 for 30 years plus $750,000 for 20 years, so cover falls as the mortgage shrinks and children grow up, at lower total premium.
Buying tips: buy while young and healthy; compare quotes from several highly rated insurers or an independent broker; name contingent beneficiaries; don't name a minor child directly (use a trust or UTMA custodian).
Auto insurance
Liability limits are written as three numbers, e.g. 100/300/100:
| Number | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 100 | $100,000 bodily injury per person |
| 300 | $300,000 bodily injury per accident |
| 100 | $100,000 property damage per accident |
State minimums are far too low. Many are 25/50/25 or less, while a serious injury can produce claims worth hundreds of thousands, and you're personally liable for the excess (wages can be garnished). Carry at least 100/300/100, or 250/500/100 if you have assets or an umbrella policy (which usually requires it).
| Coverage | What it pays | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| liability (bodily injury, property damage) | others' injuries and property when you're at fault | the essential part; buy high limits |
| uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) | your injuries when the at-fault driver has no or too little insurance | match your liability limits; a significant share of US drivers are uninsured |
| collision | your car, after a crash | drop it when the car's value is small relative to premium + deductible |
| comprehensive | theft, weather, animals, glass | same logic |
| medical payments / PIP | your medical bills regardless of fault | required in no-fault states |
| gap insurance | loan balance above the car's value after a total loss | only for a new car with little down payment; buy from your insurer, not the dealer |
| rental reimbursement, roadside | convenience | cheap, optional |
Homeowners and renters insurance
| Form | For | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| HO-3 (the most common) | owner-occupied house | dwelling on an open-perils basis (everything not excluded), belongings on named perils |
| HO-5 | houses, premium | open perils on dwelling and belongings |
| HO-4 (renters) | tenants | belongings, liability, loss of use; typically cheap, and liability alone justifies it |
| HO-6 | condo owners | interior and belongings (the association insures the structure) |
| Term | Meaning | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| replacement cost | pays to rebuild or buy new, without deduction for age | choose it for both dwelling and contents |
| actual cash value | replacement cost minus depreciation | pays far less on older items; avoid |
| extended / guaranteed replacement cost | pays above the dwelling limit (e.g. +25%) if rebuilding costs spike after a disaster | valuable after regional catastrophes |
| ordinance or law | extra cost of rebuilding to current building codes | often excluded or low by default |
| loss of use | living costs while the home is uninhabitable | |
| personal liability | injuries to others on your property, and many off it | $300,000–$500,000, then an umbrella |
| scheduled items | jewellery, art, collectibles above sub-limits | standard sub-limits for theft of jewellery are low |
Excluded almost everywhere: flood (buy through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer; NFIP policies generally have a 30-day waiting period and cap residential cover at $250,000 building and $100,000 contents) and earthquake (a separate policy or endorsement). Also usually excluded: sewer backup (buy the endorsement), wear and tear, mold, and neglect. Flooding happens outside designated flood zones too.
Keep a home inventory (walk-through video, receipts in cloud storage) before you need it.
Umbrella liability
An umbrella policy adds liability cover (typically in $1 million steps) above your auto and home limits, and often covers things they don't (libel, slander, some worldwide liability). It is usually cheap relative to the protection because it only pays after the underlying policies are exhausted.
| Get one if… | Notes |
|---|---|
| your net worth or future earnings exceed your underlying liability limits | lawsuits target assets and wages |
| you have teenage drivers, a pool, trampoline, dog, rental property | higher liability exposure |
| you're a landlord, coach, board member (check D&O separately) | |
| requirement | insurers require underlying limits, commonly 250/500 auto and $300,000 home liability |
Retirement accounts have strong creditor protection in bankruptcy (ERISA plans fully; IRAs up to a bankruptcy-law cap), but taxable accounts and home equity above state homestead limits are exposed.
Long-term care
Custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, eating) at home, in assisted living or in a nursing home is expensive and not covered by Medicare (which covers only short skilled-nursing stays after a hospital admission) or by health insurance. Medicaid pays once assets are spent down to state limits, with a 5-year look-back on gifts.
| Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| self-fund | realistic for people with substantial assets |
| traditional LTC insurance | premiums on older policies have risen sharply; policies are use-it-or-lose-it; buy in your 50s if at all |
| hybrid life/LTC or annuity/LTC | guaranteed premiums, death benefit if unused; needs a large lump sum or fixed premiums |
| Medicaid planning | for modest estates; consult an elder-law attorney well before it's needed |
| family care | the default for most; plan for the caregiver's lost income |
Reasonable approach: the wealthy self-insure, those with little rely on Medicaid, and the middle (roughly $250,000 to $2 million of assets, depending on state and family) is where insurance is worth pricing.
Identity theft protection
| Defense | How | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| credit freeze at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) | online or by phone; blocks new credit in your name; lift temporarily when you apply | free by federal law since 21 September 2018; bureaus must place it within one business day of an online or phone request and lift it within an hour |
| freeze for children | parents can freeze a child's file (under 16) | free |
| fraud alert | contact one bureau; it notifies the others. Lenders must verify identity before extending credit | initial alert lasts 1 year; extended alert (with an identity-theft report) 7 years; active-duty alert 1 year |
| IRS Identity Protection PIN | a 6-digit PIN, new each year, required to file your return; anyone who can verify identity can enroll via IRS online account | free; stops fraudulent tax returns in your name |
| my Social Security account | create it before a fraudster does (ssa.gov/myaccount) | free |
| USPS Informed Delivery | create an account to see incoming mail and stop others registering your address | free |
| optional freezes | ChexSystems (bank accounts), NCTUE (utilities and phone accounts) | free |
| free credit reports | AnnualCreditReport.com, weekly | free |
| account security | password manager, unique passwords, app-based two-factor, carrier account PIN / port-out lock | free |
Paid "identity theft protection" services mostly monitor and alert after the fact; a freeze prevents the most common fraud for free. If you're a victim: report at IdentityTheft.gov (FTC), which produces a recovery plan and an identity-theft report.
Estate planning basics
Estate planning is not only for the rich. It decides who gets your things, who raises your children, and who makes decisions if you can't, and it spares your family court costs and delay.
| Document / tool | What it does | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| will | distributes probate assets, names an executor and a guardian for minor children | without one, state intestacy law decides; guardianship is the most important reason for parents to have a will |
| beneficiary designations | 401(k), IRA, HSA, life insurance, annuities pass directly to the named person | override your will; keep them current and name contingent beneficiaries |
| TOD / POD (transfer / payable on death) | brokerage and bank accounts (and real estate in many states via a TOD deed) pass outside probate | free and simple |
| joint ownership with right of survivorship | passes automatically to the co-owner | adding a child as joint owner exposes the asset to their creditors and can cause gift and basis problems |
| revocable living trust | you transfer assets into a trust you control; at death a successor trustee distributes them without probate, privately | worth it for real estate in several states, high-probate-cost states (e.g. California), blended families, or incapacity planning; must actually be funded (retitle assets); does not reduce estate tax or protect from your creditors |
| durable financial power of attorney | names someone to manage money if you're incapacitated | without it, family may need a court-appointed conservatorship |
| healthcare proxy / healthcare power of attorney | names who makes medical decisions for you | |
| living will / advance directive | your wishes on life support and end-of-life care | combine with the proxy in many states' standard forms |
| HIPAA authorization | lets named people get your medical information | |
| trust for minor children | holds assets until an age you choose (not 18) | minors can't inherit directly; without a trust, a court-supervised account and outright transfer at 18–21 |
| letter of intent | non-binding wishes, funeral preferences, personal items |
Probate is the court process of validating a will and distributing assets. Cost and delay vary widely by state; small estates often qualify for simplified procedures.
Beneficiary traps
| Trap | Consequence |
|---|---|
| ex-spouse still named on a 401(k) or life policy | many state laws revoke it on divorce, but for employer plans federal ERISA law pre-empts them (Supreme Court, Egelhoff v. Egelhoff, 2001): the ex can collect |
| "my estate" as beneficiary of an IRA | forces probate and can shorten the tax-deferral period for heirs |
| minor child named directly | court-appointed guardian of the property; child gets it all at 18–21 |
| no contingent beneficiary | if the primary dies first, the asset goes through probate |
| 401(k) beneficiary other than your spouse | ERISA requires the spouse's written consent, witnessed by a notary or plan representative |
| special-needs dependant inherits outright | can lose means-tested benefits (SSI, Medicaid); use a special-needs trust |
Federal estate and gift tax, 2026
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| basic exclusion (estate + lifetime gifts combined) | $15,000,000 per person (OBBBA; indexed for inflation from 2027; no scheduled sunset) |
| married couples | portability: the survivor can use the deceased spouse's unused exclusion if an estate tax return is filed, so $30 million per couple |
| top estate/gift tax rate | 40% on the excess |
| annual gift exclusion | $19,000 per recipient per donor ($38,000 from a couple); no return needed below it |
| gifts to a US-citizen spouse | unlimited marital deduction |
| gifts to a non-citizen spouse | $194,000 a year |
| direct payments of tuition or medical bills | unlimited, if paid directly to the institution |
| 529 superfunding | 5 years of annual exclusions at once ($95,000 per donor) with a gift-tax election |
Almost no one owes federal estate tax at these levels. State estate or inheritance taxes are the real risk for the moderately wealthy: about a dozen states and DC levy estate taxes, several with exemptions far below the federal one, and a handful levy inheritance taxes on heirs. Check your state.
Step-up in basis: inherited taxable assets (stocks, a house) get a new cost basis at the date-of-death value, erasing the unrealised capital gain. Pre-tax retirement accounts get no step-up: heirs pay income tax on withdrawals, usually within 10 years. This shapes which assets to give during life (cash, Roth) and which to hold until death (appreciated stock).
Digital assets and passwords
| Asset | Plan |
|---|---|
| passwords | password manager with an emergency access or emergency-kit feature for a trusted person |
| phone | Apple Legacy Contact / Google Inactive Account Manager set up; unlock code in the letter of instruction |
| email and cloud | the key to resetting everything else; covered by the password manager |
| crypto | seed phrases or hardware-wallet instructions stored securely (safe, split storage); without them the coins are gone |
| online accounts, domains, social media | listed with wishes (close, memorialise, transfer) |
| authority | most states have adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA): grant your executor and agent explicit access to digital assets in your will and power of attorney |
If I die tomorrow: the document checklist
LEGAL DOCUMENTS (originals location: ______________)
[ ] Will (executor, guardian for children) - signed, witnessed
[ ] Revocable living trust + list of assets retitled into it
[ ] Durable financial power of attorney
[ ] Healthcare proxy + living will / advance directive
[ ] HIPAA authorization
[ ] Letter of intent: funeral wishes, personal items, pets
ACCOUNTS (institution, type, last 4 digits, contact)
[ ] Bank and credit union accounts (POD set?)
[ ] Brokerage accounts (TOD set?)
[ ] 401(k)/403(b)/457(b), IRAs, HSA (beneficiaries current?)
[ ] Pensions, annuities, Social Security number
[ ] Life insurance policies (insurer, policy no., amount)
[ ] Disability, health, auto, home, umbrella policies
[ ] Debts: mortgage, loans, credit cards (and autopays)
[ ] Safe deposit box location and key
PROPERTY
[ ] Deeds, titles, vehicle registrations
[ ] Home inventory and where valuables are
[ ] Business ownership docs, buy-sell agreement
DIGITAL
[ ] Password manager emergency access granted to: ______
[ ] Phone passcode, 2FA backup codes location
[ ] Crypto wallet recovery instructions location
[ ] Email/cloud/social media wishes
PEOPLE
[ ] Attorney, accountant, financial adviser, insurance agent
[ ] Employer HR contact (group life, final pay, benefits)
[ ] Who to notify; who cares for children/pets tonight
REVIEW
[ ] Reviewed every 3 years and after marriage, divorce,
birth, death, move to another state, large inheritance
[ ] Executor knows where this document isCommon mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| no disability insurance, or only thin group cover | check the benefit amount, definition and benefit period; add an individual policy if needed |
| buying whole life or IUL as an "investment" | term life plus 401(k)/IRA/HSA |
| state-minimum auto liability | 100/300/100 at least, plus matching UM/UIM |
| low deductibles everywhere | raise them to what your emergency fund can cover; bank the premium savings |
| insuring small losses (extended warranties, phone plans) | self-insure |
| assuming homeowners covers floods | check the flood risk (FEMA flood maps, First Street) and buy flood cover if near any water |
| actual-cash-value contents cover | switch to replacement cost |
| no umbrella despite rising net worth | $1 million umbrella once assets or income justify it |
| outdated beneficiary designations | review after every life event; they override the will |
| parents with no will (so no named guardian) | a basic will is cheap; online will services or an attorney |
| trust created but never funded | retitle accounts and deeds into it |
| paying for identity monitoring instead of freezing credit | freeze all three bureaus for free; get an IRS IP PIN |
| relying on employer group life only | it ends with the job and is usually too small |
| no one knows where anything is | the checklist above, stored where your executor can find it |
References
- IRS: Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026, including OBBB amendments (opens in a new tab): $15 million estate exclusion, $19,000 gift exclusion, $194,000 non-citizen spouse
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (opens in a new tab): OBBBA amendment of the basic exclusion amount to $15,000,000 for 2026, indexed from 2027
- IRS: Estate tax (opens in a new tab): exclusion, portability and filing requirements
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 (opens in a new tab): 2026 HSA limits and HDHP definitions
- HealthCare.gov: Out-of-pocket maximum/limit (opens in a new tab): 2026 marketplace limits of $10,600 / $21,200
- KFF: Affordable Care Act (opens in a new tab): analysis of the expiry of enhanced premium tax credits and 2026 enrollment
- IRS: One Big Beautiful Bill provisions (opens in a new tab): HSA changes including bronze and catastrophic plans
- FTC: What to know about credit freezes and fraud alerts (opens in a new tab): free freezes, alert durations, child freezes
- IdentityTheft.gov (opens in a new tab): FTC reporting and recovery plans
- IRS: Get an Identity Protection PIN (opens in a new tab): eligibility and enrollment
- AnnualCreditReport.com (opens in a new tab): the official free credit report site
- NAIC: Consumer (opens in a new tab): state regulators, complaint data and buying guides for home, auto, life and health insurance
- FEMA: National Flood Insurance Program (opens in a new tab): flood policies, waiting period and coverage limits
- Medicare.gov: Long-term care (opens in a new tab): what Medicare does and doesn't cover
- SSA: Disability benefits (opens in a new tab): SSDI eligibility and the waiting period
- Egelhoff v. Egelhoff, 532 U.S. 141 (2001) (opens in a new tab): ERISA pre-empts state laws revoking an ex-spouse beneficiary
- Uniform Law Commission: Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, Revised (opens in a new tab): RUFADAA text and adoption map