St. Louis, MO estate & probate attorney Martha Brown debunks some of the biggest estate planning myths. She notes that she often encounters common misconceptions about estate matters. One of the biggest is the idea of a so-called “death tax” that everyone pays when someone passes away. She explains that this is a complete misnomer—estate tax only applies to estates valued at nearly twelve million dollars or more, which means it affects very few people.

Another widespread misunderstanding, she notes, is the belief that when someone dies, everything automatically transfers to their spouse, or that a spouse can automatically manage assets held solely in the other’s name if one becomes ill. Both of these assumptions, she emphasizes, are significant misconceptions that can cause serious complications if not properly addressed through planning.