This year I decided to start a new top 20 list which shows what articles people were interested reading on the Wills and Estate Planning website during the past year. Apparently readers share my love of charts since five of the top eight articles include charts listing historical and current estate tax and gift tax information. Also popular were articles about obtaining copies of wills and probate files, contesting a will, and the probate process in general.


And now, without further ado, here are the top 20 most read Wills and Estate Planning articles during 2013:

Top 20 Most Popular Wills and Estate Planning Articles in 2013

1. Exemption From Federal Estate Taxes: 1997 - 2014
2. Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts
3. How to Obtain a Copy of a Deceased Person's Will
4. Lifetime Exemption From Federal Gift Taxes: 1997 - 2014
5. Overview of 2013 Estate Tax, Gift Tax & Generation Skipping Transfer Tax Laws
6. Annual Exclusion From Gift Taxes: 1997 - 2014
7. State Estate Tax and Exemption Chart
8. State Inheritance Tax Chart
9. Who Gets a Copy of a Will After the Testator Dies?
10. What is a Revocable Living Trust?
11. What Are the Grounds for Contesting a Will?
12. What is the Future of the Federal Estate Tax?
13. What is the Gift Tax and Who Pays It?
14. How Long Will Probate Take?
15. What Happens to a Joint Account When an Owner Dies?
16. How is the Gift Tax Calculated?
17. Who Pays Off a Deceased Person's Debts?
18. How to Locate Online Probate Court Dockets and Request Copies of Documents
19. What Happens to a Retirement Account When the Owner Dies?

1. When is Probate Necessary?