Four Steps to Stop Mail Addressed to a Deceased Person

One of the first things you should do as a newly appointed executor of a deceased person’s probate estate or successor trustee of a deceased trustmaker’s trust is ask the post office to forward the deceased person’s mail to your address.  Unfortunately, along with important pieces of mail – statements, bills, and refunds – many not-so-important pieces – catalogs, solicitations, and plain old junk mail – will end up in your mailbox. 

On the other hand, you may have purchased a home from a deceased person’s estate or trust and have received some of their mail at your new address.  

What can you do to stop the post office from delivering mail addressed to a deceased person?  Follow these four steps:

1. If you are the executor of an estate that has been through probate court and the estate is officially closed, hand-deliver or send a copy of the probate order closing the estate and dismissing you as the executor to the deceased person's local post office, and request that all mail service is stopped immediately.  If you don’t take this step and find that some mail continues to trickle through two or more years after the death, this is because the U.S. post office only honors forwarding orders for one year.  The only way to completely stop delivery is to request that all mail service be discontinued.

2. To stop mail received as the result of commercial marketing lists (in other words, junk mail), log on to the Deceased Do Not Contact Registration page (https://www.ims-dm.com/cgi/ddnc.php) of the DMAchoice.org website and enter the deceased person’s information.  According to the website, “DMAchoice™ is an online tool developed by the Direct Marketing Association to help you manage your mail. This site is part of a larger program designed to respond to consumers' concerns over the amount of mail they receive, and it is the evolution of the DMA's Mail Preference Service created in 1971.”  After registering the deceased person on the website, the organization claims that the amount of mail received as the result of commercial marketing lists should decrease within three months.

3. For magazines and other subscriptions and mail that are technically not "junk" mail (for example, solicitations from charities to which the deceased person made donations while they were living), contact the organization directly to inform them of the death.  Note that most publishers will issue a refund for any unused subscription.

4. If you shared the mailing address with the deceased person or if you are the new owner of the deceased person’s home, write “Deceased, Return to Sender” on any mail addressed to the deceased person and leave it in your mailbox for pick up.

Remember it is a federal offense to open and read someone else’s mail; so if you’re not a legal representative of the deceased person, don’t open their mail!

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

Caution: Writing Your Own Deed to Avoid Probate Can Lead to Unintended Consequences

One common way to avoid probate of real estate after the owner dies is to hold the title to the property in joint names with rights of survivorship with children or other beneficiaries.  This is accomplished by adding the names of the children and certain legal terms to a new deed for the property and then recording it in the applicable public land records. 

Many people believe that they do not need to pay an attorney to help them prepare and record the new deed.  Instead, they think that a deed form can simply be downloaded from the internet or obtained from a book that can then be easily filled out and recorded.  But deeds are in fact legal documents that must comply with state law in order to be valid.  In addition, in most states, property will not pass to the other owners listed in a deed without probate unless certain specific legal terms are used in the deed.

How is a Defective Deed or an Invalid Deed Corrected? 

If the problems with a defective deed or an invalid deed are discovered before the owner dies, then the problems can be addressed by preparing and recording a “corrective deed” in the applicable public land records.  This should only be done with the assistance of an attorney.

Unfortunately, many times the problems with a defective deed or an invalid deed are not discovered until after the owner dies.  If this is the case, then the problems cannot be fixed with a corrective deed since the deceased owner is unable to sign the corrective deed.  Instead, the property will most likely need to be probated in order to fix the problems with the title.  Aside from probate taking time and costing money for legal fees and court expenses, until the problems with the title are sorted out in probate court, heirs will not be able to sell the property.  Or, worse yet, the property may be inherited by someone the owner had intended to disinherit when they prepared and recorded their own deed.

What Should You Do?

If you want to add your children or other beneficiaries to your deed in order to avoid probate, and you think you can save a few bucks by using a form you find on the internet or in a book, think again.  Deeds are legal documents that have very specific requirements and are governed by different laws in each state (in other words, a deed that is valid in New York may not necessarily be valid in Florida). 

If you want your home or other real estate to pass to your children or other beneficiaries without probate, then seek the advice of an attorney who is familiar with the probate and real estate laws of the state where your property is located. This will insure that the deed will be valid and your property will in fact avoid probate and pass to your intended heirs.

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

Death Tax Repeal Act Introduced in House and Senate

Identical bills have been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) tax.

Overview of Current Federal Estate, Gift, and GST Tax Laws

Under current law, the exemptions from federal estate taxes, lifetime gift taxes, and GST taxes are indexed for inflation on annual basis.  In 2015, the exemption from each tax is $5,430,000.  In addition, the top tax rate for each type of tax has been holding steady at 40 percent since 2013 and will remain at this rate in future years (barring any legislative changes).

Summary of Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015

On February 26, 2015, Rep. Kevin Brady (R – TX) introduced a bill “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and for other purposes,” to be known as the “Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015” (H.R. 1105). 

This bill currently has 135 Co-Sponsors (134 Republicans and one Democrat – Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA)) and provides for the following:

1. Repeals the federal estate tax and the GST tax for estates of decedents dying, and generation-skipping transfers made, after the date of enactment;

2. Includes special rules for assets held in a qualified domestic trust before the date of enactment;

3. Retains the federal gift tax with a top rate of 35 percent;

4. Retains the current law regarding the lifetime gift tax exemption;

5. Retains the gift tax annual exclusion ($10,000 as adjusted for inflation at a minimum of $1,000 increments; the exclusion is $14,000 for 2015);

6. Provides that transfers in trust will be treated as taxable gifts, unless the trust is treated as a grantor trust; and

7. Retains the carryover basis rules for lifetime gifts and stepped-up basis for property transferred after death.

On March 25, 2015, Sen. John Thune (R – SD) introduced an identical bill in the Senate (S.860) (the Senate bill was introduced with 26 Co-Sponsors, all Republicans).  On that same date, the House Ways and Means Committee (the chief tax-writing committee of the House) voted to favorably report the bill (as amended) by a roll call vote along party lines of 22 yeas to 10 nays.

What is the Future of the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015?

Is it possible that with a Republican-controlled House and a Republican-controlled Senate, the Death Tax Repeal Act will become law in 2015?  Not likely.  President Obama has already expressed his disapproval of the proposal and would most assuredly veto the bill if it ever came across his desk for signature.  Nonetheless, our firm will continue to monitor both state and federal bills that will affect your estate plan and your estate tax bill. You should be aware of these proposed changes because legislative changes can have a significant impact on your estate plan.

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

Three Liability Planning Tips for Physicians Anyone Can Use

Whether you are a physician or not, you probably know that the practice of medicine is a profession fraught with liability.  It’s not just medical malpractice claims either – employment related issues, careless business partners and employees, contractual obligations, and personal liabilities add to the risk assumed by a physician in private practice.  Unfortunately, in our litigious society, these liability risks are not unique to physicians.  Business owners, board members, real estate investors, and retirees need to protect themselves from a variety of liabilities too.

Below are three liability planning tips anyone – physicians and non-physicians alike – can use to protect their hard earned money.

Tip #1 – Insurance is the First Line of Defense Against Liability:

Liability insurance is the first line of defense against a claim.  Liability insurance provides a source of funds to pay legal fees as well as settlements or judgments. Types of insurance you should have in place include (as applicable):

1. Homeowner’s insurance

2. Property and casualty insurance

3. Excess liability insurance (also known as “umbrella” insurance)

4. Automobile and other vehicle (motorcycle, boat, airplane) insurance

5. General business insurance

6. Professional liability insurance

7. Directors and officers insurance

Tip #2 – State Exemptions Protect a Variety of Personal Assets From Lawsuits:

Each state has a set of laws and/or constitutional provisions that partially or completely exempt certain types of assets owned by residents from the claims of creditors.  While these laws vary widely from state to state, in general you may be able to protect the following types of assets from a judgment entered against you under applicable state law: 

1. Primary residence (referred to as “homestead” protection in some states)

2. Qualified retirement plans (401Ks, profit sharing plans, money purchase plans, IRAs)

3. Life insurance (cash value)

4. Annuities

5. Property co-owned with a spouse as “tenants by the entirety” (only available to married couples; and may only apply to real estate, not personal property, in some states)

6. Wages

7. Prepaid college plans

8. Section 529 plans

9. Disability insurance payments

10. Social Security benefits

Tip #3 – Business Entities Protect Business and Personal Assets From Lawsuits:

Business entities include partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations.  Business owners need to mitigate the risks and liabilities associated with owning a business, and real estate investors need to mitigate the risks and liabilities associated with owning real estate, through the use of one or more entities.  The right structure for your enterprise should take into consideration asset protection, income taxes, estate planning, retirement funding, and business succession goals.

Business entities can also be an effective tool for protecting your personal assets from lawsuits.  In many states, assets held within a limited partnership or a limited liability company are protected from the personal creditors of an owner.  In many cases, the personal creditors of an owner cannot step into the owner’s shoes and take over the business.  Instead, the creditor is limited to a “charging order” which only gives the creditor the rights of an assignee.  In general this limits the creditor to receiving distributions from the entity if and when they are made.

Final Advice for Protecting Your Assets:

Liability insurance, exemption planning, and business entities should be used together to create a multi-layered liability protection plan.  Our firm is experienced with helping physicians, business owners, board members, real estate investors, and retirees create and—just as important—maintain a comprehensive liability protection plan. If you have a Revocable Living Trust and it has been a few years since it has been reviewed, then we can help you determine if a Revocable Living Trust is still the right choice for your estate plan. If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

Is a Revocable Living Trust Right for You?

Revocable Living Trusts have become the basic building block of estate plans for people of all ages, personal backgrounds, and financial situations. But for some, a Revocable Living Trust may not be necessary to achieve their estate planning goals or may even be detrimental to achieving those goals.

What Are the Advantages of a Revocable Living Trust Over a Will?

Revocable Living Trusts have become popular because when compared with a Last Will and Testament, a Revocable Living Trust offers the following advantages:

1. A Revocable Living Trust protects your privacy by keeping your final wishes a private family matter, since only your beneficiaries and Trustees are entitled to read the trust agreement after your death.  On the other hand, a Last Will and Testament that is filed with the probate court becomes a public court record which is available for the whole world to read.

2. A Revocable Living Trust provides instructions for your care and the management of your property if you become mentally incapacitated.  Since a Last Will and Testament only goes into effect after you die, it cannot be used for incapacity planning.

3. If you fund all of your assets into a Revocable Living Trust prior to your death, then those assets will avoid probate.  On the other hand, property that passes under the terms of a Last Will and Testament usually has to be probated. A probate could add thousands of dollars of costs at your death.

Why Shouldn’t You Use a Revocable Living Trust?

Although Revocable Living Trusts offer privacy protection, incapacity planning, and probate avoidance, they are not for everyone. 

For example, if your main concern is avoiding probate of your assets after you die, then you may be able to accomplish this goal without the use a Revocable Living Trust by using joint ownership, life estates, and payable on death or transfer on death accounts and deeds.  However, those strategies aren’t a perfect fit for everyone.

In addition, if you are concerned about protecting your assets in case you need nursing home care, then an Irrevocable Living Trust, instead of a Revocable Living Trust, may be the best option for preserving your estate for the benefit of your family. The rules governing Irrevocable Living Trusts can be very complex, and you should only create an Irrevocable Living Trust after a thorough discussion with a qualified trust attorney.

Do You Still Need a Revocable Living Trust?

While some estate planning attorneys advise their clients against using a Revocable Living Trust under any circumstance, others advise their clients to use one under every circumstance.  Either approach fails to take into consideration the fact that Revocable Living Trusts are definitely not “one size fits all.”  Instead, your family and financial situations must be carefully evaluated on an individual basis and the advantages and disadvantages of using a Revocable Living Trust must be weighed against your personal concerns and estate planning goals.  In addition, these factors must be re-evaluated every few years since your family and financial situations, concerns, and goals will change over time. 

If you have a Revocable Living Trust and it has been a few years since it has been reviewed, then we can help you determine if a Revocable Living Trust is still the right choice for your estate plan. If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller. 

Is a Payable on Death Account Right for You and Your Family?

Payable on death accounts, or “POD accounts” for short, have become popular for avoiding probate in the last decade or so.  These accounts include life insurance policies, certain retirement accounts, and cash accounts with designated beneficiaries. While the idea of these accounts is to avoid probate and simplify distributions, POD accounts can have unintended negative results, which are contrary to the account owner’s wishes.

What is a POD Account?

A POD account is a type of bank account authorized by state law which allows the account owner to designate one or more beneficiaries to receive the funds left in the account when the owner dies.

A POD account allows the owner to do what he or she pleases with the funds held in the account during the owner’s lifetime, including spending it all and changing the beneficiaries of the account.  After the owner dies, if anything is left in the POD account, the beneficiaries chosen by the owner will be able to withdraw the remaining funds without the need for probating the account by presenting an original death certificate of the owner.

What Can Go Wrong With a POD Account?

POD accounts sound great, don’t they?  In general, POD accounts are easy to set up and make sense for many people.  A handful of states now even recognize POD deeds for real estate and POD designations for automobiles.   

Nonetheless, POD accounts may lead those who create them to believe that they have an “estate plan” and no additional steps will need to be taken.  This may or may not be true.  Below are a few examples of what can, and often does, go wrong with POD accounts:

1. POD accounts such as life insurance policies provide death proceeds to the designated beneficiaries. These proceeds are automatically transferred to the named parties by operation of law at the passing of the account owner. Many times, the owner’s intention is to provide liquidity for the settlement of the estate and final expenses. However, if there are three named beneficiaries, each person receives a check for their portion of the proceeds. At this point, each person can do whatever he or she likes with the proceeds. If someone chooses not to contribute a portion of the funds for estate settlement purposes, they have no obligation to do so. In such a situation, using a more advanced estate planning tool, such as an irrevocable life insurance trust may be the proper solution.

2. POD accounts can be set up as joint accounts that become payable on death after all of the owners die.  This means that if a husband and wife in a second marriage set up a POD account that will go to their six children from their first marriages after both die and the husband dies first, then the wife can simply change the POD beneficiaries to her own three children and disinherit the husband’s three children.

3. What about a situation with the same facts as above, except that the spouse remarries for a third time?  He or she could change the beneficiary of the POD account to her new husband, thereby disinheriting her children and her deceased husband’s children.

4. If there is only one POD account owner and he or she becomes mentally incapacitated, then a valid power of attorney or court-supervised guardianship or conservatorship might be needed to access the POD account to help pay for care for a sick loved one.

5. If a POD beneficiary is a minor under the age of 18 or 21 (this depends on state law), then a court-supervised guardianship or conservatorship may need to be established to manage the minor’s inheritance.

6. If all of the named POD beneficiaries predecease the account owner, then the account may have to be probated.

These are just a few examples of why POD accounts should not be a primary asset transfer mechanism in your estate plan. You need to have a will, a revocable living trust, a power of attorney, and a health care directive in place to insure that you and your property are protected in case you become mentally incapacitated and to make sure that your property goes where you want it to go after you die.

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller. 

When is an Estate Subject to State Death Taxes?

In the United States, certain states collect a death tax based on the value of the deceased person’s estate and who inherits it. Such states are known as having a decoupled estate tax—meaning that the state has an estate tax separate or in addition to the federal estate tax. While California does not have a decoupled estate tax, it does have a higher income tax than many states. As such, it is critical to discuss your estate and tax planning needs with a qualified legal professional.

Which States Collect a State Death Tax?

As of January 1, 2015, the following states collect a death tax:  Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee (but it will be repealed in 2016), Vermont, and Washington.

Each of these states has its own laws governing the amount of assets that are exempt from the death tax, what deductions can be taken, and the applicable death tax rate.  But regardless of these factors, for an estate to be potentially subject to a state death tax, the deceased person must have either lived in the state at the time of death or owned real estate or tangible personal property located in the state.

State Death Tax Examples:

Some examples should help to illustrate when an estate may be potentially subject to a state death tax:

1. Deceased Person was a New York resident.  If you inherit your uncle’s estate and he lived in New York at the time of his death, will the estate potentially be subject to a state death tax?  The answer is yes, because your uncle lived in New York at the time of his death and New York collects a state death tax.  However, whether or not the estate will owe any New York death taxes will depend on the value of your uncle’s estate and what deductions can be taken.

2. Deceased Person was a Florida resident.  On the other hand, if your uncle lived in Florida at the time of his death and did not own any property located in New York, then his estate would not be subject to New York death taxes, nor would his estate owe any Florida death taxes since Florida does not collect a state death tax.

3. Inheritor is a New York Resident.  What if you inherit your uncle’s estate and he lived in Florida at the time of his death and he did not own any property located outside of Florida, and you live in New York, will your uncle’s estate be subject to the New York death tax?  The answer is no, because your uncle was a Florida resident who did not own property located in New York, and Florida does not collect a state death tax.  But what if your uncle, who was a Florida resident at the time of his death, owned a second home located in New York?  In this case your uncle’s estate will potentially be subject to New York death taxes even though he was a Florida resident at the time of his death because he owned a house that is physically located in New York which is a state that collects a state death tax.

As the above examples show, state death taxes are tricky and can apply even in unexpected situations.  If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

Does Your Estate Plan Protect Your Adult Beneficiaries?

If you think you only need to create discretionary lifetime trusts for young beneficiaries, problem beneficiaries, or financially inexperienced beneficiaries, then think again.  In this day and age of frivolous lawsuits and high divorce rates, discretionary lifetime trusts should be considered for all of your beneficiaries, minors and adults alike.

What is a Discretionary Lifetime Trust?

A discretionary lifetime trust is a type of irrevocable trust that you can create while you are alive. Such a discretionary trust allows you to gift your assets into the trust for the benefit of your beneficiaries. Alternatively, a discretionary trust can come into existence upon your death. Here, your assets will be transferred into the trust for the benefit of your beneficiaries at the time that you pass away. 

The trust is discretionary because you dictate the limited circumstances when the trustee can reach in and take trust assets out for the use and benefit of the beneficiaries. For example, you can permit the trustee to use trust funds to pay for education expenses, health care costs, a wedding, buying a home, or starting a business.  If the trust is funded with sufficient assets that are invested prudently and you choose the right trustee to carry out your wishes, the trust funds could last for the beneficiary’s entire lifetime. 

How Does a Discretionary Lifetime Trust Protect an Inheritance?

With a discretionary lifetime trust each of your beneficiaries will have a fighting chance against lawsuits and divorcing spouses because their inheritance will be segregated inside of their trust and away from their own personal assets.  By creating this type of “box” around the inherited property, it shows the world that the inheritance is not the beneficiary’s property to do with as they please.  Instead, only the trustee can reach inside the box and, based on your specific instructions, pull funds out for the benefit of the beneficiary.  Creditors, predators, and divorcing spouses are generally blocked from reaching inside the box and taking property out. 

When the beneficiary dies, what is left inside their box will pass to the heirs you choose. You could decide, for example, to have the assets pass to your grandchildren inside their own separate boxes and on down the line, thereby creating a cascading series of discretionary lifetime trusts that will protect the inherited property and keep it in your family for decades to come.

What Should You Do?

Does all of this sound too good to be true?  It’s not.  Our firm is available to discuss how you can incorporate discretionary lifetime trusts into your estate plan. If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

How to Easily Integrate Asset Protection Trusts into Your Estate Plan

Asset protection has become a common goal of estate planning.  Asset protection trusts come in many different forms and can be used to protect property for your use and benefit as well as for the use and benefit of your family.

What is An Asset Protection Trust?

An asset protection trust is a special type of irrevocable trust in which the trust funds are held and invested by the Trustee and are only distributed on a discretionary basis.  The purpose of an asset protection trust is to keep the trust funds safe and secure for the benefit of the beneficiaries instead of having the funds be an available resource to pay a beneficiary’s debts. 

Asset Protection Trusts Equal Inheritance Protection:

Leaving an inheritance outright to your child or grandchild without any strings attached is risky in this day and age of high divorce rates, lawsuits, and bankruptcies.  Aside from this, your beneficiaries may not have developed the financial skills necessary to manage their inheritance over the long run.  There is also the very real risk that an outright inheritance left to your spouse will end up in the hands of a new spouse instead of in the hands of your children or grandchildren.  Finally, a beneficiary may be born with a disability or develop one later in life that will end up rapidly depleting their inheritance to pay for medical and other bills.

There are a number of different types of asset protection trusts that you can establish to insure your hard earned money is used only for the benefit of your family:

1. Trusts for minor beneficiaries – Minor beneficiaries cannot legally accept an inheritance, so a discretionary trust for a minor is a necessity.

2. Trusts for adult beneficiaries – Adult beneficiaries who are not good with managing money, are in a lawsuit-prone profession, have an overreaching spouse, or have an addiction problem will benefit from a lifetime discretionary trust. 

3. Trusts for surviving spouses – If you are worried that your spouse will not be able to manage their inheritance, will remarry, or will need nursing home care, you can require your spouse’s inheritance to be held in a lifetime discretionary trust.

4. Trusts for disabled beneficiaries – Disabled beneficiaries who receive an inheritance outright run the risk of losing government benefits and will need to spend down the funds to requalify, but an inheritance left to a special needs trust can be used to supplement, not replace, government assistance.

Drafting an Asset Protection Trust Your Way:

Asset protection trusts designed for inheritance protection can be as rigid or as flexible as you choose.  For example, a beneficiary can be added as a co-trustee at a certain age or after the beneficiary reaches a specific goal such as graduating from college.  Another option is to name a corporate trustee, such a bank or trust company, but give the beneficiary the right to remove and replace the corporate trustee with another one. 

You can also make trust distributions as limited or as broad as you choose.  For example, you can state that the funds can only be used to pay medical bills or for education, or the Trustee can be given broad discretion to make distributions in the best interests of the beneficiary.  You may also want to require the Trustee to take into consideration the beneficiary’s income and other assets before making distributions.  Alternatively, the Trustee can be given the authority to deplete the trust for one of the beneficiaries to the detriment of the remainder beneficiaries.  If there are multiple beneficiaries, such as a trust for the benefit of your spouse and your children, the Trustee can be directed to give preferential treatment to one or more beneficiaries over the others.

The Bottom Line on Asset Protection Trusts:

Asset protection trusts offer a great deal of planning opportunities for people of even modest means.  We are available to answer your questions about asset protection trusts and help you integrate this type of planning into your estate plan.

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller. 

Estate Planning, Tax Planning

The Obama administration recently released its budget proposal for the 2016 fiscal year.  As in past years, this budget proposes changes to the laws governing federal estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes.  Several of these changes would raise revenue by limiting the tax benefits achieved by using certain estate planning techniques, while others would decrease exemptions and increase rates.  In addition, the fifth proposal discussed below is a brand new one that has raised some eyebrows:

1. Restore the Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Tax Parameters in Effect in 2009.  The 2016 budget calls for the estate and GST tax exemptions to decrease from $5.43 million to $3.5 million, the lifetime gift tax exemption to decrease from $5.43 million to $1 million, and the top estate, gift and GST tax rate to increase from 40% to 45%.  While portability of the estate and gift tax exemptions between married couples would remain in effect, the exemptions would not be indexed for inflation.  If President Obama’s budget were enacted as proposed, these changes would go into effect on January 1, 2016.

2. Modify Transfer Tax Rules for Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs).  A GRAT is a sophisticated estate planning tool that can be used to reduce or eliminate the estate tax’s impact on your estate. The 2016 budget calls for GRATs to have a minimum term of ten years and a maximum term equal to the life expectancy of the annuitant plus ten years.  In addition, the remainder interest in a GRAT would be required to have a minimum value equal to the greater of: 25% percent of the value of the assets contributed to the GRAT, or $500,000 (but not more than the value of the assets contributed).  Finally, any decrease in the annuity during the term of the GRAT and tax-free exchanges of assets held in the GRAT would be prohibited.  These changes would apply to GRATs created after the date of enactment.

3. Limit Duration of Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Tax Exemption.  The 2016 budget calls for limiting the time period that multi-generational, dynasty trusts would remain estate and GST tax free to 90 years.  This limitation would apply to trusts created after the date of enactment and to the portion of a pre-existing trust attributable to additions to the trust made after that date (subject to rules substantially similar to the grandfather rules currently in effect for additions to trusts created prior to the effective date of the GST tax.) 

4. Simplify Gift Tax Exclusion for Annual Gifts.  The 2016 budget calls for the elimination of the so-called present interest requirement for gifts that qualify for the annual gift tax exclusion (which is currently $14,000 per donee).  Instead, a new category of transfers would be created, and an annual limit of $50,000 per donor would be imposed on the donor’s transfers of such property. This new category would not require the existence of any “Crummey” withdrawal or put rights.  This new category would include transfers in trust, transfers of interests in pass-through entities, transfers of interests subject to a prohibition on sale, and other transfers of property that, without regard to withdrawal, put, or other such rights in the donee, cannot immediately be liquidated by the donee.  These changes would go into effect for gifts made after the year of enactment. If enacted, this would significantly change the way that gifts to family members would need to be planned. 

5. Reform the Taxation of Capital Income.  The 2016 budget calls for the highest long-term capital gains and qualified dividend tax rate to increase from 20% to 24.2%.  This would increase the maximum capital gains and dividend tax rate when including net investment income tax to 28%.  In general most transfers of appreciated property would be treated as a sale of the property, including when an appreciated asset is gifted during lifetime or bequeathed at death.  Certain exemptions and exclusions would apply.  These changes would go into effect for capital gains realized, dividends received, gifts made, and deaths occurring after December 31, 2015.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The federal government is in constant need of raising more revenue.  The proposed changes to gift and death tax laws in the Obama 2016 budget will only affect a limited number of taxpayers but would result in billions of dollars in new tax dollars.  Therefore, it is important to monitor these revenue-generating proposals to avoid missing a change that will affect your estate planning goals.  In addition, if you have been on the fence about creating a GRAT or implementing another type of gifting strategy, then now is the time to move forward before the benefits of these techniques might disappear.

Constant change seems to be the rule in Washington and the last few years have seen significant change to laws affecting your estate plan. If your estate plan hasn’t been professionally reviewed recently, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

It’s Not Just About Death and Taxes—The Essential Legal Documents You Need for Incapacity Planning

Comprehensive estate planning is about more than your legacy after death, avoiding probate, and saving on taxes. It must also be about having a plan in place to manage your affairs if you become mentally incapacitated during your life.

What Happens Without an Incapacity Plan?

Without a comprehensive incapacity plan in place, a judge can appoint a guardian or conservator to take control of your assets and health care decisions.  This guardian or conservator will make all personal and medical decisions on your behalf as part of a court-supervised guardianship or conservatorship.  Until you regain capacity or die, you and your loved ones will be faced with an expensive and time-consuming guardianship or conservatorship proceeding.

What Happens to Your Finances During Incapacity?

If you are legally incapacitated, you are legally unable to make financial, investment, or tax decisions for yourself. Of course, bills still need to be paid, tax returns still need to be filed, and an investment strategy still needs to be managed.

So, you must have these two essential legal documents for managing finances in place prior to becoming incapacitated:

1.  Financial Power of Attorney: 

This legal document gives your agent the authority to pay bills, make financial decisions, manage investments, file tax returns, mortgage and sell real estate, and address other financial matters that are described in the document.  

Financial Powers of Attorney come in two forms:  “Durable” and “Springing.”  A Durable Power of Attorney goes into effect as soon as it is signed, while a Springing Power of Attorney only goes into effect after you have been declared mentally incapacitated.

2.  Revocable Living Trust:

This legal document has three parties to it:  The person who creates the trust (you might see this written as “Trustmaker” or “Grantor” or “Settlor” – they all mean the same thing); the person who manages the assets transferred into the trust (the “Trustee”); and the person who benefits from the assets transferred into the trust (the “Beneficiary”).  In the typical situation you will be the Trustmaker, the Trustee, and the Beneficiary of your own revocable living trust, but if you ever become incapacitated, then your designated Successor Trustee will step in to manage the trust assets for your benefit.

Health Care Decisions Must Also Be Made:

If you become legally incapacitated, you won’t be able to make health care decisions for yourself. Because of patient privacy laws, your loved ones may even be denied access to medical information during a crisis situation and end up in court fighting over what medical treatment you should, or should not, receive (like Terri Schiavo’s husband and parents did, for 15 years). 

So, you should have these three essential legal documents for making health care decisions in place prior to becoming incapacitated:

1.  Durable Power of Attorney: 

This legal document, also called an Advance Directive or Medical or Health Care Proxy, gives your agent the authority to make health care decisions if you become incapacitated.

2.  Living Will: 

This legal document gives your agent the authority to make life sustaining or life ending decisions if you become incapacitated.

3.  HIPAA Authorization:

Federal and state laws dictate who can receive medical information without the written consent of the patient.  This legal document gives your doctor authority to disclose medical information to an agent selected by you.

Is Your Incapacity Plan Up to Date?

Once you get all of these legal documents for your incapacity plan in place, you cannot simply stick them in a drawer and forget about them.  Instead, your incapacity plan must be reviewed and updated periodically and if certain life events occur - such as moving to a new state or going through a divorce. If you keep your incapacity plan up to date, it should work the way you expect it to if it’s ever needed.

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

Four Questions For Choosing the Proper Agent for Your Incapacity Plan

A common misconception is that estate planning equates solely to planning for death. However, planning for what happens after you pass away is only one piece of the estate planning process.  It is just as important to make a plan for what happens if you become mentally incapacitated.

What Happens Without an Incapacity Plan?                                                                                              

Without a comprehensive incapacity plan, a judge can appoint an agent (known as a guardian or a conservator) to take control of your assets and make all personal and medical decisions for you under a court-supervised guardianship or conservatorship.   The guardian or conservator must report all financial transactions to the court either on an annual basis or at least every few years.  The guardian or conservator is also typically required to obtain court permission before entering into certain types of financial transactions (such as mortgaging or selling your real estate) or making life-sustaining or life-ending medical decisions.  The court-supervised guardianship or conservatorship will then continue until you either regain capacity or die. 

Who Should You Choose as Your Financial Agent and Health Care Agent?

As you can see from the above discussion, a guardian or conservator has an important and involved role if you become incapacitated.

Creating an incapacity plan can help you order to avoid a court-supervised guardianship or conservatorship. 

Rather than having a judge decide, your incapacity plan will have you appoint one or more agents to carry out your wishes. There are two very important decisions you must make when putting together your plan:

• Who will be in charge of managing your finances if you become incapacitated? (Known as your “Attorney in Fact”); and

• Who will be in charge of making medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated? (Referred to as your “Health Care Agent”.)

Factors to consider when deciding who to name as your financial agent and health care agent (who do not have to be the same people) include:

1. Where does the agent live?  With modern technology, the distance between you and your agent should not matter.  Nonetheless, someone who lives nearby may be a better choice than someone who lives in another state or country.

2. How organized is the agent?  The agent will need to be well organized to manage your health care needs, keep track of your assets, pay your bills, and balance your checkbook, in addition to being able to manage their own finances and family obligations.

3. How busy is the agent?  If the agent has a demanding job or travels frequently for work, then the agent may not have the time required to take care of your finances and medical needs.

4. Does the agent have expertise in managing finances or the health care field?  An agent with work experience in finances or medicine may be a better choice than an agent without it.

What Should You Do?

If you choose the wrong person to serve as your financial agent or health care agent, your incapacity plan is likely to fail and land you and your assets in a court-supervised guardianship or conservatorship. 

In order to create an incapacity plan that will work the way you expect it to work, you need to carefully consider who to choose as your agent and then discuss your decision with that person to confirm that they will in fact be willing and able to serve. 

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.  

Five Things You Need to Know About the Recently Enacted ABLE Act

On December 19, 2014, President Obama signed the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE Act) into law.  The ABLE Act will allow certain individuals with disabilities to establish tax-free savings accounts that can be used to cover expenses not otherwise covered by government sponsored programs. These accounts can be a great alternative or supplement to special needs or supplemental needs trusts.

Here are five important things you need to know about the ABLE Act.

1. What is an ABLE account?  An ABLE account is similar to a 529 education savings account that helps families save for college.  It is a tax-free, state-based private savings account that can be used to pay for the care of people with disabilities.  Although income earned in the account will not be taxed, contributions to the account will not be tax deductible.

2. Who is eligible for an ABLE account?  Eligibility will be limited to individuals with significant disabilities with an age of onset of disability before turning 26 years of age. If an individual meets these criteria and is also receiving benefits under SSI and/or SSDI, they are automatically eligible to establish an ABLE account.  If the individual is not a recipient of SSI and/or SSDI but still meets the age of onset disability requirement, they will still be eligible to open an ABLE account if the SSI criteria regarding significant functional limitations are met.  In addition, the disabled individual may be over the age of 26 and establish an account if the individual has documentation of their disability that shows the age of onset occurred before the age of 26.

3. What are the limits for contributions to an ABLE account?  Each individual state will determine the total limit that can be contributed to an ABLE account over time.  Although we’ll need to wait for regulations to know the exact amount that can be contributed, the Act states that any individual can make annual contributions to an ABLE account up to the gift tax exemption limit (which is $14,000 in 2015).  If the disabled individual is receiving SSI and Medicaid, the first $100,000 held in an ABLE account will be exempted from the SSI $2,000 individual resource limit.  If an ABLE account exceeds $100,000, the account beneficiary will be suspended from eligibility for SSI benefits but will continue to be eligible for Medicaid.  Upon the death of the account beneficiary, assets remaining in the ABLE account will be reimbursed to any state Medicaid plan that provided assistance from the day the ABLE account was established.

4. What types of expenses can be paid from an ABLE account?  An ABLE account may be used to pay for a “qualified disability expense,” which means any expense related to the beneficiary as a result of living with their disability.  These expenses may include medical and dental care, education, employment training, housing, assistive technology, personal support services, health care expenses, financial management, and administrative services. 

5. When will able accounts be available?  Although the ABLE Act was signed into law in December 2014, regulations will need to be established by the Department of Treasury before states can begin to set up procedures for managing ABLE accounts.  Once these regulations are issued (which is anticipated to occur later in 2015), each state will be responsible for establishing and operating their own ABLE program.

Since the money in an ABLE account can grow tax free and be accessed on a tax-free basis for qualifying expenses, these accounts could be a valuable resource for certain disabled individuals and their families. Although we’re waiting on regulations to be adopted, now is the time to begin thinking about whether an ABLE account is a good fit for your family’s circumstances. 

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller. 

3 Powers to Consider Giving to a Trust Protector

Today many estate plans contain irrevocable trusts that will continue for the benefit of a spouse’s lifetime and then for the benefit of several generations.  Since these trusts are designed to span multiple decades, it is important that they include a trust protector who will have the ability to adjust the trust provisions as circumstances, beneficiaries, and governing laws change.

What is a Trust Protector?

A trust protector is an individual or group of individuals who are given the power to insure that the purposes and goals of the creator of an irrevocable trust are ultimately fulfilled.  Generally the trust protector may be a family member or friend (typically someone who is not a beneficiary or trustee of the trust), an unrelated trusted advisor, or a group of these individuals acting by majority or unanimous agreement.  The choice of who to name as the trust protector will depend on the trust creator’s wishes and the intended duration of the trust.

What Powers Should a Trust Protector Hold?

A trust protector can be given as few or as many powers as the trust creator desires.  While it may be tempting to give a trust protector a wide array of powers to deal with every possible future circumstance, the trust creator should carefully consider the specific purposes and goals for their trust and only give the trust protector powers that will further those purposes and goals. 

Regardless of a trust creator’s intent, below are three powers that all trust creators should consider giving their trust protectors:

1. Power to Amend Trust Provisions.  Some irrevocable trusts that are intended to continue for multiple generations begin as revocable trusts that only become irrevocable after the trust creator dies or at some other time in the future.  If the trust creator fails to update the trust due to changes in circumstances, beneficiaries, or governing laws while the trust is still revocable, a trust protector can fix these issues after the trust becomes irrevocable.

2. Power to Add, Remove and Replace Trustees.  Giving this power to the trust beneficiaries may defeat the trust creator’s intent since the beneficiaries may be inclined to hastily remove a trustee who does not give in to their each and every request. Instead, a trust protector can take an objective look at the trustee’s actions or inactions and determine if the trust creator’s intent is being fulfilled or derailed. 

3. Power to Change Trust Situs and Governing Law.  Since it is impossible to predict where the beneficiaries and trustees of an irrevocable trust will live in the future, this power is critical to insure that the trust will continue for as long as the trust creator intended and with minimum tax consequences.  Giving this power to the trust protector will allow an objective party to determine if the change will be beneficial or is necessary.

Final Thoughts on Trust Protectors:

Including a trust protector in an irrevocable trust agreement or a revocable trust agreement that will become irrevocable at some time in the future is critical to the success and longevity of the trust.  Nonetheless, the trust protector should only be given powers that will insure the purposes and goals of the trust creator are ultimately fulfilled.

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

5 Good Reasons to Decant a Trust

Today many estate plans contain irrevocable trusts that will continue for the benefit of a spouse’s lifetime and then for the benefit of several generations.  Since these trusts are designed to span multiple decades, it is important that they include trust decanting provisions to address changes in circumstances, beneficiaries, and governing laws.

What is Trust Decanting?

When a bottle of wine is decanted, it is poured from one container into another.  When a trust is “decanted,” the funds from an existing trust are removed and distributed into a new trust that has different and more favorable terms. 

When Should a Trust Be Decanted?

Provisions for trust decanting should be included in trusts that are intended to last decades into the future. Decanting allows the following to be addressed:

Clarifying ambiguities or drafting errors in the trust agreement. 

As trust beneficiaries die and younger generations become the new heirs, vague provisions or outright mistakes in the original trust agreement may become apparent.  Decanting can be used to correct these problems.

1. Providing for a special needs beneficiary. A trust that is not tailored to provide for a special needs beneficiary will cause the beneficiary to lose government benefits.  Decanting can be used to turn a support trust into a full supplementary needs trust.

2. Protecting the trust assets from the beneficiary’s creditors. A trust that is not designed to protect the trust assets from being snatched by the beneficiary’s creditors can be rapidly depleted if the beneficiary is sued.  Decanting can be used to convert a support trust into a full discretionary trust that the beneficiary’s creditors will not be able to reach.

3. Merging similar trusts into a single trust or creating separate trusts from a single trust. An individual may be the beneficiary of multiple trusts that have similar terms.  Decanting can be used to combine these trusts into one trust which will reduce administrative costs and oversight.  On the other hand, a single trust that has multiple beneficiaries who have differing needs can be decanted into separate trusts tailored to each individual beneficiary.

4. Changing the governing law or situs to a different state. Changes in state and federal laws can adversely affect the administration and taxation of a multi-generational trust.  Decanting can be used to take a trust that is governed by laws that have become unfavorable and convert it into a trust that is governed by different and more advantageous laws.   

Final Thoughts on Trust Decanting:

Including trust decanting provisions in an irrevocable trust agreement or a revocable trust agreement that will become irrevocable at some time in the future is critical to the success and longevity of the trust.  This will help to insure that the trust agreement has the flexibility necessary to avoid court intervention to fix a trust that no longer makes practical or economic sense. 

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

Who’s Going to Get It: Do You Really Know the Beneficiaries of Your Dynasty Trust?

Today many estate plans contain irrevocable dynasty trusts that will continue for the benefit of a spouse’s lifetime and then for the benefit of several generations.  Since these trusts are designed to span multiple decades, it is important that they clearly define who will be included as trust beneficiaries at each generation.

Who Are Your Descendants?

In the past the definition of “descendant” was straightforward:  A person who can be traced back to a specific ancestor through the same blood lines.  But the modern family now encompasses much more than just blood heirs:

1. Adopted beneficiaries.  In your trust, should the definition of “descendant” include a minor child who is legally adopted by your child, grandchild, or great grandchild?  What about an adult who is legally adopted by your child, grandchild, or great grandchild?  What happens if your child, grandchild or great grandchild gives up their naturally born child for adoption, should your blood heir who has been adopted away from your family be included as your descendant?  You should consider specifically including or excluding adopted minor and adult beneficiaries in the definition of “descendant” used in your trust agreement.

2. Stepchildren.  In your trust, should the definition of “descendant” include a stepchild of your child, grandchild, or great grandchild who is never legally adopted by your heir but otherwise treated like one of his or her own?  While you may have the opportunity to get to know your stepchildren (and even your step grandchildren) and choose to specifically include them or exclude them in the definition of your descendants (in fact, you may want to include some and exclude others), it will be important to decide and communicate whether stepchildren in later generations should be included or excluded as beneficiaries of your trust.

3. Beneficiaries conceived using “assisted reproductive technology.”  In your trust, should the definition of “descendant” include a child, grandchild or great grandchild conceived using artificial insemination?  What about a child, grandchild or great grandchild conceived using a surrogate mother?  What about a child, grandchild or great grandchild conceived using an anonymous sperm or egg donor?  While no one knows what the future definition of “assisted reproductive technology” will encompass, the definition of “descendant” in your trust agreement should specifically include or exclude heirs conceived using assisted reproductive technology.

Carefully Defining Your Trust Beneficiaries Will Keep Your Heirs Out of Court:

Who may be your “descendant” twenty, thirty, or even fifty years into the future should be carefully considered when creating a trust that is intended to last for multiple generations.  Clearly defining the class of beneficiaries who will be entitled to receive distributions from your trust will allow for a smooth transition between generations and keep your heirs and trustees out of court.  

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

How Powers of Appointment Can Improve Your Trust

Today many estate plans contain trusts that will continue for the benefit of a spouse’s lifetime and then for the benefit of several generations.  Since these trusts are designed to span multiple decades, it is important for the trust creator to consider including powers of appointment in the trust agreement to allow trust beneficiaries to be added or excluded at each generation.

What is a Power of Appointment?

In broad terms a power of appointment is the right granted to an individual under the terms of a trust to change the provisions of that trust.

Powers of appointment can be given to the current beneficiaries or trustees of a trust or to an outside third party such as a trust protector.  They also come in many different forms and include powers that can be exercised while the individual is living (a “lifetime” power of appointment), or after the individual dies (such as a power of appointment exercised in the individual’s own will or trust, which is a “testamentary” power of appointment).

Powers of appointment can be as broad or limited as the trust creator desires.  In other words, the trust creator can give the power holder the ability to make broad changes to the trust or to make very limited changes under limited circumstances.

Examples of Powers of Appointment in Action:

Below are some examples of how a power of appointment can be used to change the beneficiaries of a trust:

1. The trust creator’s spouse can be given the power to include or exclude children, grandchildren, and other heirs as trust beneficiaries after the spouse dies.

2. The trust creator’s child can be given the power to include or exclude the child’s own heirs or the child’s spouse, siblings (brothers and sisters), or heirs of the child’s siblings (nieces and nephews) as trust beneficiaries after the child dies.

3. If the trust creator is married but doesn’t have any children, the trust creator’s spouse can be given the power to include or exclude the trust creator’s extended family members and one or more charities as trust beneficiaries after the spouse dies. 

These are of course only a few examples; the possibilities are truly endless for how powers of appointment can be used to change the terms of a trust.

Do Not Attempt to Draft Your Own Powers of Appointment:

If you are concerned about how your children, grandchildren, or even great grandchildren will eventually grow up, you can build flexibility into your trust by giving your spouse or other beneficiaries the ability to include or exclude heirs through the use of powers of appointment. 

But beware:  Poorly drafted powers of appointment can create all sorts of gift tax and/or estate tax problems for your trust beneficiaries and trustees. 

Therefore, powers of appointment should only be drafted or included in a trust with the assistance of an experienced estate planning attorney. 

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

The Wrong Successor Trustee Can Derail Your Final Wishes

Today many estate plans contain irrevocable trusts that will continue for the benefit of a surviving spouse’s lifetime and then for the benefit of several generations.  Since these trusts are designed to span multiple decades, it is crucial to choose the right succession of trustees.

Should You Name Family Members as Your Successor Trustees?

Choosing the right succession of trustees for your irrevocable trust that is intended to continue for years is critical to its longevity and ultimate success. 

Initially you may think that a family member, such as your spouse, a sibling, or an adult child, will be the best person to serve as your successor trustee. You may think family members will better understand the varying needs of your beneficiaries and keep the costs of administering the trust down.  

But in reality family members will not be able to fulfill all of their fiduciary obligations without hiring legal, investment, and tax advisors.  The expense of all these outside advisors will add up and can ultimately cost more than a corporate trustee, such as a bank or trust company. One advantage of a bank or trust company is that they can often meet all fiduciary obligations under one roof for one fee.  In addition, a corporate trustee will act in an unbiased manner in making distributions and investments which will benefit both the current and remainder beneficiaries, and a corporate trustee will not get sick or too busy to oversee the day-to-day administration of the trust. 

Should You Give Your Beneficiaries the Power to Remove and Replace Trustees?

Forcing your trust beneficiaries to be stuck with the wrong trustee without a reasonable means for removing and replacing the trustees may cause an expensive visit to the courthouse.

It is necessary to build provisions into your trust agreement which will allow your beneficiaries or an independent third party, such as a trusted advisor or a trust protector, to remove and replace the trustees without court intervention.  The fact that the trustee can be removed and replaced without going to court is often an incentive for the trustee to work out any differences with the beneficiaries.

What Should You Do? 

1. Selecting a successor trustee is one of the most important decisions you will make when creating an irrevocable trust or a dynasty trust.  While family members may be your initial choice, you should give serious consideration to designating a corporate trustee, either alone or as a co-trustee with a family member or trusted advisor. 

2. A corporate trustee will act as a neutral party to oversee discretionary distributions and investment strategies that benefit both current and remainder beneficiaries.  To create flexibility, specific beneficiaries (such as current income beneficiaries) or a trust protector should be given the right to remove the corporate trustee and replace it with another corporate trustee.

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

4 Tips for Avoiding a Will or Trust Contest

A will or trust contest can derail your final wishes, rapidly deplete your estate, and tear your loved ones apart.  But with proper planning, you can help your family avoid a potentially disastrous will or trust contest.  

If you are concerned about challenges to your estate plan, consider the following:

1. Do not attempt “do it yourself” solutions.  If you are concerned about an heir contesting your estate plan, the last thing you want to do is attempt to write or update your will or trust on your own.  Only an experienced estate planning attorney can help you put together and maintain an estate plan that will discourage lawsuits. 

2. Let family members know about your estate plan.  When it comes to estate planning, secrecy breeds contempt.  While it is not necessary to let your family members know all of the intimate details of your estate plan, you should let them know that you have taken the time to create a plan that spells out your final wishes and who they should contact if you become incapacitated or die.

3. Use discretionary trusts for problem beneficiaries.  You may feel that you have to completely disinherit a beneficiary because of concerns that a potential beneficiary will squander their inheritance or use it in a manner that is against your beliefs.  However, there are other options than completely disinheriting someone. For example, you can require that the problem beneficiary’s share be held in a lifetime discretionary trust and name a third party, such as a bank or trust company, as trustee.  This will insure that the beneficiary will only be entitled to receive trust distributions under terms and conditions you have dictated.  You will also be able to control who will inherit the balance of the trust if the beneficiary dies before the funds are completely distributed.

4. Keep your estate plan up to date.  Estate planning is not a one-time transaction – it is an ongoing process.  Therefore, as your circumstances change, you should update your estate plan.  An up to date estate plan shows that you have taken the time to review and revise your plan as your family and financial situations change.  This, in turn, will discourage challenges since your plan will encompass your current estate planning goals.

By following these four tips, your heirs will be less likely to challenge your estate planning decisions and will be more inclined to fulfill your final wishes. If you are concerned about heirs contesting your will or trust, you should seek the professional advice now. 

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.

Make an Achievable 2015 New Year’s Resolution – Get an Estate Plan Checkup!

With 2015 right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about your new year’s resolutions.  

It doesn’t matter whether you have an estate plan or don’t, one important item to add to your list is getting an estate plan checkup.

Don’t Have an Estate Plan?  

If you don’t already have an estate plan, then getting one in place should be at the top of your 2015 new year’s resolutions.  

Why?  Because without an estate plan, you and your property may end up in a court-supervised guardianship if you become incapacitated, and your property and your loved ones may end up in probate court after you die.  

Worse yet, if you don’t take the time to make your own will, then the state where you live at the time of your death will essentially write one for you, and it most likely won’t divvy up your property the way you would have.  

A common misconception is that estate planning is only necessary for wealthy people. But this simply isn’t true – anyone with a bank or a retirement account, a home, or a family needs to make a plan for what happens if they become incapacitated or when they die. Of course the complexity of a plan will vary depending on your circumstances, but all estate plans should be put together with the help of an attorney who is experienced with the legal formalities required to create a valid will, trust, health care directive, and power of attorney in your state.

How Old is Your Estate Plan?

Do you already have an estate plan?

If you do, then please pull your documents out of the drawer, dust them off, and look at the date you signed them.  

Were your documents signed in the 80s or 90s, or, worse yet, before 1980?  Then please run, don’t walk, to an estate planning attorney, because your documents are terribly out of date and need to be brought into the new millennium as soon as possible.  

Did you sign your documents between 2000 and 2009?  Aside from the federal estate tax exemption jumping from $675,000 to $3,500,000 during that time period, state estate taxes disappeared in many states. Because of the significant changes in federal and state estate taxes, documents from this time period can be out of date and need to be tweaked in some shape or form.  

Did you sign your documents during 2010, 2011, or 2012?  Federal estate taxes, gift taxes, and generation-skipping transfer taxes went through major changes during these years, and “portability” of the federal estate tax exemption between married couples was introduced.  Unfortunately, while your estate planning documents may only be a few years old, they very likely do not take advantage of the opportunities made available from recent changes in federal tax laws.  And, it’s not just tax laws that are changing – modifications to state laws governing wills, trusts, health care directives, and powers of attorney may warrant some revisions to your estate planning documents as well.

And last but not least, regardless of what year you signed your estate planning documents, think about all of the changes in your life since you signed them.  Did you get married or divorced, have a child or two or a grandchild or two, or move to a new state?  Did you sell your business, retire, have a significant change in assets, or win the lottery?  Any major changes in your family or financial situation will certainly have an affect on your estate plan.

Estate Planning is Not a One Shot Deal:

Estate planning is not a static event that you grudgingly do once and then forget about it.  On the contrary, estate planning is a continuing process, because life is a moving target that is full of constant change, so your estate plan needs to change as your life changes.  

If you want to ensure that your family is cared for, please click here to schedule your complimentary Estate Planning Strategy Call with San Francisco’s premier estate planning attorney, Matthew J. Tuller.