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Heirs’ Property and Potential Landowners Issues in Inheritance through Probate

Heirs’ property describes land or real estate that an heir inherits without a legally binding will. When a person dies without a will, their property goes through probate. This legal process determines the value of the deceased’s assets, pays off any debts and identifies the rightful heirs. Without a will, property is often divided among multiple heirs, fracturing the property among various landowners.

What Landowners Issues Arise from Heirs’ Property?

Heirs’ property creates several challenges for landowners:

  • Lack of Clear Title: Landowners cannot access the full benefits of homeownership without a clear title. They are often ineligible for loans or government assistance programs, making maintaining or improving the property difficult.
  • Vulnerability to Partition Sales: Any heir, regardless of their fractional interest, can initiate a partition sale. A forced sale can occur if the property cannot be physically divided, which is common in urban areas. This makes heirs’ properties susceptible to speculators who can buy out a single heir and force a sale.
  • Tax Issues: Heirs’ property owners may face higher property taxes because they cannot qualify for tax exemptions without a clear title. This increases the risk of tax foreclosure.

At first, fractional ownership under heirs’ property wouldn’t seem like a bad solution. However, the divided property ends up being worth much less to your descendants than the sum of its parts.

The Impact on Black Communities

Heirs’ property is particularly prevalent in Black communities, especially in the rural South. Historical factors, such as exclusion from the legal system during Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras, contributed to this issue.

Black families have lost significant wealth due to a historic lack of access to estate planning. According to HousingMatters, roughly one-third of all Black-owned land in the South is heirs’ property. This amounts to around 3.5 million acres with a value of $28 billion.

What Is the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act?

The Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA) is legislation designed to protect the owners of heirs’ property from forced sales. According to ABCnews, the UPHPA helps families preserve their inherited property and maintain their wealth.

This bill aims to provide a fair process to partition inherited property. Co-owners can buy out the shares of other heirs before any forced sale. This law prioritizes keeping the property within the family, closing an avenue for real estate speculators to exploit heirs’ property owners.

Protecting and Preserving Heirs’ Property

Addressing the issue of heirs’ property requires a multi-faceted approach:

  • Legal Assistance: Providing legal services to help landowners create wills and clear titles is crucial. Legal clinics and pro bono work can connect lawyers with communities in need.
  • Community Engagement: Partnering with trusted community organizations can help build trust and encourage estate planning.
  • Policy Changes: Implementing state policies, like the Uniform Partition of Heirs’ Property Act, can protect landowners by allowing them to buy out other heirs and prevent forced sales.

Black Families, Estate Planning, and Truth in Fiction

In a poignant episode of HBO’s “Insecure,” Issa Rae’s character mentions that her great-aunt’s will was thought to be with God. However, it ended up with the county. This humorous line underlines the unfortunate reality that many Black families lack legally binding wills. As a result, many Black families have suffered even more obstacles to accruing generational wealth.

Without proper estate planning, properties end up in probate. This leads to avoidable taxes, fractional ownership and vulnerability to partition sales. This strips families of their heritage, while simultaneously perpetuating the racial wealth gap.

Plan for Generational Wealth

If you own property and lack a robust estate plan, taking action now is crucial. Contact our estate planning attorneys to learn more about protecting and transferring your assets to your descendants. Request a consultation today to secure your family’s legacy and reduce the racial wealth gap.

Key Takeaways

  • Clear Title Importance: Obtaining a clear title helps landowners access loans and government assistance.
  • Risk of Partition Sales: Any heir can force a sale, making properties vulnerable to speculators.
  • Tax Challenges: Heirs’ property owners may face higher taxes, risking foreclosure.
  • Impact on Black Communities: A significant portion of Black-owned land in the South is heirs’ property, affecting wealth transfer.
  • Solutions: Legal assistance, community engagement and policy changes are crucial for protecting heirs’ property.

References: ABCnews (Oct. 27, 2023) “In North Carolina, a proposed law could help families protect land ownership” and HousingMatters (Dec. 13, 2023) “What Is Heirs’ Property, and Why Does It Matter for Equitable Homeownership?”

How to Protect Wealth over Generations

The Gilded Age was a time of rapid economic growth, creating extraordinary new wealth, materialistic excess, political corruption and terrible poverty and struggle for the lower economic classes. Famous families from this era, including the Rockefellers, Carnegies, Vanderbilts and Astors, had huge wealth. Nevertheless, not all benefited from multi-generational estate planning, says the article “Estate Planning to Protect Generational Wealth Transfers: Lessons From The Gilded Age” from mondaq.

The Vanderbilt family’s wealth came from shipping and railroad empires. In 1877, the family’s wealth was estimated at $200 million—$105 billion in today’s value. The family name continues, but with every generation, the size of the wealth dwindles. While the exact terms of the Vanderbilt estate plan are unknown, it’s understood that the family had no strategic long-term plan.

The Pulitzer family is best known for the Pulitzer Prize and the founding of the Columbia Journalism School. Two generations after Joseph Pulitzer’s death, a grandson lost most of the massive fortune in a single bad investment. Without a multi-generational plan for wealth transfer, the fortune evaporated.

The Rockefellers are known as one of the Gilded Age families that got estate planning right. They used irrevocable trusts to protect assets from wasteful spending by heirs over multiple generations. The Rockefellers created business succession plans and incorporated philanthropic goals that are still used today.

Your family can benefit from trust and estate plans, even if you’re not worth $100 billion. Creating a strategic plan to protect and transfer wealth over many generations can happen with the skilled experience of an estate planning attorney. Teaching financial literacy and shared family values, including understanding the importance of stewarding wealth and philanthropy, is as important as the money itself.

Generation-skipping trusts (GSTs) are just one means of preserving wealth transfer. With a GTS, a grandparent can leave assets in the trust to grandchildren and other beneficiaries at least 37.5 years younger. By skipping a generation, federal estate taxes aren’t paid twice on inherited assets. Trusts have also been used to offer creditor protection for generations. Divorcing parties can’t access funds in a trust.

If appropriate, there are some states where perpetual trusts are permitted. An estate planning attorney will be able to make recommendations as to whether these are appropriate for your family.

Selecting trustees and successor trustees is extremely important for wealth to last over many generations. Your estate planning attorney will also guide you in choosing either individuals or institutions to ensure trustee power is in the right hands.

Reference: mondaq (June 18, 2024) “Estate Planning to Protect Generational Wealth Transfers: Lessons From The Gilded Age”

Trustee of Late Singer Tony Bennett’s Estate Sued

What Happened to Tony Bennett’s Estate?

For many, estate planning is a distant concern. However, life events can bring it suddenly into focus. A DailyMail headline involving the late singer Tony Bennett exemplifies this. He passed without a robust estate plan, leaving his children and widow embroiled in a legal battle over his estate. We must ask ourselves an important question: how can we avoid these estate disputes?

Why Do Families Fight Over Inheritances?

Family conflicts over inheritance are tragically common. According to The Conversation, there are several reasons why these disputes arise:

  • Lack of Clear Instructions: A vague will or estate plan leaves room for interpretation and disagreement.
  • Unresolved Family Issues: Long-standing family tensions can resurface during the emotionally charged period after a loved one’s death.
  • Perceived Fairness: Different family members might have varying opinions on what constitutes a fair distribution of assets.

In Tony Bennett’s case, the daughters are suing their brothers and his widow. The brother is the sole executor of the state, and he’s allegedly failed to be transparent with his sisters.

Trustee of Late Singer Tony Bennett’s Estate Sued

Tony Bennett’s daughters, Antonia and Johanna Bennett are the plaintiffs in the suit. The defendant, their brother D’Andrea “Danny” Bennett, has allegedly mishandled the estate. According to his sisters, he has failed to disclose their father’s assets and answer their questions.

The sisters estimate the value of their father’s estate to be much greater than what their brother has reported. They specifically claim that their brother did not account for proceeds from the sale of Tony Bennett’s music catalog and image rights when he worked as their father’s manager. They’ve also named their brother Daegal “Dae” Bennett and Tony’s widow, Susan Benedetto, as defendants.

What to Learn from the Battle over Tony Bennett’s Estate

Tony Bennett’s story is a cautionary tale. Whoever is right, a lack of clarity and ambiguity in their fathers’ finances has torn a family apart. While few of us have an estate the size of Tony Bennett’s, even a more modest estate can spark strife. Avoiding litigation and protecting your wishes requires a thorough, detailed estate plan and an impartial executor.

Can You Avoid Estate Litigation?

Creating a detailed will and trusts are the foundation of good estate planning. A few key principles include:

  • Plan Ahead: Don’t wait until it’s too late. Start planning your estate now.
  • Appoint a Trusted Executor: The battle over Tony Bennett’s estate began with the executor’s alleged mismanagement. Avoiding conflicts requires choosing a capable, impartial executor.
  • Seek Professional Help: An experienced estate planning attorney can help you navigate the complexities and ensure that your wishes are honored.
  • Review and Update Your Plan: Life changes, and so should your estate plan. Regularly update your documents to reflect your changing circumstances and wishes.

How can an Estate Planning Attorney Help?

An estate planning attorney can provide invaluable assistance in several ways. They can draft a detailed will that’s legally binding and reflects your wishes. They can also set up different trusts to manage your assets, protect your wealth, and provide for your loved ones in a structured manner. Intelligent estate structuring can minimize your tax liabilities to preserve wealth for your beneficiaries. At the bottom line, a good estate planning attorney can help you protect your legacy for when you’re gone.

Reliable Estate Planning Attorneys

Don’t leave your family’s future to chance. By taking proactive steps, you can avoid the kind of disputes that Tony Bennett’s family is facing.

Contact us today to protect your estate. Our team is here to help you create a comprehensive estate plan that honors your wishes and protects your loved ones.

Key Takeaways

  • Avoid Family Disputes: Proper estate planning can help prevent conflicts among heirs.
  • Clarity and Communication: Clear instructions and open communication reduce misunderstandings.
  • Select a Reliable Trustee: Choosing a trustworthy executor is crucial for smooth estate administration.
  • Regular Updates: Keep your estate plan current to reflect life changes.
  • Professional Guidance: An estate planning attorney can ensure that your wishes are legally sound and honored.

References: DailyMail (June 15, 2024) “Tony Bennett’s daughters break their silence after suing brothers and late singer’s widow amid bitter inheritance battle over their father’s estate” and TheConversation (May 17, 2022) “Why families fight over inheritances – and how to avoid it”

What’s the Best Way to Simplify an Estate?

Yes, you need to create your estate plan and decide how you want your money and real estate property to be distributed upon your death. However, there’s more. A recent article from Morningstar, “Your family will love you even more if you simplify your estate,” says you should also simplify your assets to simplify your estate.

How you have your financial life arranged now may seem simple enough to you as you navigate it regularly. You know where your accounts are, how much is in each account and who the beneficiaries are of any account, having the option of naming a beneficiary. If you don’t know who the beneficiaries are, take care of this right away.

However, for your executor and your heirs, those same accounts are a series of unknowns. If a single financial advisor doesn’t handle your investments, can you bring them under one person’s management? If you have accounts in more than one bank, can you consolidate them into one bank?

A record number of boomers will turn 65 in 2024. The “great wealth transfer” of a generation owning $72.6 trillion and passing this along to younger generations has led many to prepare accounts and heirs for what will come in the next twenty years. This includes creating a comprehensive estate plan with a will and trusts. Most experienced estate planning attorneys advise their clients to create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, which can be costly, stressful and time-consuming.

Probate is considered one of the most complex parts of inheritance. Distribution will be far simpler if you can remove most of your assets from being part of your probate estate. Trusts can also protect assets in a way wills cannot. It’s far more challenging to contest a trust than it is a will. If your family is prone to infighting, you want to place assets into trusts!

Talk with your estate planning attorney about a “pour-over will.” This is a will directing any assets not already in your trust to be “poured over” into the trust upon your death. You’ll also want to have a financial power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, living will and HIPAA release. These documents allow the people you designate to take care of your financial, legal and health if you should become incapacitated.

Once your estate plan is in place, start consolidating accounts. If you have multiple IRAs or 401(k)s from various employers, combine them. You’ve set your heirs up for trouble if you have individual stock certificates in your bank’s safe deposit box. First, the safe deposit box will be sealed upon your death, unless someone else owns the box. Second, stock certificates must be settled through a stock-transfer company, which requires proof of the owner’s passing and proof of their being legitimate heirs. New accounts need to be opened up for the stocks to be transferred to, and only then can they be retrieved the money from the sale of the stocks.

It can also be difficult for heirs if they have annuities, government-issued bonds, or bank CDs. They all must be found, and distribution rules must be uncovered and processed.

After having your estate plan created and consolidating accounts, create an inventory of all accounts, including digital assets (usernames and passwords will be needed), and place them in a file with keys to your safe deposit box, life insurance policies and estate planning documents in one place. Make copies of your credit cards, front and back as well.

Having this information in one place will make managing your estate far easier. Your loved ones can focus on their memories and not be overwhelmed by the details.

Reference: Morningstar (June 18, 2024) “Your family will love you even more if you simplify your estate”

What Happens If You Inherit a Parent’s House?

Inheriting your parent’s home is a combination of sadness, relief, and worry. The last one can be avoided if the right planning is done in advance, says a recent article, “6 lessons I learned from inheriting a parent’ s house” from Bankrate. When all these feelings are combined with navigating the inheritance among siblings, things can get complicated quickly.

Many people think children automatically inherit a house when their parents die, but this isn’t true. It’s possible for children to inherit without a will, but it doesn’t always happen. Every state has its own laws about who inherits what in the absence of a will. Without a will, there will be unpleasant surprises for the family.

Parents need to talk with their children to tell them if they have a will or estate plan and where the will can be found. If there is no will, the parents must meet with an estate planning attorney as soon as possible to ensure their wishes are documented.

Wills and estate plans are never completely done. Wills need to be updated as circumstances change over time. A will created while a parent is in their 50s may not reflect the family’s status ten years later. Let’s say one sibling is disabled and receives means-tested government benefits. If the sibling is left something in the will, their benefits could be cut off. If the sibling was well ten years ago, the estate plan didn’t include a special needs trust, which would allow the family to provide for the disabled sibling without putting their benefits at risk.

The general rule for reviewing wills is to review wills every three to five years. They may not always need updating, but they definitely need reviewing.

Heirs need to put everything in writing if they have been left assets like the family home as a group. Siblings will have different lives and needs, so inheritances need to be clarified and documented. A verbal agreement is asking for trouble, even in the best of circumstances. If something happens to a sibling and their spouse has a different idea of what they want to happen to their share of the house, for instance, the way forward won’t be pleasant.

It’s best to plan how your assets should be managed after death. Would a revocable trust work better to keep the family home out of probate? If the home is placed in a revocable trust upon the death of the owner, the ownership of the home goes to a trustee, avoiding probate.

Plan ahead and expect surprises. Inheriting a home isn’t great for every family, as it comes with costs. Property taxes, maintenance, and utility costs might make home ownership a burden rather than a blessing. Parents need to think carefully about whether or not inheriting the home will work for the family.

Consulting with an estate planning attorney in advance can facilitate a discussion about how best to pass the family home onto the next generation or determine it’s not in everyone’s best interests. Leaving a legacy of careful planning is as much a gift to the family as the home itself.

Reference: Bankrate (May 3, 2024) “6 lessons I learned from inheriting a parent’ s house”

Inheriting a House? Navigate Your Options and Responsibilities

Inheriting a house can be a life-changing event with emotional and financial implications. Understanding your options and obligations is critical, whether you sell it, keep it, or rent it out. Insights from LendingTree show you how to make the most of your inheritance.

What’s the Legal Process of Inheriting a House?

When inheriting a house, you don’t immediately receive the title in your name. The inheritance process involves probate, where a judge reviews the will and appoints an executor to carry out the deceased’s will. The executor handles responsibilities like insurance, identifying debts or liens and paying utilities. They also distribute belongings and manage property taxes. This ensures that the estate’s assets settle any outstanding debts before you receive ownership.

What Should You Do when Inheriting a Home?

When you’re in line to inherit a home, there are five steps you should take immediately.

  1. Communicate with the Executor: Establish a clear line of communication with the executor. This will help you learn the necessary information and simplify the transfer process.
  2. Coordinate with Co-Heirs: Work with the others if you are one of several heirs. Avoid costly disputes by deciding whether to sell, keep, or rent the property.
  3. Get an Appraisal: An appraisal calculates the property’s value. This informs your decision to keep, sell, or rent the home while informing you of tax liabilities.
  4. Evaluate Debts: Identify any liens or debts tied to the property and compare them against the house’s value. Understand the financial implications and incorporate that into your decision.
  5. Seek Professional Advice: Consult estate planning attorneys, accountants and financial advisors. These professionals can clarify ownership-related problems, such as debt obligations and inheritance taxes.

What Should You Do with the House?

Moving Into an Inherited House

Moving into the inherited house can provide a new residence or vacation home. However, this option can be costly due to mortgages, taxes, repairs and insurance.

Renting Out an Inherited Home

Renting out the property can provide passive income, while keeping it in the family. Buy out other heirs or work with them to share costs and rental income.

Selling Your Newly Inherited Home

Selling the house is a straightforward way to obtain immediate cash. The proceeds can help pay off debts tied to the house, and the remaining proceeds will go to the heirs.

How Can You Finance an Inherited House?

If debts and taxes are associated with the house, that doesn’t mean you need to sell. There are many ways to finance the home and keep your inheritance.

  • Mortgage Assumption: Take over the existing mortgage if its terms are better than what you’d get with a new loan. The lender must approve the assumption.
  • New Purchase or Refinance Mortgage: You can obtain a new mortgage or refinance to put the house in your name. This option is particularly useful when the property has a reverse mortgage.
  • Cash-Out Refinance: Refinance the mortgage with a cash-out option to tap into the home’s equity to cover expenses, like buying out heirs or making repairs.
  • Investment Property Loan: Mortgage an investment property if you plan to rent the house.

Inheriting a House? Schedule a Consultation Today

Navigating the process of inheriting a house requires legal, financial and practical knowledge. You can get this knowledge by scheduling a consultation with our estate planning attorneys. We’ll listen to you and provide tailored advice about handling your inheritance.

Key Takeaways

  • Inheriting a House: The probate court oversees the inheritance process, and the executor handles legal and financial responsibilities.
  • Options: Move in, rent out, or sell the property based on financial goals and agreements with co-heirs.
  • Financing: Explore mortgage assumptions, new or refinanced mortgages and other financing options.

Reference: LendingTree (Nov. 16, 2021) “Inheriting a House? Here’s What to Expect”

What Will Happen to O.J. Simpson’s Assets?

A wrongful death lawsuit in 1997 found O.J. Simpson liable for the deaths of ex-wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Yet, their families have received little of the $33.5 million judgment levied by a California civil jury. According to an article from The Washington Post, “If O.J. Simpson’s assets go to court, Goldman, Brown families could be first in line,” we may find out soon whether or not Simpson had done any estate planning.

If Simpson had only a will, the estate would go through the probate process in court. Probate laws vary from state to state, but generally, the estate is filed in the person’s state of residence. Simpson resided in Nevada but might have owned assets in California or Florida, where he resided at different times. If that’s the case, separate probate cases will also be opened in those states.

The Nevada probate rule requires an estate to go through probate if its assets exceed $20,000 or the decedent owns any real estate. Probate must take place within 30 days, so things may happen quickly.

If no documents are filed, creditors can file claims to recover assets. The Goldman and Brown families may not be alone in filing for assets, but they’ll undoubtedly have a higher visibility than a credit card company or bank.

In California, the law holds that creditors with a judgment are considered to have “secured debt” and take priority over other creditors. In one instance, a family was awarded $9 million by a jury, but the debtor subjected them to a prolonged series of appeals and delays. When the debtor died, the estate paid the $9 million plus accrued interest of $3 million.

Did Simpson leave an estate big enough to cover his debts? At the time of the civil lawsuit, the court seized many of Simpson’s possessions. He was forced to auction his Heisman Trophy, which brought $230,000. He claimed to only have income from pensions, one from the NFL and the other a private pension.

Whether Simpson had a structured estate plan with trusts could affect how his creditors will be compensated. The creation and funding of the trusts will also affect their accessibility. Irrevocable trusts are robust legal entities but may not always be 100% impenetrable.

A transfer of assets made to avoid paying creditors is considered fraud, so any trust could be deemed invalid. If this occurs, the Goldman and Brown families may file separate lawsuits to attach assets in the trust.

You don’t have to be famous to have creditors trying to get assets from your estate. Seeking advice from an estate planning attorney about structuring your estate to shield inheritances from creditors is always advisable.

Why Communities Want Small Businesses to Have a Succession Plan in 2024

Entrepreneurship inspires new business openings every day. Small business owners may not consider succession planning when starting their new business. However, it is an essential step in any venture. Small businesses become a part of the community and make an impact beyond the owner’s livelihood. They add jobs, contribute to the community’s economic health, and become local fixtures for residents.

Based on Teamshares’ article, “Succession planning statistics in 2024: preserving a legacy,” we’re discussing the looming succession plan dilemma, why it’s essential and what it means for your business. As many small business owners without a succession plan set their sights on retirement in the next two years, those employees and their communities may lose wages and a business they love.

What Is the Small Business Succession Plan Dilemma?

Succession planning is ideally on every small business owner’s checklist, leaving a legacy in a family member’s hands once the owner retires. Owners should have a plan ahead of retirement if they become incapacitated or pass away unexpectedly. Succession planning is elemental for small business owners, much like estate planning is for anyone with assets.

Teamshares’ statistics indicate that over 60% of small business owners will retire between 2024 and 2026. Without a plan for family or someone else to lead the company once they retire, the company will likely close. You might be asking, “Why is that important?”

Why Small Business Planning Is Important for Your Company and Community

Small businesses employ nearly half of America’s workforce and contribute to local economies. With most owners retiring without a succession plan, chances are many of those companies will close across the U.S. in the next two years. Not having a succession plan for retirement or, in case of incapacity, could unwittingly be the catalyst for closing your company.

What Succession Planning Today Means for Your Company

Your company is built on hard work, entrepreneurship, and a dream. Having a successor running your business, if you retire or are unable, passes a legacy to family or someone you trust.

Work with an estate or business planning attorney to create a plan that protects you, any employees, your family’s livelihood, and your community. Like an estate plan, legal documents, such as living trusts, can keep your company open and pass on your legacy.

Establish a living trust, appointing a trustee or co-trustees to handle company operations and run the business. Draft financial and medical powers of attorney, empowering trusted agents to manage bill and invoice payments and bank transactions, employee payroll and oversee your healthcare, if you are mentally or physically impaired.

Small Business Succession Planning Dilemma Key Takeaways:

  • The Dilemma: Many small business owners will retire through 2026 and don’t have a succession plan to keep the business running.
  • Why Succession Planning is Important: Small business owners must create a plan for family or another trusted person to lead the company and continue its legacy.
  • What it Means for Your Business: Succession planning protects your business and legacy by empowering a successor after you retire or if you become incapacitated.

Conclusion

Whether you’re creating an exit strategy, empowering family members to take over, or preserving the company’s livelihood in a crisis, a succession plan protects you, your family and community from your company closing. Losses include income, employee wages and resident patronage. Consider a succession plan to empower a successor who will keep your business running.

Reference: Teamshares (Dec 22, 2023) “Succession planning statistics in 2024: preserving a legacy”

How a Teen’s $250,000 Inheritance Vanished: Protect Your Heirs with a Trust

Imagine being a teenager and suddenly having $250,000 in your hands the instant you become a legal adult. This isn’t a fairy tale; it’s what happened to a young man in the northwestern suburbs of Illinois who writes about his experience in an article titled, “What blowing a $250K inheritance taught me.” After turning 18, he received a quarter of a million dollars from his mother’s medical malpractice case, which should have set him up for a bright future. Instead, without guidance or a plan, the money was gone in a flash. While many people agree that an 18-year-old is too young to receive a sizable inheritance without guidance, unfortunately, many families make the common mistake of not planning to protect their children from their inheritance. By working with an experienced estate planning professional, parents can create a plan for when and how their children should receive their inheritance should the parents pass away suddenly. An inheritance trust allows families to protect heirs from their inheritance and the inheritance from the heirs.

Huge Mistake: Not Protecting Heirs from the Inheritance

The excitement of having so much money at such a young age is understandable. Our young friend, now with access to his trust fund, embarked on a journey that led from enrolling in two separate universities with no clear direction as to which degree to pursue, to making impulsive purchases and, ultimately, to a lifestyle fueled by partying and bad choices. The lack of a structured plan or financial advice saw this significant inheritance dwindle to nothing over a few short years.

Estate and Financial Planning is Good Parenting

This story isn’t unique. It highlights a common mistake in estate and family financial planning: not preparing heirs to manage their inheritance. More than leaving assets to your loved ones, it’s crucial to guide them on using them wisely. “As my children grow into young adults,” writes the former teen who lost his inheritance, “I can’t in a million years imagine handing them a check for $250,000 with absolutely no advice.”

Trusts Help Protect Heirs

An inheritance trust, also known as a testamentary trust, is essentially a tool to protect and manage assets for beneficiaries. It’s a way to ensure that the money you leave behind is safe and used in a manner that you deem fit and matches your values. Setting up an inheritance trust is a strategic move for families looking to safeguard their wealth and provide for future generations.

Why Choose an Inheritance Trust?

An inheritance trust offers a myriad of benefits:

  • Asset Protection: It shields your assets from creditors, lawsuits and even some taxes.
  • Controlled Distribution: You can specify how and when your beneficiaries receive their inheritance, promoting responsible spending and long-term financial security.
  • Privacy: Unlike wills, trusts are not public records, offering your family privacy during the transfer of assets.

Trusts Offer Strategy for Every Family

Whether it’s protecting your assets from being squandered, as in the cautionary tale of the Illinois teenager, or planning for your family’s future needs, an inheritance trust can be tailored to suit your objectives. It’s about making informed choices today that will support your loved ones tomorrow.

Conclusion

The story of the teenager who lost $250,000 is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake when parents leave their money in outright distributions to children. It’s not just about leaving wealth behind; it’s about leaving a foundation for wise decision-making and financial stability. An inheritance trust can be the guiding light for your heirs, helping them navigate their inheritance responsibly.  Contact our estate planning team to discuss how a trust can help secure your family’s future and preserve your legacy as you intend.

Key Takeaways

  • Inheritance Planning is Essential: Beyond leaving assets, guiding heirs on managing their inheritance can prevent financial mishaps.
  • Protection through Inheritance Trusts: These trusts safeguard assets from potential creditors, irresponsible spending and certain taxes, ensuring that your wealth benefits future generations as intended.
  • Education and Communication Are Key: Educating heirs about financial management and openly discussing estate plans can help avoid misunderstandings and ensure that your estate planning goals are met.

References: The Week, originally published on LearnVest.com (Jan. 10, 2015) “What blowing a $250K inheritance taught me.”

SmartAsset (Sept. 19, 2023) “How to Keep Money in the Family With an Inheritance Trust”

How Should a Single Person Create an Estate Plan?

The short answer is singles should be doing the same things as people who are married and have families, except their situation may require some additional steps, says an article from Kiplinger, “Estate Planning for Singles.”

The most important thing is having a Durable Power of Attorney, naming someone as your agent so they can make financial decisions if you become incapacitated. Similarly, you should also appoint a Health Care Proxy to handle medical decisions.

If you don’t have a will, your state’s law will determine how your assets will be distributed, but no state will have a list of people to make financial or health care decisions for you.

Adult children often fill these roles, but it’s fine to look for other people to serve in these roles. A trusted friend whose judgment you trust completely and who is good at managing financial and legal matters could also serve in this role.

If the person you name to be your representative dies or becomes incapacitated, you’ll want to have a plan for someone else to take on the role.

Consider the age of the person you may want to serve in their role. If they are your age, can they take on these tasks if and when needed? A younger, trusted person may be a better choice, although there are no guarantees of age determining their availability.

If you don’t know anyone who could manage these roles, you could hire a professional, either an estate planning attorney, a trust company, or, in some states, someone licensed as a “professional fiduciary.”

What about your pets? An estate plan can also deal with issues of special concern to singles who own pets. You can use your will or create a pet trust to name a guardian and provide financial support for a furry or feathered friend.

Lastly, certain states have estate taxes, which have far lower exemptions than the current federal estate tax of more than $13 million. Some state estate taxes kick in on estates valued at $1 million. Married couples can delay estate taxes until the second spouse’s death, but singles need to plan for tax liabilities, which is part of an estate plan.

Reference: Kiplinger (Feb. 17, 2024) “Estate Planning for Singles”

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