Creating and maintaining a comprehensive estate plan is essential to preserving assets and ensuring that a beneficiary’s financial needs are met in the event that a person should die. A thorough estate plan can be created at any age and should include a Last Will & Testament and advanced directives such as a Health Care Proxy, Living Will, and Power of Attorney. Some estate plans may also include a Trust in order to protect certain assets. Continue reading “Storing and Maintaining Original Estate Planning Documents”
Category: Trusts and Estates
Update Your Power Of Attorney to Reflect Changes in the Law
A power of attorney is a standardized legal form created by statute that gives an agent the ability to act on behalf of the principal in the event that he or she becomes disabled or incapacitated. It is particularly important to keep a Power of Attorney up to date as well as periodically review the document in order to add enumerated powers or update it in accordance with new case law or life circumstances, even if the agents remain the same. Continue reading “Update Your Power Of Attorney to Reflect Changes in the Law”
Purpose of a Trust
The main purpose of every trust is to preserve assets that will eventually pass or transfer to beneficiaries. In order for the trust to be valid, the terms must clearly recognize that the assets will be transferred to beneficiaries. In addition, trusts are also used to: Continue reading “Purpose of a Trust”
Authorization for Final Disposition
An authorization for final dispositions is a document that allows a person to designate who will be in charge of their body and funeral arrangements upon his or her death. In addition, the document provides family members and loved ones with specific instructions regarding a person’s wishes for their funeral and body disposition. The document may include information regarding: Continue reading “Authorization for Final Disposition”
Trust Basics
Estate planning is a complex process. Estate planning often includes a Last Will and Testament and may also include utilizing a trust as well as advance directives such as a power of attorney, health care proxy, living will, and HIPPA release form, among others. While these concepts may be foreign, these estate-planning tools assist with creating a comprehensive estate plan. One of the most important tools in every estate plan is a trust. A trust is created to protect property and assets. In order for a trust to be valid it must: Continue reading “Trust Basics”
Do Not Use Funds from an Irrevocable Trust to Cover the Cost of an Assisted Living Facility
Oftentimes, individuals will put the proceeds from the sale of a house into an irrevocable trust. When the time comes, an elderly person may move into an assisted living facility, which can be expensive. A trustee of an irrevocable trust may look to use the funds in an irrevocable trust to cover the cost of the assisted living facility. However, the money in an irrevocable trust should not be used to pay for care in an assisted living facility. The reason being is that an irrevocable trust is only exempt for Medicaid purposes when there are no principal distributions being made to a grantor or in this case to an assisted living facility on an individual’s behalf because doing so would violate the terms of a trust.
Utilizing An In Terrorem Provision In A Last Will And Testament
An in terrorem is a Latin word meaning “in fear”. It refers to a provision within a Decedent’s Will to disinherit a beneficiary if he or she challenges the Will in any way. Instead of a beneficiary receiving what he or she may have been entitled to within the Will, the individual will receive nothing, due to challenging the Will. He or she will essentially have forfeited any inheritance they were entitled to. This provision is intended to dissuade a person from contesting a Decedent’s Will. Further, an in terrorem provision is strictly construed by the courts.
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Having Assets in Multiple States
Today, it is common for retirees to have residences in multiple states. Some choose to keep his or her family home and acquire a small home in Florida to visit during the cold months. When a person who owns residences or financial accounts in two different states passes, an ancillary probate proceeding must be commenced where the other real property is located. An ancillary proceeding is an administrative proceeding that is required in addition to the original probate process of a Last Will & Testament. Usually, this administrative proceeding is required because a person owns real property outside of his or her home state.
Difference Between A Gross Taxable Estate And Probate Estate
A gross taxable estate includes assets that maintain an interest upon an individual’s death, regardless of whether the assets pass by way of a last will and testament. A gross taxable estate includes gifts made during an individual’s lifetime that exceed $14,000 per person per year. Also, a gross taxable estate includes property transferred during a person’s life that he or she retains an interest in. This means that, if the property is transferred to another individual but one retained a life estate in the property, then it is part of the gross taxable estate. Also, the interest that is payable upon someone’s death, such as a property or life insurance policy, may be deemed as part of the gross taxable estate.
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It Is Best To Have An Attorney Execute A Health Care Proxy
A health care proxy is a signed document that gives an agent or agents the power to make medical decisions for someone in the event that he or she becomes incapacitated. Oftentimes, many people ask whether or not an attorney is required to sign a health care proxy for it to be valid. The answer to that question is no. An attorney is not required to sign a health care proxy. In order for a health care proxy to be valid, two adult witnesses must sign it. It is worth noting that a named health care agent cannot be a witness. In addition, it is important to name alternate agents in the event that the first agent is unable, unavailable, or unwilling to act.
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