Michigan Estate Planning Blog

What are Best Practices for Estate Planning?

 

You’ll be able to avoid common problems and have a more effective estate plan by being mindful of some simple but important details, according to a recent article, “7 Estate Planning Best Practices,” from Kiplinger.

Name more than one person for essential roles in your estate plan. An executor is the person who will carry out the instructions in your will. What happens if they cannot serve or decide they don’t want to? Always make sure to name an executor and a successor executor. The same is true for your Power of Attorney, Healthcare Agent, and, if you have a Revocable Trust, your successor trustee. If most of the important people in your estate plan are around the same age as you, it’s wise to name younger people as backups.

Talk with your loved ones about where your estate planning documents can be found, including how to access them. They’ll need to be able to find them, for starters, and then learn how to open them if they are in a secure location. Don’t surprise loved ones by adding turmoil to their grief.

Talking about your estate plan includes talking about the intentions behind the estate plan. You may wish to create a letter of intention, explaining your reasoning behind the estate plan. It’s not legally enforceable, but it might preclude ambiguity and possibly prevent family disputes. If you don’t, you add the possibility of family fights, litigation and even the dissolution of family relationships over the generations. People fight about money, whether we like to acknowledge this or not.

Work with an experienced estate planning attorney who knows your state’s laws. Estate planning laws are state-specific, and someone who is a terrific attorney in Colorado won’t necessarily know the law of Texas. If you move to a different state, you’ll also need to update documents to be sure they will work in your new home.

Don’t wait until a medical emergency to give your healthcare providers copies of relevant estate planning documents. Ask your estate planning attorney and your doctor about giving your healthcare team documents like a living will, power of healthcare attorney, living will and other related documents. Most healthcare systems today have patient information portals where they can be stored.

Did you create a trust but haven’t yet funded it? If you don’t retitle your assets so they are inside of the trust, your trust won’t perform as intended. This last step has to happen for the trust to be effective.

Review your estate plan on a regular basis. Most estate planning attorneys recommend reviewing an estate plan every three to five years, and more often if there have been large “trigger” events like marriage, divorce, death, or birth. If you move to a new state, you’ll also need a review to be sure your estate is still valid in the new state.

Your estate is like your car: without regular maintenance, it will not perform well and, over time, will stop running. Call your estate planning attorney to make sure that your documents are in order for the new year.

Reference: Kiplinger (Jan. 6, 2025) “7 Estate Planning Best Practices”

Planning to Protect Your Children’s Inheritance: Asset Protection

 

No one likes to think about the possibility of losing a lifetime of earnings through unfortunate events like divorce, spendthrift heirs, or litigation. However, ignoring these risks won’t prevent them. A recent article from Kiplinger, “Want Your Kids to Inherit? You Need an Asset Protection Plan, ” explains several asset protection strategies used to protect wealth from disappearing in nefarious ways.

Prenuptial agreements aren’t the most welcoming topic when your adult child announces their engagement. Still, this should be discussed and encouraged no matter how much you love your prospective new family member. A prenuptial agreement or prenup is a contract between two adults agreeing on how they will distribute assets in case of divorce. This legally binding document addresses assets, debts, spousal support, alimony, gifts and inheritances. It’s also helpful as a supporting document if one of the spouses should die unexpectedly. However, the couple should have a will, power of attorney and other estate planning documents created as soon as they are married.

Depending on the state, there may be laws concerning when the prenup is signed for it to be valid. Signing a prenup under duress could make it invalid, so this needs to be addressed in a timely manner.

Another option is to create a postnuptial agreement (postnup). Spouses may contractually agree to terms outlining the distribution of assets in the event of a divorce after the wedding.

Asset protection includes determining and formalizing how assets will be passed on to heirs. Parents should consider creating trusts as part of their estate plan. Trusts allow grantors (the person creating the trust) a much higher degree of control over who receives the assets in the trust and takes them out of the probate estate.

For example, the trust may call for a beneficiary to receive a portion of their inheritance at ages 30 and 40 and the balance at age 50. An heir with a drug dependency might be required to complete a rehabilitation program or maintain employment over a steady period of time before the trustee can distribute some or all of the assets in the trust.

If assets are left through a will, a number of vulnerabilities are created. First, they are part of the probate estate and subject to federal and state taxes. Second, the will becomes a public document when it goes through probate, so creditors can learn if someone is receiving an inheritance. Creditors may include ex-spouses, credit card companies and financial institutions.

An experienced estate planning attorney is familiar with the tools used to protect assets and ensure that they pass to the next generation according to your wishes. Protecting a lifetime of hard work is a worthy endeavor, creating a legacy and providing security for those you love.

Reference: Kiplinger (Nov. 9, 2024) “Want Your Kids to Inherit? You Need an Asset Protection Plan”

It’s Not Too Soon for Generation X to Start Estate Planning

 

Adults born between 1965 and 1980 are often called the “sandwich generation” as they sometimes support older children who are still figuring out who they want to be when they grow up and caring for aging parents. While retirement may feel far away, says a recent article from Kiplinger, “Come as You Are: Wealth Management for Gen X,” it’s on the horizon, and planning for the future should start now.

Some of the tools used for retirement planning include 401(k) plans, which are tax-deferred plans from an employer. If your employer offers matching funds, try to contribute enough to take advantage of the match. You can also use a personal IRA to make tax-free annual contributions.

With changes from the SECURE 2.0 Act, you can open and contribute to a 529 College Savings Account and then roll a portion of unused funds into a Roth IRA once the account has been opened for 15 years and the funds have been in the account for at least five years. There are rollover limits, but this might be a good fit for retirement savings. Commonly, 529 funds are used for various educational purposes, so even if your children are past college, your grandchildren might use them for private school, not just college.

The one constant in life is change, and estate planning documents created when your children were little need to be reviewed and possibly updated. If the last time you thought about your will was when your adult children were born, you should schedule a review with your estate planning attorney. Changes like marriage, divorce, death, financial ups and downs and changes in the tax law all call for updates to wills.

If you don’t have long-term care insurance, now is the time, while you’re still relatively young and healthy enough to be able to buy it. Insurance companies now offer hybrid policies combining life insurance with a long-term care insurance policy rider.

Digital assets are a relatively new asset class requiring estate planning. Speak with your estate planning attorney to be sure your estate plan documents reflect your digital life. If you are active on social media, investing in cryptocurrency, or own an online business, you have digital assets and need to protect them.

Be proactive about estate planning to protect yourself now and your loved ones after you’ve passed. Just as retirement is on the horizon, so are the inevitable events of aging. Make an appointment to see an estate planning attorney to learn your needs, now and in the future.

Reference: Kiplinger (Oct. 7, 2024) “Come as You Are: Wealth Management for Gen X”

How Can a Will Be Changed?

 

A last will and testament is a legal document that distributes assets, including investments, real estate and personal property after death. Once a will has been signed and executed, it becomes the foundation for an estate plan. However, what happens if you want to make changes? This is the topic addressed in a recent article from smartasset.com, “What is a Codicil to a Will?”

A codicil is a legal document that changes an already completed and valid will. Some prefer to use a codicil rather than revise their entire will, usually for reasons of economy. The codicil allows the will’s creator to update specific provisions. A codicil can be used to change beneficiaries, assign a different person to be the estate executor, or even change the size of gifts made to heirs.

Codicils are like wills: they need to be signed and witnessed according to the laws of the state to be valid. People like the ability to make changes to their wills quickly and easily. However, sometimes, a codicil is not the right way to change a will.

The codicil performs best when changes being made to the will are minor in nature. They should be used to make small changes when the testator’s wish is to maintain the overall intent of the will. For instance, the birth of a new child and the addition of an heir could be reflected through a codicil.

An experienced estate planning attorney must create the codicil. Making a note on an original will with initials and a date is not a codicil. It’s a separate document, requiring a formal signature and the presence and signatures of witnesses. Most states don’t require a codicil to be notarized. However, you should check with your estate planning attorney to find out if this applies to your state.

Making a lot of changes to a will with multiple codicils may result in estate problems in the future. There are numerous instances where multiple changes, especially repetitive ones, like taking the same person off and then adding them back, are perceived as changing the intent of the testator (the person who made the will). This leaves the entire estate vulnerable to challenges.

Some typical reasons for using a codicil:

Changing beneficiaries

Replacing an executor

Revising asset distribution

Divorce, marriage, birth, death.

Making new bequests

Correcting prior errors or omissions

Before having your estate planning attorney create a codicil, there are a few steps to take. First, discuss the reason for the change and whether the entire will should be revised. A new will may be better if the change is not simple and straightforward. If the codicil is being done to disinherit a beneficiary, your estate planning attorney may have other suggestions. If you have created trusts, the changes to the will don’t carry over to your trusts. They may need to be modified as well.

Reference: smartasset.com (Oct. 23, 2024) “What is a Codicil to a Will?”

Estate Planning for Millennials and Gen Zers

 

Estate planning is increasingly on the mind of younger adults, far from the stereotype of being only of interest to older, affluent couples nearing retirement or dealing with health concerns. These younger generations have unique attributes, including pragmatic financial views and humanitarian concerns, according to a recent article, “Six Estate Planning Tips for Younger Generations,” from Kiplinger. Here are tips to make this process easier for any generation.

Start with a basic will, which guides how assets and possessions are distributed after one’s passing. Prepared by an experienced estate planning attorney, the will should minimize potential disputes, include a clear delineation of assets and beneficiaries and name an executor to manage the estate and guardianship for any surviving dependents.

Appoint a power of attorney and draft medical directives. Power of Attorney and Medical Directives are basic documents that state your preferences during incapacity. A POA grants a named individual the legal authority to act on your behalf for legal and financial matters, if you cannot do so. Medical directives establish your wishes regarding medical treatment and end-of-life care. While taking care of these matters, you may also want to consider becoming an organ donor.

Determine who you want to be your children’s guardian. Naming a guardian of your minor children isn’t pleasant. However, it ensures that you and your partner make this decision, not the court.

Consider a living trust. Living trusts offer a strategic means of managing assets and helping to ensure that your surviving loved ones maintain control of your assets after you have passed. The trust, established with the help of an estate planning attorney, grants ownership of certain assets or properties into the trust, which becomes their owner. A trustee is named to manage and distribute these assets in accordance with your wishes. In some instances, it makes sense to hire a professional trustee, especially if the trust will need to be managed for decades.

By taking assets out of your estate and placing them into a trust, these assets won’t go through the probate process. Probate involves your executor filing your will with a court after you die. The court reviews the will to validate it and grants the named executor the power to execute your final instructions. Probate can be lengthy, expensive and emotionally charged for the family. Your will is entered into the public record, so anyone who wants to can see your will and know your final wishes.

Don’t forget your digital assets. Younger generations are more aware of the value and footprint of their digital assets. They often name a specific digital executor in their estate plans to ensure that their many accounts and digital assets are managed after their passing.

Seek professional advice and update documents. Despite a plethora of online sites and apps, estate planning documents require the skillful handling of an experienced estate planning attorney. Estate laws are state-specific, so wills and trust documents must be created with local laws in mind. Your estate plan documents, from wills to insurance policies, should be reviewed every three to five years. Every time there’s a significant change in your life, like getting married, buying a home, having a child, or getting divorced, this should also be done.

Reference: Kiplinger (Dec. 3, 2023) “Six Estate Planning Tips for Younger Generations”

What Three Things Do People Overlook on Estate Planning Benefits?

An estate plan is important for everyone. Without a legally enforceable estate plan, a court may apply state laws and decide how your assets will be distributed and who will raise your minor children. In addition to allowing you to direct the wrap-up of your affairs after you are gone, an estate plan can also help you reduce taxes, expedite settling your estate and reduce conflict in your family.

Yahoo Finance’s recent article, “3 Overlooked Benefits of Estate Planning,” explains that planning your estate entails making arrangements to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death.

While some think estate planning is only for those with mansions and millions in the bank, this isn’t true. Instead, even those with modest assets can benefit from having a defined estate plan.

Remember that the estate planning process isn’t about how much you have—it’s about making sure what you do have ends up where you want it. It may also decide who will be responsible for raising any minor children who survive you.

Your estate plan can also affect taxes, the time it takes to settle your estate, your end-of-life medical care and the odds that your family will fight over it.

Deciding who gets what is the big question of many estate plans. Your estate consists of the assets, property and personal items you own at your death. This may include real estate, bank accounts, life insurance, stocks and investments, retirement accounts, and personal property like collectibles, vehicles, art and jewelry.

The documents in estate plans include a last will and testament, a living will, financial and medical powers of attorney and documents establishing various trusts.

Start your estate plan today with the help of an experienced estate planning attorney and review it periodically to accommodate marriages, divorces and births. The process often includes reviewing your property and wishes, drafting a will, naming an executor, assigning healthcare and financial proxies and settling other matters, like funeral arrangements.

Reference: Yahoo Finance (April 24, 2023) “3 Overlooked Benefits of Estate Planning”

 

Does the Way I Title My Assets Have an Impact on My Estate?

FedWeek’s recent article entitled “How Assets Are Titled Can Make a Big Difference” discusses the different ways property may be titled, and the significance of each one.

The way in which you take title to assets can affect your estate, taxes and perhaps the disposition of the asset if a couple divorces. Many couples want assets to be titled simply in the event something happens to one, so the other spouse can take possession immediately without taxes or complications. Joint ownership may be the simplest way to meet most of these objectives. However, this can get complicated if any number of things happen, such as divorce, second marriage, children from multiple marriages, adoption and blended families of all types.

It’s critical to be educated on the different types of ownership, so you know when a change may be needed. Here are the main options:

Holding Assets in Your Own Name is simple and inexpensive. However, if you become incompetent, those assets might be mismanaged. At your death, individually owned assets may have to go through probate.

Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship is when one co-owner dies, all assets held this way automatically pass to the survivor. One joint owner can take over if the other is incapacitated, and jointly held assets don’t go through probate.

Tenants in Common means there’s a divided interest, although none of the owners may claim to own a specific part of the property. At the death of one of the joint owners, the share owned by the deceased must pass through their will to determine ownership. The surviving joint owner doesn’t automatically own the entirety of assets.

Tenancy by the Entirety is a type of joint ownership similar to rights of survivorship for married couples. It lets spouses own property together as a single legal entity. Ownership can’t be separated, which means creditors of an individual spouse may not attach and sell the property. Only creditors of the couple may make claims against the property.

With Entity Ownership, you might create a trust, a partnership (such as a family limited partnership), or a limited liability company (LLC) to hold assets. These entities may provide protection from creditors and tax benefits.

Community Property may only be used by married couples in community property states (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin). Each person owns an undivided interest in the entire property. When a spouse dies, the survivor automatically receives the entire interest, so there’s no need for probate. Community property can’t be controlled by a person’s will or trust.

Ask an experienced estate planning attorney to review your estate plan and how assets are titled.
Reference: FedWeek (July 27, 2022) “How Assets Are Titled Can Make a Big Difference”

Do I Have to Give My Husband’s Children from First Marriage Anything When He Dies?”

 

This is a common question with second (or third marriages) and blended families. Questions frequently arise about Social Security, investments and savings, when the husband is divorced from the children’s mother and is paying child support until each child turns 18.
Nj.com’s recent article entitled “Are my husband’s kids from another marriage due assets when he dies?” says that these questions demonstrate why estate planning is critical to revisit after a divorce. You can take action to make certain that you’re taken care of, but if you don’t do this at the time of the divorce, it could be too late.
Let’s look at what you should know about beneficiaries and wills. First, beneficiary designations supersede a will. Make sure that all beneficiaries and contingent beneficiaries are consistent with your wishes. There are beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, pensions, life insurance policies, annuities and other accounts that take precedence over what may be stated in a will.
While New Jersey does not provide for beneficiary designations on certain assets like a house, vehicles, and real estate, many other states do. For assets without a beneficiary, it’s important to determine the way in which they’re titled.
The titling of assets has an effect on how the assets will be distributed after death. Thus, when married again, spouses should review and update their wills to have an idea of how a spouse’s estate would be disbursed at his or her death.
If a husband is paying child support, divorce decrees will often dictate that he purchase life insurance to cover that obligation upon his death. Therefore, there may be a life insurance policy for the children from a first marriage.
With Social Security, if a spouse remains unmarried after the spouse’s death, he or she can claim a survivor spousal benefit as early as age 60, and if he or she is caring for the spouse’s children from the first marriage who are under 16 years of age, he or she may be entitled to receive a payment earlier. The deceased spouse’s unmarried children can also claim a survivor benefit until age 18, or longer if in high school or disabled.
Reference: nj.com (Aug. 4, 2021) “Are my husband’s kids from another marriage due assets when he dies?”

Divorce and Your Estate Plan

Most married people have estate plans that leave significant portions of their estates to the surviving spouse. Thus, if you get a divorce, it is easy to see why you would need to change your estate plan. Most of the time, if you do not change your estate plan after getting a divorce, a judge will ordinarily disregard any specific bequests you made to your ex-spouse. The law assumes you would not want your estate to go to a former spouse. However, as the Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog points out in a recent article titled “When Death Occurs Mid-Divorce,” the same thing is not true if you are in the divorce process but your divorce has not yet been finalized. This is a common problem when a divorce has been filed and one of the parties passes away during the process. When that happens, it can cause issues with a family home that is owned by both parties. If the home is owned as joint tenants, then the property will automatically pass to the survivor. If the divorcing couple owns the home as tenants in common, however, the deceased party’s share of the home will go to his or her heirs. As most couples own their property as joint owners, it is important to talk to an estate planning attorney as early in the divorce process as possible. It might be in the interests of both you and your spouse to sever the joint tenancy in the home before the divorce is finalized. When getting divorced, there are many other estate planning issues you will need to consider during the process as the terms of the divorce will have a large impact on your eventual estate. Reference:  Wills,
Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (July 25, 2014) “When Death Occurs Mid-Divorce"

For more information, see www.jerryreiflawyer.com

How To Collect Social Security Benefits … From Your Ex-Spouse Saginaw, MI

Today’s retiring generations face new challenges simply not seen much by past generations. The wax and wane of Congress for one, and the dramatic rise of healthcare costs for another. An additional challenge hits a little closer to home for other retirees – those who are divorced. If you have been divorced, it is critical that you understand how Social Security benefits take divorce into account. Demographically speaking, this is even more essential for retiring women. The role of Social Security benefits in the retired life of a divorcee can be crucial, as discussed in a recent Reuters article titled “Column: Knowing Social Security rules can help divorced spouses.” Basically, Social Security payments are related to your paid work during your working years. As a result, many ex-spouses simply have not built up sufficient “numbers” because of how household incomes were split back in the day. Interestingly, you may be eligible for many of the same benefits as if you had remained married to your ex. But it is not automatic. Here are some threshold requirements: • You must be currently single, • You must have been married to your ex for at least 10 years, • Your divorce must be “final” for at least two years, • You must have reached the minimum Social Security eligibility age (62), and • You must not be currently collecting a benefit amount greater than that of your ex. Note: Your eligibility is completely independent of the benefits collected by your ex, but you will lose the benefits if you remarry. I recommend reading the original article for additional tips and traps. Call or visit your local Social Security office regarding the folder of paperwork you will need to gather for qualification.

Reference: Reuters (May 9, 2013) “Column: Knowing Social Security rules can help divorced spouses”

For  more information, see www.jerryreiflawyer.com

 

How To Collect Social Security Benefits … From Your Ex-Spouse

Today’s retiring generations face new challenges simply not seen much by past generations. The wax and wane of Congress for one, and the dramatic rise of healthcare costs for another. An additional challenge hits a little closer to home for other retirees – those who are divorced. If you have been divorced, it is critical that you understand how Social Security benefits take divorce into account. Demographically speaking, this is even more essential for retiring women. The role of Social Security benefits in the retired life of a divorcee can be crucial, as discussed in a recent Reuters article titled “Column: Knowing Social Security rules can help divorced spouses.” Basically, Social Security payments are related to your paid work during your working years. As a result, many ex-spouses simply have not built up sufficient “numbers” because of how household incomes were split back in the day. Interestingly, you may be eligible for many of the same benefits as if you had remained married to your ex. But it is not automatic. Here are some threshold requirements: • You must be currently single, • You must have been married to your ex for at least 10 years, • Your divorce must be “final” for at least two years, • You must have reached the minimum Social Security eligibility age (62), and • You must not be currently collecting a benefit amount greater than that of your ex. Note: Your eligibility is completely independent of the benefits collected by your ex, but you will lose the benefits if you remarry. I recommend reading the original article for additional tips and traps. Call or visit your local Social Security office regarding the folder of paperwork you will need to gather for qualification.

Reference: Reuters (May 9, 2013) “Column: Knowing Social Security rules can help divorced spouses”

For more information, see www.jerryreiflawyer.com

 

Planning Challenges for Elderly Divorced Parents Saginaw, Michigan

If you think divorce is more of a younger generation problem, you are mistaken. Divorce happens at all ages and stages, and the children of divorced boomers are starting to encounter the challenges of caring for their elderly parents on separate levels. The evidence has been slowly coming in for a while, of course, but current articles have helped to publicly put the pieces together for us. For example, consider a recent article in Reuters titled “Double the trouble when divorced parents get old.” In broad strokes, marriage is and has been an important institution for us. Not only does it order our daily lives, but it organizes our longtime finances as well. On the other hand, divorced persons simply have to plan that much more for their own old age, especially when it comes to the question of living alone and perhaps shouldering medical care by yourself. More often than not, this actually is an issue for the adult children of divorced parents. After all, it’s already an era that calls for more and more care from children, but taking care of Mom and Dad is an entirely different concept when they are no longer together or there for each other. For divorced individuals, this is definitely something to consider in your planning for the future. For families, this is a real and necessary issue to address with your parents as they go through life changes.

Reference: Reuters
(October 22, 2012) “Double the trouble when divorced parents get
old”

For more infosrmation, see www.jerryreiflawyer.com

 

Asset Protection with Postnuptial Agreements

Move over ‘prenup’, there’s a new marriage document in town that can protect your assets even after you’ve said “I do.” That’s right, more and more married couples are opting to protect their assets with a postnuptial agreement. Although the idea of marriage is to be together forever, many couples recognize that things can go wrong in a relationship. The stuff that can throw a monkey wrench into a marriage are things like children from a prior marriage, separate assets and estate plans, and, yes, even inheritances. So, even if you did not work out agreements regarding such stuff before exchanging vows, there’s always a cure after the fact. Enter the postnuptial agreement. According to recent studies and an article in Private Wealth titled “Postnuptial Agreements On Rise, Lawyers Say,” you may never have considered a ‘postnup’, but an increasing number of people have and are. Across various incomes, married couples have found them to be valuable tools. There are many reasons to support this trend, even between spouses who otherwise would not ordinarily commit such agreements to paper. Whether or not a postnuptial agreement is right for you, make note that these agreements can provide a practical pre-condition for an heir and spouse to adopt as part of your estate planning.

Reference: Private Wealth
(September 12, 2012) “Postnuptial Agreements On Rise, Lawyers Say”

For information, see www.jerryreiflawyer.com

Planning Challenges for Elderly Divorced Parents Saginaw Michigan

If you think divorce is more of a younger generation problem, you are mistaken. Divorce happens at all ages and stages, and the children of divorced boomers are starting to encounter the challenges of caring for their elderly parents on separate levels. The evidence has been slowly coming in for a while, of course, but current articles have helped to publicly put the pieces together for us. For example, consider a recent article in Reuters titled “Double the trouble when divorced parents get old.” In broad strokes, marriage is and has been an important institution for us. Not only does it order our daily lives, but it organizes our longtime finances as well. On the other hand, divorced persons simply have to plan that much more for their own old age, especially when it comes to the question of living alone and perhaps shouldering medical care by yourself. More often than not, this actually is an issue for the adult children of divorced parents. After all, it’s already an era that calls for more and more care from children, but taking care of Mom and Dad is an entirely different concept when they are no longer together or there for each other. For divorced individuals, this is definitely something to consider in your planning for the future. For families, this is a real and necessary issue to address with your parents as they go through life changes.

Reference: Reuters (October 22, 2012) “Double the trouble when divorced parents get old”

For more information see www.jerryreiflawyer.com

 

Asset Protection with Postnuptial Agreements

Move over ‘prenup’, there’s a new marriage document in town that can protect your assets even after you’ve said “I do.” That’s right, more and more married couples are opting to protect their assets with a postnuptial agreement. Although the idea of marriage is to be together forever, many couples recognize that things can go wrong in a relationship. The stuff that can throw a monkey wrench into a marriage are things like children from a prior marriage, separate assets and estate plans, and, yes, even inheritances. So, even if you did not work out agreements regarding such stuff before exchanging vows, there’s always a cure after the fact. Enter the postnuptial agreement. According to recent studies and an article in Private Wealth titled “Postnuptial Agreements On Rise, Lawyers Say,” you may never have considered a ‘postnup’, but an increasing number of people have and are. Across various incomes, married couples have found them to be valuable tools. There are many reasons to support this trend, even between spouses who otherwise would not ordinarily commit such agreements to paper. Whether or not a postnuptial agreement is right for you, make note that these agreements can provide a practical pre-condition for an heir and spouse to adopt as part of your estate planning.

Reference: Private Wealth (September 12, 2012) “Postnuptial Agreements On Rise, Lawyers Say”

Asset Protection with Postnuptial Agreements

Move over ‘prenup’, there’s a new marriage document in town that can protect your assets even after you’ve said “I do.” That’s right, more and more married couples are opting to protect their assets with a postnuptial agreement. Although the idea of marriage is to be together forever, many couples recognize that things can go wrong in a relationship. The stuff that can throw a monkey wrench into a marriage are things like children from a prior marriage, separate assets and estate plans, and, yes, even inheritances. So, even if you did not work out agreements regarding such stuff before exchanging vows, there’s always a cure after the fact. Enter the postnuptial agreement. According to recent studies and an article in Private Wealth titled “Postnuptial Agreements On Rise, Lawyers Say,” you may never have considered a ‘postnup’, but an increasing number of people have and are. Across various incomes, married couples have found them to be valuable tools. There are many reasons to support this trend, even between spouses who otherwise would not ordinarily commit such agreements to paper. Whether or not a postnuptial agreement is right for you, make note that these agreements can provide a practical pre-condition for an heir and spou

Reference: Private Wealth
(September 12, 2012) “Postnuptial Agreements On Rise, Lawyers Say”

se to adopt as part of your estate planning.

 

Asset Protection with Postnuptial Agreements

Move over ‘prenup’, there’s a new marriage document in town that can protect your assets even after you’ve said “I do.” That’s right, more and more married couples are opting to protect their assets with a postnuptial agreement. Although the idea of marriage is to be together forever, many couples recognize that things can go wrong in a relationship. The stuff that can throw a monkey wrench into a marriage are things like children from a prior marriage, separate assets and estate plans, and, yes, even inheritances. So, even if you did not work out agreements regarding such stuff before exchanging vows, there’s always a cure after the fact. Enter the postnuptial agreement. According to recent studies and an article in Private Wealth titled “Postnuptial Agreements On Rise, Lawyers Say,” you may never have considered a ‘postnup’, but an increasing number of people have and are. Across various incomes, married couples have found them to be valuable tools. There are many reasons to support this trend, even between spouses who otherwise would not ordinarily commit such agreements to paper. Whether or not a postnuptial agreement is right for you, make note that these agreements can provide a practical pre-condition for an heir and spouse to adopt as part of your estate planning.

Reference: Private Wealth
(September 12, 2012) “Postnuptial Agreements On Rise, Lawyers Say”

Limited Partnerships, General Liability?

Personal asset protection is a major motivator behind creating a business entity through which to conduct business activities. For certain entities that means the protection of a corporate veil, but others are less safe. On that note, a recent Forbes article titled “Miske: The Innocent General Partner Tagged With Liability For Losses Due To Misdeeds Of Another General Partner,” provides a word of caution when it comes limited partnerships via the case of Miske v. Bisno. In that particular case, one general partner in a limited partnership engaged in unwholesome activities, including embezzlement. Naturally, the embezzlement was discovered and led to a loss. A limited partner then sued an entirely different general partner for the losses. The innocent general partner protested, arguing that he knew he was liable to third parties (which is bad enough), but not to limited partners in the same way. Unfortunately, the court didn’t agree, ruling that it doesn’t matter whether the suit is third-party or internal since a general partner is liable for the entity of which he or she is a general partner. As stated in the original article, “general partner” is just another way of saying “generally liable.” When choosing and using an entity to protect your assets and your individual liability, be sure to consult competent legal counsel to help you navigate the land mines.

Reference: Forbes (May 25, 2012) “Miske: The Innocent General Partner Tagged With Liability For Losses Due To Misdeeds Of Another General Partner”

Are Prenuptial Agreements in Vogue?

Regardless of who you are, what you do, who your loved ones are, and what you own, planning for your family and for your assets is a necessary and ongoing activity. Estate planning is a process, not an event. This is especially true when you and your family situation happens to be a little more complicated than most. In that case, proper planning is absolutely vital. What may be a trend for a new generation of complexities and one that is making headlines anew, believe it or not, is the prenuptial agreement. The recent murmurs about prenuptial agreements come like most financial news these days, by way of Facebook’s newlywed Mark Zuckerberg. A recent article in CBS MoneyWatch titled, “Why Mark Zuckerberg needs a prenup,” makes the case for his need for a prenuptial agreement. Zuckerberg and his millions (or whatever his net worth) aside, the prenuptial agreement has its place in an era of mixed families, divorces, remarriages, and all the other increasingly common family structures today. In addition, as pointed out in the original article, people are getting married later, or otherwise remarried, when they already have complicated assets. Divorces aside, complicated assets often necessitate complicated planning.

Reference: CBS MoneyWatch (May 19, 2012) “Why Mark Zuckerberg needs a prenup”

 

Trusts – Better Robust Than Bust

Trusts are like pocket knives, in a way. Even a fairly basic pocket knife can make your life immensely easier, especially in a pinch, but a particularly well built and expansive pocket knife is an actual survival tool. When it comes to trusts, however, why settle for a basic trust when a robust trust can provide essential protection for your loved ones? While surfing my news sources I discovered yet another, renewed, lesson in the robust set of provisions that can be crafted into a single trust, here. In addition, this article illustrates the difficult space between divorce and the trust, and that’s one more area where a robust trust can make all the difference. Depending on how you’ve structured it, a trust can last for varying lengths of time and offer the beneficiary/child various ways of accessing those funds. You might use this to teach lessons, for example, but don’t forget that you’re not always planning for the budding child but also the future adult. Unfortunately, that future adult may have creditors who could attempt an attack on the trust funds. More likely, however, is that a divorce and an ex-spouse will come into play, perhaps also children and child-support. How the courts treat your trust depends on numerous factors best considered at the formation and worthy of your consideration at that time. For more ideas (and at least one promising court case) read the original article. In the end, as with so many planning devices, everything hinges entirely on you, your family, and your unique circumstances.

Reference: Financial Planning Magazine (February 1, 2012) “Trust, But Verify”

ESTATE PLANNING / CO-HABITATION

The number of opposite-sex couples living together jumped 13% this year to 7.5 million. In fact, researchers estimate that half of all married couples now live together before they get married. Why? Some blame the sluggish job market, but others suggest that couples who choose to live together frequently do so to avoid what they consider “legal hassles,” especially those associated with a potential break-up. However, the truth is that for unmarried couples who break-up, the fall-out can be worse than a messy divorce. USA Today suggests that unmarried couples face a number of thorny legal challenges, to include buying a home, obtaining health care, and estate planning. Estate planning is particularly imperative for unmarried couples because if you die without a will, your estate will be divided according to state law, which usually does not recognize a domestic partner. Family members you have not spoken to in decades could inherit everything you own. Additionally, while a surviving spouse can inherit an unlimited amount of assets estate tax-free, this protection does not extend to domestic partners. There are ways to protect your estate and your partner, but you’ll need qualified legal counsel to pull it off.

 

Trusts – Better Robust Than Bust

Trusts are like pocket knives, in a way. Even a fairly basic pocket knife can make your life immensely easier, especially in a pinch, but a particularly well built and expansive pocket knife is an actual survival tool. When it comes to trusts, however, why settle for a basic trust when a robust trust can provide essential protection for your loved ones? While surfing my news sources I discovered yet another, renewed, lesson in the robust set of provisions that can be crafted into a single trust, here. In addition, this article illustrates the difficult space between divorce and the trust, and that’s one more area where a robust trust can make all the difference. Depending on how you’ve structured it, a trust can last for varying lengths of time and offer the beneficiary/child various ways of accessing those funds. You might use this to teach lessons, for example, but don’t forget that you’re not always planning for the budding child but also the future adult. Unfortunately, that future adult may have creditors who could attempt an attack on the trust funds. More likely, however, is that a divorce and an ex-spouse will come into play, perhaps also children and child-support. How the courts treat your trust depends on numerous factors best considered at the formation and worthy of your consideration at that time. For more ideas (and at least one promising court case) read the original article. In the end, as with so many planning devices, everything hinges entirely on you, your family, and your unique circumstances.

Reference: Financial Planning Magazine (February 1, 2012) “Trust, But Verify”

Suggested Key Words:

JOINT OWNERSHIP - HIDDEN PITFALLS TO AVOID

Estate planning can be daunting. Once you get past the fact that your very mortality (and morbidity) is the triggering event, estate planning means taking stock of all you own and, what is often more important, how you own it. Yes, there are many degrees of ownership and each can make for some difficult wrinkles. One common phenomenon is joint ownership between generations. Not only is it common, but it can make for some unintended problems. Forbes recently ran a piece on some of these problems and the five reasons to avoid such ownership form. Let’s review some of the high points, but I would commend the full article to your reading file. Joint ownership oftentimes is an attempt to simplify things, or at least that is why people use it as a means of holding title. Perhaps they want to simplify practical day-to-day financial management. Aging parents needing such help may add an adult child’s name to a bank account or investment, either for direct aid or for just assisting in managing the accounts or assets. Likewise, it could be done as an attempt to avoid probate. Adding the adult child’s name to the account, investment, or real estate as a form of will-substitute (a so-called “poor man’s will”). Of course, these are only simple solutions, and may actually work, when things go off without a hitch. One problem to remember is joint-ownership is a two-way street. That means that adult child joint owner has equal ownership rights to the assets and so do any of that adult child’s financial predators. The adult child may have their own creditors, may be facing an acrimonious divorce, or may be sued for damages in civil court. In addition, while no parent would anticipate it, the adult child may use the jointly owned bank account for a “quick loan” when they are running a little short of cash. Any of these unintended consequences can not only jeopardize the financial independence of an aging parent, but can cause hard feeling among other adult children who may (or may not) be joint owners with their parent. Another problem, especially from an estate planning perspective, is that joint ownership as a stop-gap or a will-substitute is not really estate planning and may run afoul of the parent’s actual estate distribution wishes. For example, the adult child who has joint ownership doesn’t have to share such assets upon the parent’s death. As you can imagine, it is very easy for such cases to spill over into family squabbles and even prolonged court-cases. Sometimes joint ownership seems like a good idea and a quick fix to avoid probate. And, sometimes it is. Before you use joint ownership as a form of titling your assets, however, consider the drawbacks. In the end, an estate planning attorney can help you determine whether joint ownership is appropriate under your unique circumstances. Remember: Look before you leap. The protection of your assets and family relationships are at stake.

You can learn more about Joint Ownership in the January issue of our free e-newsletter, “Joint Tenancy Troubles.” Visit our website and sign up to receive this valuable update for free every month.

Reference:  Forbes (September 13, 2011) “Top 5 Reasons to Beware of Joint Ownership Between Generations”

JOINT OWNERSHIP - HIDDEN PITFALLS TO AVOID IS JOINT OWNERSHIP.

Estate planning can be daunting. Once you get past the fact that your very mortality (and morbidity) is the triggering event, estate planning means taking stock of all you own and, what is often more important, how you own it. Yes, there are many degrees of ownership and each can make for some difficult wrinkles. One common phenomenon is joint ownership between generations. Not only is it common, but it can make for some unintended problems. Forbes recently ran a piece on some of these problems and the five reasons to avoid such ownership form. Let’s review some of the high points, but I would commend the full article to your reading file. Joint ownership oftentimes is an attempt to simplify things, or at least that is why people use it as a means of holding title. Perhaps they want to simplify practical day-to-day financial management. Aging parents needing such help may add an adult child’s name to a bank account or investment, either for direct aid or for just assisting in managing the accounts or assets. Likewise, it could be done as an attempt to avoid probate. Adding the adult child’s name to the account, investment, or real estate as a form of will-substitute (a so-called “poor man’s will”). Of course, these are only simple solutions, and may actually work, when things go off without a hitch. One problem to remember is joint-ownership is a two-way street. That means that adult child joint owner has equal ownership rights to the assets and so do any of that adult child’s financial predators. The adult child may have their own creditors, may be facing an acrimonious divorce, or may be sued for damages in civil court. In addition, while no parent would anticipate it, the adult child may use the jointly owned bank account for a “quick loan” when they are running a little short of cash. Any of these unintended consequences can not only jeopardize the financial independence of an aging parent, but can cause hard feeling among other adult children who may (or may not) be joint owners with their parent. Another problem, especially from an estate planning perspective, is that joint ownership as a stop-gap or a will-substitute is not really estate planning and may run afoul of the parent’s actual estate distribution wishes. For example, the adult child who has joint ownership doesn’t have to share such assets upon the parent’s death. As you can imagine, it is very easy for such cases to spill over into family squabbles and even prolonged court-cases. Sometimes joint ownership seems like a good idea and a quick fix to avoid probate. And, sometimes it is. Before you use joint ownership as a form of titling your assets, however, consider the drawbacks. In the end, an estate planning attorney can help you determine whether joint ownership is appropriate under your unique circumstances. Remember: Look before you leap. The protection of your assets and family relationships are at stake.
Reference:  Forbes (September 13, 2011) “Top 5 Reasons to Beware of Joint Ownership Between Generations”