There are many good reasons why a client should have a good living trust. The primary reason is to avoid probate, which could cost up to 5% of the gross estate. The benefits of a good living trust are extensive, and include:
Estate avoids the time, cost and agony of probate Protects the individual's assets in the event of incompetence Provides for disabled children Can protect an inheritance from a divorcing spouse Provides a means to organize the estate Protects minor children by appointing a guardian Estabilishes a conservator in the event of incompetence Retains privacy because the living trust is private and family controlled The trust does not require an attorney or court procedures to settle if properly funded Avoids contest (about a third of wills are contested) Protects the decedents assets for the decedents children Protects the inheitance for the children beneficiaries of a decedent spouse Protects separate property Allows each person to determine methods of allocation and distribution Shields the B & C sub-trusts from litigation creditors and Medicaid claims when irrevocable In separate property states, step-ups the value of the decedent's assets DO I NEED ESTATE PLANNING? What Is Estate Planning? What Is Involved in Estate Planning? Who Needs Estate Planning ? What Is Included in my Estate? What Is a Will? What Is a Revocable Living Trust? What Is Probate? To Whom Should I Leave My Assets? Whom Should I Name as My Executor or Trustee? How Should I Provide for My Minor Children? When Does Estate Planning Involve Tax Planning? How Does the Way in Which I Hold Title Make a Difference? What Are Other Methods of Leaving Property? What If I Become Unable to Care for Myself ?
1. What is Estate Planning? Estate planning is a process. It involves people - your family, other individuals and in many cases charitable organizations of your choice. It also involves your assets and all the various forms of ownership and title that those assets may take. As you plan your estate, you will consider: How your assets will be managed for your benefit if you are unable to do so When certain assets will be transferred to others, either during your lifetime, at your death, or sometime after your death To whom those assets will pass
Estate planning also addresses your welfare and needs, planning for your own personal and health care if you are no longer able to care for yourself. Like many people, you may at first think that estate planning is simply the writing of a will. But it encompasses much more. As you will see, estate planning may involve financial, tax, medical and business planning. A will is one part of that planning process, but other documents are needed to fully address your estate planning needs. The purpose of this pamphlet is to summarize the estate planning process and how it can address and meet your goals and objectives. As you consider it further, you will realize that estate planning is a dynamic process. Just as people and assets and laws change, it may well be necessary to adjust your estate plan every so often to reflect those changes. 2. What is Involved in Estate Planning? In starting to consider your estate plan, you should ask yourself the following questions: What are my assets and what is their approximate value? Whom do I want to receive those assets - and when? Who should manage those assets if I cannot, either during my lifetime or after my death? Who should have the responsibility for the care of my minor children if I become incapacitated or die? If I cannot take care of myself, who should make decisions on my behalf concerning my care and welfare?
With tentative answers to these questions, you are ready to seek the advice and services of a qualified lawyer who will discuss with you the various documents which can comprise your estate plan and will provide advice concerning such issues as title to assets, taxes, and the prudent management of your estate. 3. Who Needs Estate Planning ? Whatever the size of your estate, you should designate the person who, in the event of your incapacity, will have the responsibility for the management of your assets and your care, including the authority to make health care decisions on your behalf. How that is accomplished is discussed below on this page.. If your estate is small in value, you may focus simply upon who is to receive your assets after your death and who should be in charge of its management and distribution. If your estate is larger, your lawyer will discuss with you not only who is to receive your assets and when, but also various ways to preserve your assets for your beneficiaries and to reduce or postpone the amount of estate tax which otherwise might be payable on your death. If one does no planning, then Florida law provides for the court appointment of persons to take responsibility for your personal care and assets. Florida also provides for the distribution of assets in your name to your heirs pursuant to a set of rules to be followed if you die without a will; this is known as "intestate succession." Contrary to popular myth, if you die without a will, everything does not automatically go to the state. Your relatives, no matter how remote, and in some cases the relatives of your spouse, will have priority in inheritance ahead of the state. Nonetheless, they may not be the people you would want to inherit from you; therefore, a will is the preferable approach. 4. What Is Included in my Estate? Your estate consists of all property or interests in property which you own. The simplest examples are those assets which are in your name alone, such as a bank account, real estate, stocks and bonds, and furniture, furnishings and jewelry. You may also hold property in many forms of title other than in your name alone. Joint tenancy is a common form of ownership which takes assets away from control by will or living trust. Beneficiary designations on securities accounts and bank accounts are alternatives which must be carefully considered as well. Finally, assets which have beneficiary designations, such as life insurance, IRAs, qualified retirement plans and some annuities are very important parts of your estate which require careful coordination with your other assets in developing your estate plan. The value of your estate is equal to the "fair market value" of each asset that you own, minus your debts including a mortgage on your home or a loan on your car. The value of your estate is important in determining whether, and to what extent, your estate will be subject to estate taxes upon your death. Planning for the resources needed to meet that obligation at your death is another important part of the estate planning process. 5. What Is a Will? A will is a traditional legal document which is effective only at your death to Name individuals (or charitable organizations) to receive your assets upon your death (either by outright gift or in trust) Nominate an executor, appointed and supervised by the probate court, to manage your estate, pay debts and expenses, pay taxes, and distribute your estate in an accountable manner and in accordance with your will Nominate the guardians of the person and estate of your minor children, to care and provide for your minor children Assets or interests in property in your name alone at your death will be subject to your will and subject to the administration of the probate court, generally in the county where you reside at your death. 6. What Is a Revocable Living Trust? A revocable living trust is also commonly referred to as a revocable inter vivos trust, a grantor trust or, simply, a living trust. A living trust may be amended or revoked by the person creating it (commonly known as a "trustor," "grantor," or "settlor") at any time during the trustor's lifetime, as long as the trustor is competent. A trust is a written agreement between the individual creating the trust and the person or institution named to manage the assets held in the trust (the "trustee.") In many cases, it is appropriate for you to be the initial trustee of your living trust, until management assistance is anticipated or required, at which point your trust should designate an individual or bank or trust company to act in your place. The terms of the trust become irrevocable upon the trustor's death. Because the trust contains provisions which provide for the distribution of your assets on and after your death, the trust acts as a substitute for your will, and eliminates the need for the probate of your will with respect to those assets which were held in your living trust at your death. You should execute a will even if you have a living trust. That will is usually a "pour over" will which provides for the transfer of any assets held in your name at your death to the trustee of your living trust, so that those assets may be distributed in accordance with your wishes as set forth in your living trust. 7. What Is Probate? Probate is the court-supervised process developed under Florida law which has as its goal the transfer of your assets at your death to the beneficiaries set forth in your will, and in the manner prescribed by your will. It also provides for the relatively quick determination of valid claims of any creditors who have claims against your assets at your death. At the beginning of a probate administration, a petition is filed with the court, usually by the person or institution named in your will as executor. After notice is given, and a hearing is held, your will is admitted to probate and an executor is appointed. If you die "intestate" (that is, without a will), your estate is still subject to probate court administration and the person appointed by the court to handle your estate is known as the "administrator." If the assets in your name alone at your death do not include an interest in real estate and have a total value of less than $100,000, then generally the beneficiaries under your will may follow a statutory procedure to effect the transfer of those assets pursuant to your will, subject to your debts and expenses, without a formal court-supervised probate administration. A probate has advantages and disadvantages. The probate court is accustomed to resolving disputes about the distribution of your assets in a relatively expeditious fashion and in accordance with defined rules. In addition, you are assured that the actions and accountings of your executor will be reviewed and approved by the probate court. Disadvantages of a probate include its public nature; your estate plan and the value of your assets become a public record. Also, because lawyer's fees and executor's commissions are based upon a statutory fee schedule, the expenses may be greater than the expenses incurred by a comparable estate managed and distributed under a living trust. Time can also be a factor; often distributions can be made pursuant to a living trust more quickly than in a probate proceeding. The advantages and disadvantages of a probate proceeding should be discussed thoroughly with your estate planning lawyer. 8. To Whom Should I Leave My Assets? Once you have determined who should receive your assets at your death, your estate planning lawyer can help you clarify and appropriately identify your beneficiaries. For instance, it is most important to clearly identify by correct name any charitable organizations you wish to provide for; many have similar names and in some families, individuals have similar or even identical names. It is also important for you to consider alternative distributions of assets in the event that your primary beneficiary does not survive you. As for beneficiaries who by reason of age or other infirmity may not be able to handle assets distributed to them outright, trusts for their benefit may be created under your will or living trust. 9. Whom Should I Name as My Executor or Trustee? After your death, the executor of your will and the trustee of your living trust serve almost identical functions. Both are responsible for ensuring that your wishes, as set forth in your will or living trust, are implemented. Although your executor is generally subject to direct court supervision, both the executor and the trustee have similar fiduciary responsibilities. The trustee of your living trust may assume responsibilities under that document while you are living. While you may act as the initial trustee of your living trust, if you become incapable of functioning as a trustee, the designated successor trustee will then step in to manage your assets for your benefit. An executor or trustee may be a spouse, adult children, other relatives, family friends, business associates or a professional fiduciary such as a bank. You should discuss your choice with your estate planning lawyer. There are a number of issues to consider. For example, will the appointment of one of your adult children cause undue stress in his or her relations with siblings? What conflicts of interest are created if a business associate or partner is named as your executor or trustee? Will the person named as executor or successor trustee have the time, organizational ability, and experience to do the job effectively? 10. How Should I Provide for My Minor Children? A minor child is a child under 18 years of age. If both parents are deceased, a minor child is not legally qualified under California law to care for himself or herself. In your will, therefore, you should nominate a guardian of the person of your minor children to supervise that child and be responsible for his or her care until the child is 18 years old. Such a nomination can avoid a "tug of war" between well-meaning family members and others if a guardian is required. A minor is also not legally qualified to manage his or her own property. Assets transferred outright to a minor must be held for the minor's benefit by a guardian of the child's estate, until the child attains 18 years of age. You should nominate such a guardian in your will as well. In providing for minor children in your estate plan, you should consider the use of a trust for the child's benefit, to be held, administered and distributed for the child's benefit until the child is at least 18 years old or of some other age as you may decide. You may also consider a custodian account under the California Uniform Transfers to Minors Act as an alternative in making specific gifts to minors. 11. When Does Estate Planning Involve Tax Planning? Estate taxes are imposed upon an estate which has a net value - in 2002 and 2003- of $1 million or more. Under curent law, that amount will increase to $1.5 million in 2004 and 2005, and to $2 million in 2006 through 2008. For estates which approach or exceed this value, significant estate taxes can be saved by proper estate planning, usually before death and, in the case of married couples, before the death of the first spouse. Estate planning for taxation purposes must take into account not ony estate taxes, but also income, gift, property and generation-skipping taxes as well. Qualified legal advice about taxes should be obtained during the estate planning process. 12. How Does the Way in Which I Hold Title Make a Difference? The nature of your assets and how you hold title to those assets is a critical factor in the estate planning process. Before you change title to an asset, you should understand the tax and other consequences of any proposed changed. Your estate planning lawyer will be able to advise you. Community property and separate property If you are married, assets earned by either you or your spouse while married and while a resident of Florida are community property. On the other hand, a married individual may own separate property as a result of assets owned prior to marriage or received by gift or inheritance during marriage. There are significant tax considerations which need to be addressed in the estate planning process with respect to both community property and separate property. There are also significant property interests to consider. ) Separate property can be "transmuted" (that is, changed) to community property by a written agreement signed by both spouses and drafted in conformity with Florda law. It is important to seek competent legal advice when determining what character your property is and how the property should be titled. Joint Tenancy Property Regardless of its source, if a property is held in joint tenancy, it will pass to the surviving joint tenant by operation of law upon the death of the first joint tenant. On the other hand, property held as community property or as tenants in common, will be subject to the will of a deceased owner. Community property with right to survivorship Married couples may hold title to their community property in their names as "community property with right of survivorship." Property held in that manner at the death of the first spouse is not affected by that spouse's will, but passes instead to the surviving spouse. 13. What Are Other Methods of Leaving Property? A number of assets are transferred at death by beneficiary designation, such as Life insurance proceeds Qualified or non-qualified retirement plans, including 401 (k) plans and IRAs Certain "trustee" bank accounts "Transfer on death" (or "TOD") securities accounts "Pay on death" (or "POD, assets, a common title on U.S. savings bonds
These beneficiary designations must be carefully coordinated with your overall estate plan. Your will does not govern the distribution of these assets. 14. What If I Become Unable to Care for Myself? If you do not make any arrangements in advance, a court-supervised conservatorship proceeding may be required if you become incapacitated. Conservatorships are proceedings which allow the court to appoint the person responsible for your care and for the management of your estate if you are unable to do so yourself. You should, therefore, select the person or persons you wish to care for you and your estate in the event that you become incapable of managing your assets or providing for your own care. With respect to the management of your assets, the trustee of your living trust will provide the necessary management of those assets held in trust. However, to deal with assets which may not have been transferred to your living trust prior to your incapacity or which you may receive after incapacity, a durable power of attorney for property management should be considered. In such a power, you appoint another individual (the "attorney-in-fact") to make property management decisions on your behalf. The attorney-in-fact manages your assets and functions much as a conservator of your estate would function, but without court supervision. The authority of the attorney-in-fact to manage your assets ceases at your death. An advanced health care directive/durable power of attorney for health care allows your attorney-in-fact to make health care decisions for you when you can no longer make them yourself. It may also contain statements of wishes concerning such matters as life sustaining treatment and other health care issues and instructions concerning organ donations, disposition of remains, and your funeral. | 
