Your Business Exit strategy should start today

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If you draft a will in order to ensure that your heirs are taken care, developing a business succession plan will ensure your company continues to thrive after you are gone.

As the economy slowly emerges from the shadow of The Great Recession of 2009, businesses are also starting to thrive again. While storefront businesses are still a staple of the American dream, use of the internet and the relatively low cost of creating a website and selling a unique product or idea has lowered the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs who wish to start a family business.

If you own or are starting a family business, you are in good company: Forbes estimates that family businesses account for 50 percent of the current Gross Domestic Product in the U.S. This includes 35 percent of Fortune 500 companies (the top 500 U.S. publicly and privately held companies ranked by their gross revenue and published by Fortune magazine) that are controlled exclusively by families.

However, there is a problem with the family business model. According to a Pricewaterhouse Coopers survey, only 52 percent of family businesses expect members of the next generation to be able to run their business. Junior members lack of experience for running a company coupled with poor succession planning are the main culprits.

Get a Prenup for Your Business

If a premarital agreement can reduce headache and anxiety in the event of a divorce, then a similar mechanism for a family business – labeled a Shareholder’s Agreement* – will reduce anxiety and hard feelings when it becomes necessary to distribute assets or make tough decisions regarding the family business.

An agreement among shareholders or family owners lays the ground rules of a family business in terms of important topics such as governance, succession, transfer of assets, liquidity and taxes among others. A Shareholder’s Agreement may address such questions as:

  • Board composition:
    • Will each sibling be represented?
    • Will there be a board of directors?
    • Will executives from outside the family be allowed?
    • What training experience will be required?
  • Decision-making process:
    • What is the number of votes needed to approve key issues?
    • What is the method for dispute resolution?
    • What are the rights of family members?
    • Family members not involved in the business?
    • Non-family involved in the business?
  • Business and Owner Estate Plan:
    • Who are the business successors (both managers and owners of the business)?
    • What is the compensation for owners?
    • What is the remaining profit distribution?
    • What are the taxation implications upon sale or transfer of ownership?
    • Is there an estate plan? Is it in writing? Is there a timeline for implementation?

Although many small businesses fail, by addressing these issues a small business owner takes steps towards ensuring his or her family’s interests while saving money, and avoiding conflict.

Careful estate planning can ensure that a family business continues to benefit family members and that ownership of the business is not diluted until the business is ready to accept outside investors. Owners’ estate plans should use trusts or other mechanisms to restrict the ability of their heirs to transfer shares. A successful family business is an excellent means to provide financial security for the small business owner and his or her loved ones as well as employment opportunities for interested family members.

Estate planning is a complex field. Whether you are concerned with devising a plan for either a family estate or that of a business, it is important to get good advice. The attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters including business succession plans, wills, and living trusts. If you are interested in developing an estate plan or reviewing your current estate plan, contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information as we are happy to offer you a free consultation.

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

*Source

 

The Surprising Tax Benefits of Holding Title as Community Property with Right of Survivorship

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A married couple in California can hold title to their real property in various forms. Historically, many couples took title in joint tenancy without first consulting with an attorney, merely because their real estate agent would suggest it. However, the way that a couple holds title to an asset can have significant consequences in the event of divorce or the death of a spouse.

Community Property with Right of Survivorship is a relatively new way for married couples to hold title to property in California. Under Section 682.1 of the California Civil Code, property clearly titled “Community Property with Right of Survivorship” and deeded after July 1, 2001 will pass to the surviving spouse upon death of one of the spouses.

Depending on your situation, there may be significant benefits to holding title as Community Property with Right of Survivorship. When title is held in this manner and a spouse dies, their interest in the property is extinguished and it passes to the surviving spouse, avoiding probate. This can benefit the surviving spouse by eliminating any stress associated with probate procedures, family disputes, and attorney’s fees. For more information regarding the probate system and why people choose to avoid it, see our previous post.

Additionally, this form of title allows the surviving spouse to obtain the tax benefits of community property upon the death of the other spouse. Consider the happily married couple, Hank and Wendy, who bought a home in 2004 for $100,000. This is their basis.  Now, the house is worth $1,000,000. If Hank and Wendy were to sell the house for $1,000,000, they would be taxed on the difference between the sale price ($1,000,000) and their adjusted basis ($100,000), or $900,000. Now let’s assume that Hank unfortunately dies and Wendy wants to sell the house. In this scenario, the amount of taxable profit will depend on how title is held.

If the parties hold title to the house as Joint Tenants, each spouse owns a 50% interest in the house. When Hank dies, Wendy automatically inherits his half share of the house. The basis of inherited property is adjusted to the value of the property at the date of death. Wendy’s basis will stay the same ($50,000) and the share she inherited from Hank will be adjusted to the value of his share of the property at his death ($500,000). Wendy’s new adjusted basis in the house is $550,000. If Wendy sells for $1,000,000, she is taxed on the difference between the sale price ($1,000,000) and her adjusted basis ($550,000) or $450,000.

However, if the parties hold title to the house as Community Property with Right of Survivorship, each spouse owns the entire property rather than a 50% interest. Upon Hank’s death, both his interest and Wendy’s interest receive a stepped up basis. Thus, the basis of the home is adjusted to the date of death value for the entire property ($1,000,000). If Wendy sells for $1,000,000, she is taxed on the difference between the sale price ($1,000,000) and her adjusted basis ($1,000,000), or nothing.

In the event of a divorce, the house is treated as community property. If you have any questions regarding how your current property is titled or are considering changing your current estate plan, feel  free to contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information.

Remember that each individual situation is unique. While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice. Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

A Cautionary Tale of Fill-in-the-Blank Wills: Not So E-Z After All

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Online platforms like Legal Zoom and Rocket Lawyer, as well as form wills marketed by companies like E-Z Legal Forms, are gaining popularity in the estate planning world. However, a recent Florida decision* serves as a fresh reminder that using one of these one-size-fits all approaches to estate planning could land your family in court despite your wishes.**

In a recent case, a Florida woman created a will through E-Z Legal Forms, leaving all of her property to her sister and finally to her brother if her sister predeceased her. The sister died first, so the brother claimed the entire estate. That would have been the result that fit with the deceased woman’s wishes. However, because the document was made without attorney oversight, the document lacked a residuary clause (important in Florida) and opened the door to disagreement over the interpretation of the will. Two of the woman’s nieces sued for a share of the estate.

The nieces, who were born to another brother who had already passed away and who were not mentioned in the will, walked away with a portion of the estate because they argued that they should receive part of any property that the deceased earned after signing the original will.  The Florida Supreme Court agreed, determining that all property earned after the will was signed must go through probate and be distributed based upon the State’s intestacy laws. (Intestacy laws govern who will receive property when a person dies without a will). Because she had a will, this was clearly not what the deceased woman intended, and one Justice shared a word of caution:

“I therefore take this opportunity to highlight a cautionary tale of the potential dangers of utilizing pre-printed forms and drafting a will without legal assistance. As this case illustrates, that decision can ultimately result in the frustration of the testator’s intent, in addition to the payment of extensive attorney’s fees—the precise results the testator sought to avoid in the first place.”

The court also acknowledged that people want to avoid dealing with lawyers and spending additional money, but sometimes making an investment in legal counsel will help the party and their family avoid even greater legal feels and turmoil in the future.

Creating a will doesn’t always have to be complicated. Nevertheless, it is best to create yours with the aid of an experienced estate planning attorney if you wish to avoid probate and future disputes over your estate. If you need estate planning advice, call Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri to schedule a free half-hour consultation. Our attorneys are passionate about estate planning and have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including wills and living trusts. If you need a will or would like to review the will you currently have, contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information.

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

 

*FlascBlog: The Florida Supreme Court Blog reports on the opinion (PDF).

**To see the original article that inspired this post: http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/e-z_legal_form_proved_to_be_complicated_in_litigation_over_wills_missing_re/?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email

Trust Administration: The Basics

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Trust administration is the process used to ensure that a trustee complies with California law and is carrying out the mandates of the trust as written. For example, a common task in trust administration is ensuring that the title to assets held in the trust is properly transferred. Trust administration also includes the process by which a trust creator’s (also known as the “trustor” or “settlor”) estate is distributed following his or her death. Following the creator’s death, the successor trustee(s) takes over management of the trust. The trustee must take multiple steps to properly administer the trust assets.

After the death of the trustor, the trustee of any trust has a number of fiduciary duties with regard to the trust and its assets. Here are some important examples:

  • Locate the deceased’s important documents, including the will, trusts, tax papers, and funeral directives.
  • If deceased was living alone, change locks and secure the house.
  • Check on insurance for the property and any cars the deceased owned to be certain the assets within the trust are protected.
  • Arrange to have certified copies of the deceased’s death certificate from the city or county where the death occurred.
  • Take an inventory of all assets and the value of those assets, because the value will affect the new tax basis of the items going forward. The value of all these items at death may need to be considered when evaluating federal state tax liability (if any).
  • Make a list of any household items that will be distributed to beneficiaries, and consider photographing the items to help with organization.
  • Take an inventory of bank accounts and the like. It may help to streamline the accounts and consolidate them into one place so that it is easier to keep a record of all trust activity, including bills paid and deposits made.
  • As trustee, you are responsible for paying any remaining debts or bills. If these are not paid you, and not the estate, may be personally liable.
  • You may need to obtain a Tax ID number for the trust if the trust will generate more than a few hundred dollars between the date of decedent’s death and when all of the assets are distributed. This step can be complicated and you may want to refer to an attorney or a tax professional for advice.
  • Make sure that all tax returns are filed in a timely fashion.
  • File any claims for life insurance, IRA’s or other assets that require claims. Also be sure to liquidate any assets that need liquidating, but get advice before you act because there may be serious tax consequences.
  • Accounting is required of trustees by law. Keep a record of all assets in existence at death and show all additions to the trust, subtract all expenses, and be prepared to show current assets within the trust. Place the assets into a non-interest bearing account to make sure the value does not change after the final accounting is complete.
  • Distribute the trust assets. Have a lawyer or other professional create a receipt and release form for each beneficiary, memorializing that each person received their inheritance and that the trustee is released from further liability.

While trust administration is generally handled outside the court system, breach of any of the trustee’s fiduciary duties can result in a court action being brought by a beneficiary. For this reason, it is important that a trustee seek out the help of a qualified trust attorney for guidance as needed.

The attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri  are experienced in the area of trust administration and can advise the trustee regarding their duties and responsibilities while guiding them through the trust administration process. In addition, our attorneys have experience assisting beneficiaries who believe the trustee is not acting properly. We invite you to contact our office to schedule a free consultation, with no obligation, to discuss your trust administration needs.

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Estate Tax Portability: A Valuable Asset You May Not Know You Had

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Have you heard about the “portability provision?” Believe it or not, your estate (or your spouse’s estate, if you were to pass first) could benefit tremendously if the executor of your estate elects this provision. In short, the portability election allows the transfer of any unused estate tax exclusion amount of the first spouse to die (commonly referred to as the “deceased spouse’s unused exemption” or “DSUE”) to the surviving spouse, who can then utilize the remaining amount to benefit his or her gift or estate tax purposes. Essentially, this provision operates as a safety net for couples with joint assets exceeding the exemption amount for the estate of the first spouse to die because the surviving spouse can reduce his or her estate or gift tax liability. Depending on the size of the estate, electing this provision can mean saving a significant amount on estate taxes.

Although this portability provision technically expired after 2012, Congress passed the American Tax Relief Act of 2012 (“ATRA”), which made the “portability” of the applicable exclusion amount between spouses permanent. This favorable estate tax rule should be incorporated into estate plans because as previously mentioned, the potential impact of the portability provision can be quite substantial.

For example, suppose the following: A husband and wife each own $2 million individually and $3 million jointly with rights of survivorship, bringing their estate to a total of $7 million in assets. Suppose their wills instruct that all assets pass first to the surviving spouse and then to the couple’s children. If the husband dies in 2014, his $2 million in assets is covered by the unlimited marital deduction. His $5.34 million exemption remains unused (his DSUE). When the wife dies, her estate can use that leftover DSUE amount, in addition to the exemption for the year in which she dies, to shelter the remaining $7 million of assets from tax. ATRA has permanently set the top estate tax rate at 40 percent. As such, if the wife died later in 2014, $1.66 million in assets would have been subject to estate tax without the portability provision. Therefore, the family saves $664,000 in federal estate tax (40% of $1.66 million).

Not only is the portability provision an excellent tool to use for estate and gift planning considerations, the provision can also be used as a negotiation tool during marital agreement negotiations. The portability provision can be viewed as a highly valuable asset that attorneys and their clients should consider when drafting marital agreements. However, there are also certain limitations to be aware of. For example, the executor of a deceased spouse’s estate must elect portability for the provision to take effect, and the election must be made on an estate tax return filed within nine months of death.*

If you or your loved ones are in the planning stages of creating an estate plan, take the necessary steps to ensure that you and your family members are maximizing the benefits available to you by an experienced, knowledgeable estate planning attorney guide you through the process. Estate planning laws are constantly evolving and having a trusted estate planning attorney by your side can prove to be invaluable. The attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including wills and living trusts, and we are happy to offer you a free consultation.

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Sources: http://www.bizactions.com/n.cfm/page/e120/key/259853661G1005J3585631N0P0P2268T2/;http://www.forbes.com/sites/lewissaret/2014/02/25/estate-tax-portability-and-marital-agreements-a-new-consideration/

Elder Abuse: Protect Your Loved Ones From Financial Exploitation

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Financial exploitation of the elderly is a growing – and mostly silent – epidemic in our country. In fact, one study estimates the amount lost by exploited seniors to be nearly $5 billion every year. One prime example occurred in 2007, when renowned New York society queen and philanthropist Brooke Astor left behind a coveted estate of nearly $200 million dollars. Though her will appeared to be adequately in place, the three codicils that followed turned out to be anything but.

Under Astor’s will, her only son, Marshall, stood to take tens of millions of dollars – with the condition that remaining funds after his death be given to charity. Marshall, however, had other plans, and the country watched as the truth behind Ms. Astor’s will began to unravel: Marshall, along with his lawyer, had convinced the elderly Astor – while she was suffering from dementia – to sign a series of codicils allowing him to leave much of her fortune to whomever he wanted. Rumor has it that Marshall wanted to share his mother’s fortune with his much-younger wife – whom Astor reportedly detested.

Fast forward to 2009 after 6 months of trial and many millions of dollars later, Marshall (then 85-years-old) and his attorney were convicted of 14 counts out of 16 for financially exploiting Astor. But after 8 weeks in jail, Marshall was out – the parole board found his age, ailing health, and hundreds of support letters from some of New York’s most influential people compelling and released him. With these turn of events, Marshall’s financial exploitation of his mother (to the tune of tens of millions of dollars) essentially went unpunished.

The highly-publicized financial exploitation of Ms. Astor is only one of the millions of cases of financial elder abuse that goes on quietly behind closed doors each year. When a family member manipulates a person with dementia, it is undue influence. California Civil Code § 1575 explains that undue influence comprises of:

  • The use, by one in whom a confidence is reposed by another, or who holds a real or apparent authority over him, of such confidence or authority for the purpose of obtaining an unfair advantage over him;
  • The taking of an unfair advantage of another’s weakness of mind; or
  • The taking of a grossly oppressive and unfair advantage of another’s necessities or distress.

Financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult can occur through various ways – undue influence is only one of them.* Sadly, many greedy individuals will find their elderly family members to be easy targets for financial gain, particularly when the elderly individual’s mind is stricken with a degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s or dementia. The undercover coercion and undue influence to change an estate plan can be hard to notice because these manipulative acts are generally covert and completed with no witnesses around. Even if the coercion is discovered in time, proving it in court can often be an uphill battle.

If you or your loved ones are in the planning stages of creating an estate plan, take the necessary steps to ensure that you and your family members are protected by having an experienced, knowledgeable estate planning attorney guide you through the process. If you suspect undue influence, consult an experienced estate planning attorney for an objective assessment to ensure the decedent’s assets are distributed as they intended. Estate planning laws are constantly evolving and having a trusted estate planning attorney by your side can prove to be invaluable. The attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including wills and living trusts, and we are happy to offer you a free consultation.

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

* California Welfare and Institutions Code §15610.30(a).

The Disclaimer: An Arrow in the Savvy Planner’s Quiver

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We won’t all be lucky enough to inherit a large sum of money upon the death of a loved one. But, if you do, you may want to consider disclaiming that inheritance under special circumstances.  When you disclaim an inheritance, you are refusing to accept it.

Some of you reading this are probably thinking, “You’ve got to be crazy if you think I am ever going to flat out refuse any money that I have coming to me.” Nevertheless, for others who already own plenty of property or are looking to reduce gift or estate or gift taxes, disclaiming an inherited gift could be in the best interests of you and your family.

Let’s say you already have a healthy estate of several million dollars when your father dies, leaving $400,000 to be split evenly between you and your sister. You know that your sister, a single mother, could really use the money and you would like to help her out. In this situation, disclaiming could be beneficial for in two ways.

First, by disclaiming your half of the gift, the entire $400,000 can be transferred directly to your sister. This kind gesture ensures that the person who really needs the property can have it with little difficulty or complications, since a disclaimant never truly owns the property. Furthermore, disclaiming a large gift could help minimize the size of your estate for the benefit of your family at the time of your death. Estates beyond a certain size have to pay steep estate taxes* before your money can go to your beneficiaries. By disclaiming gifts you don’t need, your family can avoid those taxes and enjoy more your hard-earned wealth.

Second, by disclaiming your half of the gift, you will not have to pay gift taxes on any amount you want to give to your sister. In 2014, the IRS limits the amount of cash that can be given tax-free to a particular individual. In this situation, if you were to accept the $200,000 and then try to give it to your sister as a cash gift, any amount over $14,000 given to your sister in a given year would count towards your lifetime gift limit.** Any amount of cash gifts which exceed that limit—$5.34million in a lifetime—will be subject to a gift tax of up to 40 percent. Ouch. To keep things simple and tax-free, disclaiming the inheritance is your best bet.

Deciding whether or not to disclaim is a big decision that can have serious benefits or consequences. In order to make the decision that is best for you and your family, speak with an experienced estate planning attorney before you act. If you need estate planning advice, call Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri to schedule a free half-hour consultation. Our attorneys are passionate about estate planning and have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including wills and living trusts. If you are interested in developing an estate plan or reviewing your current estate plan, contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information.

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

*To learn more about estate taxes, click here: http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Estate-Tax

**This is known as the “annual gift exclusion.” For those who are interested in learning more about the exclusion, click here:  http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Gift-Tax

Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Will (Part 2): More Than Just Nickels and Dimes

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This is the second part of our series examining Philip Seymour Hoffman’s estate plan.

In the wake of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s untimely death, his estate planning documents have given us some insight into the actor and father of three. Hoffman’s estate plan was executed in 2004 and his will included some unique requests.*

Hoffman requested that the guardian of his children raise his oldest child, his son Cooper, in Manhattan, Chicago or San Francisco. He stated that “If my guardian cannot reside in any of such cities, then it is my strong desire, and not direction, that my son, Cooper Hoffman, visit these cities at least twice per year throughout such guardianship.”  And the reason that Hoffman preferred these cities? “[S]o that my son will be exposed to the culture, arts and architecture that such cities offer.”

Hoffman’s will serves as a reminder that a will can be about more than just money and property. Your will can be a place to memorialize your wishes for your family, pets, property, or anything else your desire. Although wishes like Hoffman’s are not legally binding, your family may appreciate the chance to act on your desires in your absence.  Your words could help your family make tough decisions in the future.

Hoffman’s will is a great reminder to get creative with our estate planning documents, for our family’s sake. If you’re interested in updating the language in your will, or would like to learn more about estate planning in general, call Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri to schedule a free half-hour consultation. Our attorneys are passionate about estate planning and have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including wills and living trusts. If you are interested in developing an estate plan or reviewing your current estate plan, contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information.

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

 

*Read the original article that inspired this post, after the jump: http://celebrity.yahoo.com/blogs/celeb-news/philip-seymour-hoffman-s-will-revealed–did-not-want-son-raised-in-los-angeles-220210762.html

 

Philip Hoffman’s Will: What Should He Have Changed?

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In a previous blog, we stressed the importance of updating your estate planning documents as your life changes. Using actor Paul Walker as an example, we explained how he made many excellent estate planning decisions during his young life. Yet, his estate plan still had substantial shortcomings due to a failure to update. Likewise, actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’s final will has recently been submitted into court with a similar, avoidable pitfall: his last will was signed in October 2004. Multiple significant life changes have occurred in the past 10 years that ought to have been, but were not, addressed in his will.

One particular final wish that stands out in Hoffman’s will is that the actor does not want his son, Cooper, to grow up in Hollywood. The late Oscar winner requested that Cooper – who was his only child at the time the document was written – to be “raised and reside in” Manhattan, Chicago, or San Francisco.

“If my guardian cannot reside in any of such cities, then it is my strong desire, and not direction, that my son, Cooper Hoffman, visit these cities at least twice per year throughout such guardianship,” Hoffman explained in the 13-page document. “The purpose of his request is so that my son will be exposed to the culture, arts and architecture that such cities offer.” This provision was the result of smart estate planning, because noticeably absent amongst those cities is Los Angeles, where Hoffman spent much of his working life. However, Hoffman leaves no question as to his intent for Cooper: he bolstered this provision in his will by explaining why those particular cities were chosen. A well-written will leaves no room to question the signor’s intent; no reason to think: “Maybe Mr. Hoffman simply forgot to include Los Angeles.”

Sadly, however, because Hoffman failed to update his will for so long, his intentions for his two daughters were not addressed. Hoffman went on to have two daughters after 2004, but no one will know what Hoffman wanted for his daughters Tallulah, 7, and Willa, 5. As we suggested in our previous blog, you should consider your estate plan to be a living and breathing document; as your life changes, your estate planning documents should accordingly change with it. The top three red flags that should signal you to update your will are:

  1. A change in your family,
  2. A change in your estate, and
  3. A change in the estate tax laws.

Since your estate plan should be constantly evolving along with your life and the law, having a good relationship with a reputable estate planning attorney is imperative. If you are interested in creating an estate plan or have any questions regarding your current estate plan, please contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information. The attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including  living wills and trusts, and we are happy to offer you a free consultation.

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Source: http://celebrity.yahoo.com/blogs/celeb-news/philip-seymour-hoffman-s-will-revealed–did-not-want-son-raised-in-los-angeles-220210762.html

What is Probate and Why Should I Avoid It?

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Probate is a court process that is known for being time-consuming and expensive. It is also a public process that makes personal information about your assets and debts part of the public record. If you die without a will, the probate process can be a nightmare for your family. However, even if you have a well-written will, the probate court still must oversee the payment of your debts and distribution of your property. These are just a few of the reasons why many people want to avoid sending the estate, and oftentimes their family, through the probate process after their death.

To avoid the probate system entirely, you will need to use an estate planning vehicle other than a will to transfer property after your death. For example:

  • Life insurance: Life insurance policies generally pass outside of probate as long as there is at least one named beneficiary.
  • Retirement accounts: Similarly, retirement accounts, including IRAs and 401(k) plans, pass outside of probate as long as there is at least one named beneficiary.
  • Joint tenancy real property: If you own a home with your spouse (or any other individual) as joint tenants with right of survivorship (as opposed to tenants in common), your ownership interest will be “extinguished” upon your death and the remaining owner will own the property outright as a matter of law.
  • Joint tenancy bank accounts: Bank accounts may also be held in joint tenancy so that when one spouse (or account holder) dies, the other spouse (or account holder) is automatically the sole owner of the account.
  • Pay-on-death accounts: Selecting a pay-on-death beneficiary for bank accounts or investment accounts allows you to designate who your accounts will be transferred to upon your death without the need for probate.
  • Trusts: A living trust is a legal document that, much like a will, contains instructions for what you want to happen to your property when you die. But, unlike a will, a living trust can avoid probate at your death. While you place your property and assets (i.e., your family home) in the trust, you maintain control over all trust assets during your lifetime. When you are no longer alive, your property can be transferred to your designated beneficiaries in a timely manner without going through probate.

Trusts are a favorite of estate planners because they are simple, flexible and effective. Trusts can be used to easily transfer property to family members or charitable organizations at death. In some circumstances, trusts can also be utilized to decrease or minimize estate taxes.

If you would like to learn more about trusts or avoiding probate in general, call Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri to schedule a free half-hour consultation. Our attorneys are passionate about estate planning and have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including wills and living trusts. If you are interested in developing an estate plan or reviewing your current estate plan, contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information.

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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LONICH PATTON EHRLICH POLICASTRI

Phone: (408) 553-0801
Fax: (408) 553-0807
Email: contact@lpeplaw.com

1871 The Alameda, Suite 400
San Jose, CA 95126

Located in San Jose, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri handles matters for clients in northern California, specifically San Jose and Silicon Valley. Our services are available to anyone within the following counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and San Francisco. For a full listing of areas where we practice, please click here.

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This web site is intended for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Nothing in the site is to be considered as either creating an attorney-client relationship between the reader and Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri or as rendering of legal advice for any specific matter. Readers are responsible for obtaining such advice from their own legal counsel. No client or other reader should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information contained in Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri Web site without seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue.

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