California Probate - Law Offices of Janet Brewer Blog

Can I Leave My Pet Some of My Estate?

“In addition to writing wills, Minnesotans are now setting up trusts to care for pets, ranging from dogs and horses to parrots and raccoons.”

The Minneapolis Star Tribune’s article entitled “Who will take care of Fido when you're gone? Minnesotans put trust in trusts” reports that Minnesotans are setting up trusts to care for their pets in the event they survive them.

This is a fairly new law in Minnesota. Since it was enacted in 2016, Minnesotans have been setting aside money to guarantee the care of their animals after they die or are incapacitated. With a pet trust, there’s a guarantee that the money earmarked to care for the animal will be there for the animal as intended. A trust can designate a separate caretaker, trustee and a trust enforcer to care for the animal, manage the money. and make certain the care is being provided as instructed in the trust.

A pet trust can contain instructions on the type of food, medical care, exercise and housing the pet will get, as well as the pet’s end of life and burial or cremation directions.

When the pet trust law was being debated in the Minnesota Legislature, there was the idea that pet trusts are frivolous, an option only for wealthy eccentrics like New York real estate and hotel tycoon Leona Helmsley. She died in 2007 leaving $12 million for the care of her dog, Trouble. The courts later reduced that amount to $2 million.

In the North Star State, the amount of money put into a trust to care for a pet can’t be excessive, or a judge might decrease the amount.

A pet trust can be used to care for an animal before the owner dies but is disabled or incapacitated. When the pet dies, depending on how the trust was created, the money left in the trust would be distributed to heirs or could go to another designated person or charity.

In states where pet trusts are not available, a person could write in their will that a relative will inherit a pet, and the pet owner could also leave the person money to pay for the animal’s care. However, because pets are legally considered personal property, they cannot own property or inherit assets themselves. As a result, there’s nothing that would prevent the relative designated to care for the animal to take it to the pound after you die and spend the cash on themselves.

A pet trust can provide a plan for animal lovers who want to own pets late in life but may be concerned the pet might outlive them. Talk to an experienced estate planning attorney about pet trusts in your state. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation, especially if you're located in California.

Reference: StarTribune (Sep. 23, 2020) “Who will take care of Fido when you're gone? Minnesotans put trust in trusts”

What are the Top Giving Characteristics of Donors?

“Gender and childlessness have always been among the most leading indicators for charitable gifts in estate planning. However, new research has identified a top 10 list of lifetime characteristics that are most important in predicting charitable transfers.”

Russell James, a professor in the Department of Personal Financial Planning at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, discussed his research with The Nonprofit Times in a recent article entitled “Research Shows Donors’ 10 Estate Giving Characteristics.”

“The Emerging Potential of Longitudinal Empirical Research in Estate Planning: Examples from Charitable Bequests,” is based on the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which includes nationally representative data that has been released every two years since 1992. The HRS monitored roughly 14,000 individuals beginning at age 50 to connect lifetime giving and other characteristics and planning to determine how estates have been transferred. The examination of the top 10 lifetime characteristics most important in predicting who would make post-mortem charitable transfers were as follows, in order of importance:

• Consistency in donating (percentage of survey years when respondents gave $500+ to charity)
• No children
• The greatest amount ever donated in any one year in life
• Consistency in reporting having a funded trust
• Female
• Wealth in the last survey
• Not married
• The amount of the donation in the year of the final survey
• Having a growing trajectory of wealth leading up to death; and
• Consistency in volunteering.

“Several of these most important predictive factors reflect behavior across many years,” said James. He cited wealth trajectory approaching death, rather than just ending wealth, as critical along with consistency across all survey years in giving, donating and reporting having a funded trust.

The greatest amount of donations ever reported in any one year was a major predictor. “By disclosing more of the lifetime history of decedent behaviors, the HRS reveals the importance of such comprehensive information in predicting post- mortem charitable estate transfers,” the paper noted.

Reference: The Nonprofit Times (Sep. 22, 2020) “Research Shows Donors’ 10 Estate Giving Characteristics”

What Does It Mean to Be an Executor?

It means you are in charge of managing the person’s assets after death, but what does it really mean? An executor has many roles and responsibilities. Executors should first understand it is a significant responsibility and not something to be taken lightly.

Being named an executor can be a big deal, undertaking confidence and trust that someone is appointing you to manage their estate after they’ve died. An executor has a long to-do list, according to The Cleveland Jewish News’ recent article entitled “Role of executor comes with many responsibilities.”

First, the executor must find the signed will and file it at the probate court to officially be appointed.

Next, the executor must collect all of the estate’s assets, as well as track down any debts like mortgages, credit card bills, car payments and the like.

Once the bills are paid, the executor will distribute the assets to the beneficiaries.

Finally, the executor is tasked with going to the probate court and state that the bills were paid, so all of the assets can be distributed. At that point, the executor is discharged.

Any adult can be named an executor as an executor of an estate. However, in some circumstances, a bond is required. The bonding company will decide if the executor is financially sound. If a person dies without a will, an individual can apply to be an administrator of the estate.

When naming an executor, before death, the estate owners should discuss the role and responsibilities of their named executor to have a smooth transition with no surprises for those left behind.

In addition, an alternate executor should be named in the event the first person is unwilling or unable to serve.

Executors should consult an estate planning attorney throughout the process. This legal assistance is important to guide the executor through all the required steps, so he or she can fulfill the fiduciary responsibilities.

An experienced estate planning attorney can help review the will with the executor, so he or she understands what it means. The attorney can also review the steps of being appointed and what their role of the executor is as far as collecting the assets and debts, along with the details about which the average non-attorney might not consider.

You can read more about how our process works, how we can make sure we are a good fit for your needs, and how to get started today right here.

Reference: Cleveland Jewish News (Sep. 23, 2020) “Role of executor comes with many responsibilities”

What Estate Planning Documents Do I Need for a Happy Retirement?

“Most people can't wait for retirement, and even more would likely opt for some form of early retirement if they had the opportunity. Whenever you ultimately decide to cut down your time at work or leave the workforce altogether, you need to ensure that you have a full slate of estate planning documents in place.”

Estate planning documents are made to help you and your family, in the event of your untimely demise or incapacitation.

These documents will give your family specific instructions on how to proceed.

The Winston-Salem Journal’s recent article entitled “4 Must-Have Documents for a Peaceful Retirement” looks at these critical documents in constructing an effective estate plan.

1. Power of Attorney (POA). If you become incapacitated or become unable to make your own financial decisions, a POA will permit a trusted agent to manage your affairs. Have an estate planning attorney review your POA before it's executed. You can give someone a limited POA that restricts their authority to specific transactions. You can also create a springing POA, which takes effect only at the time of your incapacitation.

2. Will. About 40% of Americans actually have a will. Creating a valid will prevents you from leaving a mess for your heirs to address after you die. A will appoints an executor who will manage your affairs in a fiduciary manner. The will also details your plan for the distribution of your property. Make certain that your will is also in agreement with other documents you've set up, so it doesn’t create any questions.

3. TOD/POD Designation Forms. A Transfer-on-Death (TOD) or Payable-on-Death (POD) designation lets you to assign your investment accounts to a named beneficiary. The big benefit here is that accounts with a named TOD/POD beneficiary pass directly to that person when you die. Any accounts without a TOD/POD beneficiary will be subject to the terms of your will and will be required to go through the probate process.

4. Healthcare POA/Advance Directives. These are significant health-related documents. A healthcare POA allows your named agent to communicate your wishes to medical professionals, if you are unable. They also include instructions as to whether you want to have life-saving measures performed, if you have a cardiac or respiratory arrest. These healthcare documents also remove the need for your family to make difficult decisions for you.

Reference: Winston-Salem Journal (Sep. 20, 2020) “4 Must-Have Documents for a Peaceful Retirement”

What’s Involved in the Probate Process?

“The probate process refers to court proceedings that you have to go through when a loved one passes on, and they have left an asset in their name.”

SWAAY’s recent article entitled “What is the Probate Process in Florida?” says that while every state has its own laws, the probate process can be fairly similar. Here are the basic steps in the probate process:

The family consults with an experienced probate attorney. Those mentioned in the decedent’s will should meet with a probate lawyer. During the meeting, all relevant documentation like the list of debts, life insurance policies, financial statements, real estate title deeds, and the will should be available.

Filing the petition. The process would be in initiated by the executor or personal representative named in the will. He or she is in charge of distributing the estate’s assets. If there’s no will, you can ask an estate planning attorney to petition a court to appoint an executor. When the court approves the estate representative, the Letters of Administration are issued as evidence of legal authority to act as the executor. The executor will pay state taxes, funeral costs, and creditor claims on behalf of the decedent. He or she will also notice creditors and beneficiaries, coordinate the asset distribution and then close the probate estate.

Noticing beneficiaries and creditors. The executor must notify all beneficiaries of trust estates, the surviving spouse and all parties that have the rights of inheritance. Creditors of the deceased will also want to be paid and will make a claim on the estate.

Obtaining the letters of administration (letters testamentary) obtained from the probate court. After the executor obtains the letter, he or she will open the estate account at a bank. Statements and assets that were in the deceased name will be liquidated and sold, if there’s a need. Proceeds obtained from the sale of property are kept in the estate account and are later distributed.

Settling all expenses, taxes, and estate debts. By law, the decedent's debts must typically be settled prior to any distributions to the heirs. The executor will also prepare a final income tax return for the estate. Note that life insurance policies and retirement savings are distributed to heirs despite the debts owed, as they transfer by beneficiary designation outside of the will and probate.

Conducting an inventory of the estate. The executor will have conducted a final account of the remaining estate. This accounting will include the fees paid to the executor, probate expenses, cost of assets and the charges incurred when settling debts.

Distributing the assets. After the creditor claims have been settled, the executor will ask the court to transfer all assets to successors in compliance with state law or the provisions of the will. The court will issue an order to move the assets. If there’s no will, the state probate succession laws will decide who is entitled to receive a share of the property.

Finalizing the probate estate. The last step is for the executor to formally close the estate. The includes payment to creditors and distribution of assets, preparing a final distribution document and a closing affidavit that states that the assets were adequately distributed to all heirs.

Reference: SWAAY (Aug. 24, 2020) “What is the Probate Process in Florida?”

Make Your Nest Egg Last When Retiring Early

“Retiring ahead of schedule may seem like a dream, but it is doable with the proper planning. Depending on when you were born, the normal retirement age is currently 66 or 67. If you’re planning to retire five, 10, or even 15 years early, one of the most important things to consider is how to make your savings last for the long haul.”

Investopedia’s article “Early Retirement: Strategies to Make Your Wealth Last” says there are several things to consider to be certain retiring early won’t leave you lacking in your later years.

Set a Realistic Budget. Be realistic about your budget. Calculating how much you can reasonably afford to spend each year depends on what you’ve saved, your life expectancy and your anticipated expenses. If you don’t know how much annual income you will need in retirement, you’re not ready to make a decision about retiring. If it’s been more than a year since you’ve considered this, it’s time to review your calculations.

Retiring Early and the 4% Rule. This has long been the baseline for determining your withdrawal rate. The rule says that you withdraw 4% of your savings the first year in retirement, then withdraw that same amount, adjusted for inflation, going forward. In theory, if you draw down your nest egg at that rate, it should last for 30 years. However, if you need your savings to last another 10 years or more, the 4% rule may not be realistic. You might need to consider reducing your withdrawal rate to 3.5% or 3%. If you run the numbers, and your estimated withdrawals aren’t going to be enough to cover your expenses, you’ll need to either find a way to lower your cost of living or delay your retirement date, so your income aligns with your spending.

Plan for Medical Expenses. Seniors can enroll in Medicare starting three months before they reach age 65. If you retire before that, you’re going to need health insurance until you are eligible for Medicare at 65. You can save money in a Health Savings Account (HSA) while you’re still employed to prepare for future medical expenses, if you’re planning to retire early. The withdrawals are tax-free, if they’re used for healthcare expenses. Once you turn 65, you can take out money from an HSA for any reason without a penalty. However, you’ll still pay taxes on the distribution. Another tactic is to buy long-term care insurance. This will keep you from having to spend down your assets to qualify for Medicaid, if you need nursing home care in the future.

Delay Social Security Benefits. Full retirement age is 66 or 67 if you were born in 1943 or later, but you can start taking Social Security benefits as early as 62. However, that decreases the overall amount of benefits you’ll receive. Waiting to apply, increases your benefit amount. If you’re retiring early, taking benefits at 62 might help to stretch your savings, but you’ll get more money if you can afford to delay.

Making early retirement a success requires you to review the financial aspects, and the longer your retirement outlook, the more important it is to have a plan for how you’ll spend what you’ve saved.

Reference: Investopedia (Oct. 30, 2019) “Early Retirement: Strategies to Make Your Wealth Last”

Protecting Inheritance from the Taxman

“Received an inheritance of cash, investments, or property? Here are four ways that can help you keep it from being swallowed up by taxes.”

Wealth Advisor’s recent article entitled “4 Ways to Protect Your Inheritance from Taxes” explains that inheritances aren’t considered income for federal tax purposes—whether it’s cash, investments or property. However, any subsequent earnings on the inherited assets are taxable, unless it comes from a tax-free source. You must report the interest income on your taxes. Any gains when you sell inherited investments or property are also taxable (but you can usually also claim losses on these sales). Remember that state taxes on inheritances vary, so ask an experienced estate planning attorney for details. Let’s look at fours steps you can take to protect your inheritance:

Look at the alternate valuation date. The basis of property in a decedent’s estate is the fair market value (FMV) of the property on the date of death, but the executor might use the alternate valuation date, which is six months after the date of death. This is only available, if it will decrease both the gross amount of the estate and the estate tax liability, typically resulting in a larger inheritance to the beneficiaries. If the estate isn’t subject to estate tax, then the valuation date is the date of death.

Use a trust. If you know you’re getting an inheritance, ask that they create a trust for the assets. A trust lets you to pass assets to beneficiaries after your death without probate.

Minimize retirement account distributions. Inherited retirement assets aren’t taxable, until they’re distributed. There are rules as to when the distributions must happen. If one spouse dies, the surviving spouse usually can take over the IRA as his or her own. Required minimum distributions (RMDs) would begin at age 72, just as they would for the surviving spouse's own IRA. However, if you inherit a retirement account from someone not your spouse, you can transfer the funds to an inherited IRA in your name. You have to start taking minimum distributions the year of or the year after the inheritance, even if you're not yet 72.

Make some gifts. It may be wise to give some of your inheritance to others. It will be a benefit to them, but it could also potentially offset the taxable gains on your inheritance with the tax deduction you get for donating to a charitable organization. If want to leave money to people when you die, you can give annual gifts to your beneficiaries while you're still living up to a certain amount—$15,000 for to each person without being subject to gift taxes. Gifting also reduces the size of your estate, which can be important if you're close to the taxable amount. Talk with an experienced estate planning attorney to be certain that you're staying current with the frequent changes to estate tax laws.

Wealth Advisor (Sep. 15, 2020) “4 Ways to Protect Your Inheritance from Taxes”