California Probate - Law Offices of Janet Brewer Blog

A Will Is Important with or without Assets

Helping the family to move forward during difficult times.

Estate planning basics such as a will, power of attorney, health care power of attorney and a plan to pass on assets to heirs, are beneficial to the family and set a plan to follow, according to WKBN 27 in “Attorney recommends everyone have a will in place to prevent avoidable issues.”

Think of the will as a way to speak for yourself, when you have passed away. It’s the instructions for what you want to happen to your property, when you die. If there’s a will, the executor is responsible for carrying out your requests. With no will, a court will have to make these decisions.

Many people believe that if they don’t have a will, their spouse will simply inherit everything, automatically. This is not true. There are some states where the surviving spouse receives 50% of a decedent’s assets and the children receive the rest. However, the children could be offspring from outside the marriage. Not having a will, makes your estate and your family vulnerable to unexpected claims.

A will must contain certain elements, which are determined by your state’s laws and must be signed in the presence of two witnesses. Without the correct formalities, the will could be deemed invalid.

Lawyers recommend that everyone have a will and an estate plan, regardless of the size of your estate.

Young parents, in particular, need to have a will, so they can name a person to be guardian of their child or children, if they should both die.

Details matter. In some states, if you make a list and neglect to name specifically who gets what, using the term “children” instead of someone’s name, your stepchildren may not be included. State laws vary, so a local estate planning attorney is your best resource.

You should also be sure to talk with your spouse and your children about what your intentions are, before putting your wishes in writing. You may not feel totally comfortable having the discussion. However, if your intention is to preserve the family, especially if it is a blended family, then everyone should have a chance to learn what to expect.

Wills do become binding, but they are not a one-time event. Just as your life changes, your estate plan and your will should change.

Don’t neglect to update your beneficiary designations. Those are the people you named to receive retirement accounts, bank accounts or other assets that can be transferred by beneficiary designations. The instructions in your will do not control the beneficiary designation. This is a big mistake that many people make. If your will says your current spouse should receive the balance of your IRA when you die but your IRA lists your first wife, your ex will receive everything.

Here are the four estate planning documents needed:

• A will;
• A living will, if you need to be placed on life support and decisions need to be made;
• A healthcare power of attorney if you cannot speak for yourself, when it comes to medical decisions;
• A durable power of attorney to make financial decisions, if you are incapacitated.

An estate planning attorney can advise you on creating an estate plan that fits your unique circumstances. 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: WKBN 27 (March 14, 2019) “Attorney recommends everyone have a will in place to prevent avoidable issues.”

Parents with Young Children Face Additional Estate Planning Challenges

What happens to your young children, if something happens to you?

Estate planning attorneys already know that you face challenges, when it comes to raising young children. However, it is not just raising them today but also considering continued care for them, if you pass away, according to KTVO in “Family 411: Thinking about estate planning while your kids are young.”

It’s a very easy thing to forget, because it’s so unpleasant to consider. The idea of becoming seriously ill or even dying while your children are young, is every parent’s worst fear. But putting off having an estate plan with a will that prepares for this possibility is so important. Doing it will provide peace of mind, and a road forward for those who survive you, if your worst fears were to come true.

Start with a will. In a will, you’ll name a guardian, the person who would be in charge of rearing your children and have physical custody of them. Don’t assume that your parents will take over, or that your husband’s parents will. What if both sets of parents want to be the custodians? The last thing you want is for your in-laws and parents to end up in a court battle over custody of your children.

Another important document: a trust. You should have life insurance that will be the source for paying for the children’s education, including college, summer camps, after-school activities and their overall cost of living. In addition, proceeds from a life insurance policy cannot be given to a minor.

However, what if your son or daughter turned 18 and were suddenly awarded $500,000? At that age, would they know how to handle such a large sum of money? Many adults don’t. A trust allows you to give clear directions regarding how old the child must be, before receiving a set amount of money. You can also stipulate that the child must complete college before receiving funds or reach certain milestones.

An estate plan with young children in mind, must have a Power of Attorney for financial decisions and one for medical decisions. That allows a named person to make important financial and medical decisions on behalf of the child. You may not want to have their legal guardian in charge of their finances; by dividing up the responsibilities, a checks and balances system is set into place.

However, for medical decisions, it is best to have one primary person named. In that way, any care decisions in an emergency can be made swiftly.

While you are creating an estate plan with your children in mind, make sure that your estate plan has the same documents for you and your spouse: Power of Attorney, medical Power of Attorney, a HIPAA release form and a living will.

An estate planning attorney can advise you in creating an estate plan that fits your unique circumstances and may include young children.
Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.

For a related podcast, you can listen to Janet talk about issues relating to minor children and guardianships on NPR's Your Legal Rights.

Reference: KTVO.com (Feb. 6, 2019) “Family 411: Thinking about estate planning while your kids are young”

Grown Children May Still Need Your Protection

You do not have medical or financial rights, unless you have these documents.

Once your child becomes of legal age, you do not have any way to provide protection, unless you have created the right legal documents, according to The National Law Review in “Three Critical Legal Documents Every Parent Should Get in Place Now to Safeguard Their Adult Children.”

There are only three documents and they are fairly straightforward. There is no reason not to have them in place. If your adult child was incapacitated by an accident or an illness, you would want to speak with the medical staff to find out how they are and what decisions need to be made. Whether you were making a phone call or arriving at the hospital, a nurse or doctor would not be permitted to speak with you about your own adult child’s condition or be involved with making any medical decisions.

It sounds unreasonable, and perhaps it is, but that is the law. There are steps you can take to ensure that you are not in this situation.

HIPAA Authorization Form gives you the authority to speak with healthcare providers. This is a federal law (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) that safeguards who can access an adult’s private health data. HIPAA prevents healthcare providers from revealing any information to you or anyone else about a patient’s status. The practitioners could face severe penalties for violating HIPAA.

This is why you want to have a HIPAA authorization signed by your adult child and naming you as an authorized recipient.  This will give you the ability to ask for and receive information about your child’s health status, progress and treatment. This is especially important, if your child is unconscious or in an unresponsive state. The alternative? Going to court. That’s not what you want to be doing during a healt emergency.

A Healthcare Power of Attorney needs to be in place so you can be named his or her “medical agent” and have the ability to view their medical records and make informed decisions on their behalf. Without this (or a court-appointed guardianship), healthcare decisions will be in the hands of healthcare providers only. That’s not a bad thing if you implicitly trust your child’s doctor. However, if your child is incapacitated in an out-of-town hospital with healthcare providers you don’t know, you will want to be able to make decisions on his or her behalf.

Note that physicians prefer a single medical agent, not a handful. The concern is that if time is a critical factor and a group of family members do not agree on care, it may compromise the healthcare services that can be provided. You can name multiple agents in priority order. A mother might be listed as the medical agent, and if she is unable or unwilling to serve, the second person would be the father.

The third document is a General Power of Attorney. This would give you the right to make financial decisions on your child’s behalf, if they were to become incapacitated. You would have the legal right to manage bank accounts, pay bills, sign tax returns, apply for government benefits, break or apply a lease and conduct activities on behalf of your child. Without this document, you won’t be able to help your child without a court-appointed conservatorship.

Keep in mind that these documents need to be updated every few years. If you try to use an older document, the bank or hospital may not accept them. Your adult child also has the ability to revoke these documents at any time, just by saying they revoke them or by putting it in writing. If you have an adult child living out of state, you want to have these documents prepared for your home state and their state of residence.

An estate planning attorney can advise you on the preparation of the documents under your state laws. Read more about Janet's experience in California here.

Reference: The National Law Review (Feb. 11, 2019) “Three Critical Legal Documents Every Parent Should Get in Place Now to Safeguard Their Adult Children”

Decision on POA Should Not Be Made Lightly

It is important to recognize the power of the position.

It is wise to carefully consider naming a Power of Attorney and Durable Power of Attorney for a Health Care document. It is important to choose wisely, according to the Sandusky Register in “Consumer beware: Understanding the powers of a Power of Attorney”

Abuse is a serious problem for elderly people, because they are vulnerable to people who they trust more than they should. This is also a concern to family members.

This illustrates the importance of a Power of Attorney document: the person, also known as the “principal” is giving the authority to act on their behalf in all financial and personal affairs to another person, known as their “agent.” That means the agent is empowered to do anything and everything the person themselves would do, from making withdrawals from a bank account, to selling a home or a car or more mundane acts, such as paying bills and filing taxes.

The problem is that there is nothing to stop someone, once they have Power of Attorney, from taking advantage of the situation. No one is watching out for the person’s best interests, to make sure bank accounts aren’t drained or assets sold. The agent can abuse that financial power to the detriment of the senior and to benefit the agent themselves. It is a crime when it happens. However, this is what often occurs: seniors are so embarrassed that they gave this power to someone they thought they could trust, that they are reluctant to report the crime.

Similarly, an unchecked Health Care Power of Attorney can lead to abuse, if the wrong person is named.

The following is a real example of how this can go wrong. An adult child arranged for their trusting parent to be diagnosed as suffering from dementia by an unscrupulous psychiatrist, when the parent did not have dementia.

The adult child then had the parent admitted into a nursing home, misrepresenting the admission as a temporary stay for rehabilitation. They then kept the parent in the nursing home, using the dementia diagnosis as a reason for her to remain in the nursing home.

The parent had to hire an attorney and prove to the court that she was competent and able to live independently, to be able to return to her home.

We can help you to create or update your estate plan to fit your unique circumstances, including power of attorney decisions. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.

Reference: Sandusky Register (Feb. 5, 2019) “Consumer beware: Understanding the powers of a Power of Attorney”

Isn’t It Time to Make Sure You Have a Good Estate Plan?

Estate planning is a good idea to protect your family, especially if you have small children.

As the New Year of 2019 continues to march forward, it might be a good idea to determine that this is the year to create an estate plan to protect your family, according to Above The Law in “Estate Planning Resolutions for 2019: How To Be A Grown-Up in The New Year.”

Here’s a look at what every adult should address in the New Year:

Last Will and Testament: Talk with a local attorney about distributing your assets and the guardianship of your young children. If you’re over age 18, you need a will. If you die without one, the laws in your state will determine what happens to your assets, and a judge, who has never met you or your children, will decide who gets custody. Having a last will and testament prevents a lot of problems, including costs, for those you love.

Power of Attorney. This is the document used to name a trusted person to make financial decisions if something should happen and you are unable to act on your own behalf. It could include the ability to handle your banking, file taxes and even buy and sell real estate.

Health Care Proxy. Having a health care agent named through this document gives another person the power to make decisions about your care. Make sure the person you name knows your wishes. Do you want to be kept alive at all costs, or do you want to be unplugged? Having these conversations is not pleasant, but important.

Life Insurance. Here’s when you know you’ve really become an adult. If you pass away, your family will have the proceeds to pay bills, including making mortgage payments. Make sure you have the correct insurance in place and make sure it’s enough.

Beneficiary Designations. Ask your employer for copies of your beneficiary designations for retirement accounts. If you have any other accounts with beneficiary designations, like investment accounts and life insurance policies, review the documents. Make sure a person and a secondary or successor person has been named. These designated people will receive the assets. Whatever you put in your will about these documents will not matter.

Long-Term Care and Disability Insurance. You may have these policies in place through your employer, but are they enough? Review the policies to make sure there’s enough coverage, and if there is not, consider purchasing private policies to supplement the employment benefits package.

Talk with your parents and grandparents about their estate plans. Almost everyone goes through this period of role reversal, when the child takes the lead and becomes the responsible party. Do they have an estate plan, and where are the documents located? If they have done no planning, including planning for Medicaid, now would be a good time.

Burial Plans. This may sound grim, but if you can let your loved ones know what you want in the way of a funeral, burial, memorial service, etc., you are eliminating considerable stress for them. You might want to purchase a small life insurance policy, just to pay for the cost of your burial. For your parents and grandparents, find out what their wishes are, and if they have made any plans or purchases.

Inventory Possessions. What do you own? That includes financial accounts, jewelry, artwork, real estate, retirement accounts and may include boats, collectible cars or other assets. If there are any questions about the title or ownership of your property, resolve to address it while you are living and not leave it behind for your heirs. If you’ve got any unfinished business, such as a pending divorce or lawsuit, this would be a good year to wrap it up.

An estate planning attorney can advise you in creating an estate plan that fits your unique circumstances.

Reference: Above The Law (Jan. 8, 2019) “Estate Planning Resolutions for 2019: How To Be A Grown-Up in The New Year”

Passing on Assets? Perhaps Some Can Be Given Away

Want to make a big impact? Consider passing on some of your assets through charitable giving.

While many people transfer their assets to the next generation, there are many who want to give some, or even all, of their assets away through charitable giving. That can make a big impact, according to MarketWatch in “Giving your money away when you die: 10 questions to ask.”

If you haven’t thought about charitable giving or estate planning, these 10 questions should prompt some thought and discussion with family members:

Should you give money away now? Don’t give away money or assets you’ll need to pay your living expenses, unless you have what you need for retirement and any bumps that may come up along the way. There are no limits to the gifts you can make to a charity.

Do you have the right beneficiaries listed on retirement accounts and life insurance policies? If you want these assets to go to the right person or place, make sure the beneficiary names are correct. Note that there are rules, usually from the financial institution, about who can be a beneficiary—some require it be a person and do not permit the beneficiary to be an organization.

Who do you want making end-of-life decisions, and how much intervention do you want to prolong your life? A health care power of attorney and living will are used to express these wishes. Without these documents, your family may not know what you want. Healthcare providers won’t know and will have to make decisions based on law, and not your wishes.

Do you have a will? Many Americans do not, and it creates stress, adds costs and creates real problems for their family members. Make an appointment with an estate planning attorney to put your wishes into a will.

Are you worried about federal estate taxes? Unless you are in the 1%, your chances of having to pay federal taxes are slim to none. However, if your will was created to address federal estate taxes from back in the days when it was a problem, you may have a strategy that no longer works. This is another reason to meet with your estate planning attorney.

Does your state have estate or inheritance taxes? This is more likely to be where your heirs need to come up with the money to pay taxes on your estate. A local estate planning attorney will be able to help you make a plan so that your heirs will have the resources to pay these costs.

Should you keep your Roth IRA for an heir? Leaving a Roth IRA for an heir, could be a generous bequest. You may also want to encourage your heirs to start and fund Roth IRAs of their own, if they have earned income. Even small sums, over time, can grow to significant wealth.

Are you giving money to reputable charities? Make sure the organizations you are supporting, while you are alive or through your will, are using resources correctly. Good online sources include GuideStar.org or CharityNavigator.org.

Could you save more on taxes? Donating appreciated assets might help lower your taxes. Donating part or all your annual Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can do the same, as long as you are over 70½ years old.

Does your family know what your wishes are? To avoid any turmoil when you pass, talk with family members about what you want to happen when you are gone. Make sure they know where your estate planning documents are and what you want in the way of end-of-life care.

If you have any questions about your current estate plan, please call or email us today.

Reference: MarketWatch (Oct. 30, 2018) “Giving your money away when you die: 10 questions to ask”

What If Your Relatives Will Not Follow Your End-of-Life Wishes?

Sometimes you may realize that your relatives have different beliefs than you or that they are not reliable. This may lead to a legitimate worry that they will bury you when you want cremation, or extend your life when you have a DNR. If you have concerns that your relatives will not follow your end-of-life wishes, there are a few concrete steps you can take.

1. Advance Health Care Directive

In California, you can sign a document called an advance health care directive. It includes both a living will and a health care power of attorney. This useful document allows you to specify exactly what you end-of-life wishes are. If you prefer no life-extending measures in the hospital, or you want to donate your body to science, you can specify it in an advance directive.

In addition, you can pick who will help carry out your wishes. Maybe you have a trusted friend who you think will follow your wishes better than your relatives. Make that friend your agent in the advance directive. If you become unable to make medical decisions for yourself, your friend can show the doctors your advance directive and then make decisions for you.

2. Instructions to Your Doctors

In addition to signing an advance directive, you can allow someone besides your relatives to have access to your medical records and attend medical appointments. Talk to your doctor about signing a HIPAA authorization for the trusted person you choose to have access. Also, you can instruct your doctors’ office and the hospital or care facility not to allow specific people to visit you or talk to your doctors. For example, if you are still married to someone but do not want him or her to make medical decisions for you, inform your doctors.

3. Choosing a Trustee and an Executor

If you believe that your relatives cannot be trusted to carry out your wishes, do not pick them to be your trustee or executor. Instead, select longtime friends or professionals. You may want to consider having a local attorney or investment planner run your trust or administer your estate. This may give you more peace of mind and security in your estate plan.

Planning your estate? Look to Janet Brewer, Esq. for thorough and thoughtful estate planning advice. Janet’s more than 20 years of legal experience will give you confidence and peace of mind. To schedule a “Get Acquainted” meeting, visit Janet's website or call her office at (650) 469-8206.

‘Hot’ POA Requires a Great Deal of Trust

If you are thinking of a “hot” power of attorney, take your time and make the decision carefully.

Some states allow a financial power of attorney with “hot” power. However, that requires some very careful thought before making the decision, according to the Glen Rose Reporter in “Should you add hot powers to your power of attorney?”

The “hot” powers are well-named, since they give a financial power of attorney considerable power.  It is a lot of leeway for an agent to be given during one’s lifetime. This is because it allows the agent to create, amend, revoke or terminate a trust during the principal’s lifetime.

The agent may also make a gift. In Texas, this is subject to the limitations under Texas Estates Code §751.032 and any special instructions, to create or change rights of survivorship, create or change a beneficiary designation and to authorize another person to exercise the authority granted under the power of attorney.

In one case, a man decided that he wanted to give some of these “hot” powers to a power of attorney, but not all of them. Unless he made specific directions, he would be giving someone the ability to make gifts outright to individuals, to a trust, an UGMA (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) account or a qualified tuition program that meets the requirements of §529.

The attorney in this case advised the client that the gifts an agent can make, are limited to the dollar limits of the federal gift tax exclusion, or twice that, if the spouse agrees to a gift split as allowed under the Internal Revenue Code.

The gifts the agent can make are further limited to being consistent with the principal’s objectives if the agent knows what those objectives are. However, if the agent does not know what those objectives are, he or she must still make sure the gift is aligned with the principal’s best interest, based on the value and nature of the principal’s property, foreseeable obligation and the need for maintenance.

The power of attorney in all cases needs to know what their responsibilities are, and if they are given “hot” powers, they need to be informed what those specific powers are. If the agent is someone other than a spouse or descendant, that agent may not make gifts to themselves. A spouse or descendant, however, could make gifts to themselves.

The man in this example wisely decided that while his son was very trustworthy and was going to be named his financial power of attorney, it would not be a good idea to place so much temptation in the young man’s path. 

Reference: Glen Rose Reporter (Jan. 3, 2019) “Should you add hot powers to your power of attorney?”

Power of Attorney a Permanent Decision?

The position of POA can be revoked.

It would be wise for everyone to have thought things through carefully and chosen a Power of Attorney (POA). It is important to remember that the decision can be changed in the future, according to nwi.com in “Estate Planning: Revoking a power of attorney.”

There are three basic ways that a Power of Attorney can be terminated and the first is the date and time that it specifies, if it contains such language. POAs rarely have termination dates, because they are intended to be “durable” over an extended period of time. However, in certain circumstances, they can have a termination date.

The second way a POA terminates, is at the death of the principal. Once the person in the POA dies, the attorney-in-fact authority ends, with the possible exceptions of making anatomical gifts on behalf of the principal, or the authority to make final arrangements or the authority to request autopsy. Except for these unusual exceptions, the POA ends when the principal dies.

The third way a POA terminates, is when the principal executes a written revocation identifying the POA. For it to be effective, the attorney-in-fact has to receive actual knowledge of the revocation. Until they receive that actual knowledge, the POA revocation is not effective.

To ensure that this is done properly, it is recommended that an estate planning attorney be involved, just to make sure there are no mistakes. A letter informing the POA of the revocation must be sent via certified mail, return receipt requested, using U.S. first-class mail. An email and a text follow up could take place, and a phone call would be a good idea.

To make sure there are no deliberate misunderstandings, send a copy of the revocation to institutions that would be potentially targeted by the now former POA—if that is a concern. This includes the bank, financial advisor or any institution that is of particular concern. You want to make sure that these institutions are notified that the POA is no longer in effect.

If the person refuses to sign the certified letter, you will need to prove that notice was given and that the person refused to sign for it. Refusing mail is not a persuasive argument to prove lack of notice.

Once the person has been notified of the revocation, it is a violation of law to exercise any authority under it, and the person has liability, if they do so.

If you have any questions about your current estate plan or power of attorney plans in place, please call or email us today.

Reference: nwi.com (Dec. 9, 2018) “Estate Planning: Revoking a power of attorney”

Your Will Is Not the Only ‘Must-Have’ in Estate Planning

A will is a good place to start. However, it is best to create complete protection.

So, you have a will. Is that the end of your estate planning? Not by a long shot because a will is only one tool that is needed to create an estate plan that protects you and your loved ones, according to the Augusta Free Press in “5 estate planning must-haves.”

1—Wills and Trusts. Your will directs the distribution of your assets. Without a will, the court will determine who gets your possessions, real property and any other assets, following the laws of your state. Depending on your situation, you and your heirs may benefit from setting up trusts to protect your assets from the probate process, maintain your privacy and possibly avoid some taxes. Keep in mind that if the will or trust is not created properly or doesn’t follow your state’s laws, it could be challenged or deemed invalid. Work with an experienced estate planning attorney to protect your family.

2—Beneficiaries. Many of your accounts—bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, insurance policies—may already have a named beneficiary, who will inherit the account upon your death. However, if you have not updated those names recently, you may find the wrong person inheriting your assets. Once that occurs, there is no legal means of transferring the assets to another person. If there is no contingent beneficiary, the court may make that decision.

3—Letter of Intent. It must be said that this is not a legally binding document. However, the information it could provide to your loved ones might be very helpful as they move through the process of settling your estate. It can explain why you structured your asset distribution the way you did, why you would want a given family heirloom passed to a specific family member, or what you would like to have happen at your funeral. If you are not able to discuss these matters in a face-to-face conversation with your loved ones, this is a useful alternative.

4—Power of Attorney. Planning for incapacity is an important part of estate planning. If you become incapacitated, you’ll need to have already given someone the power to manage your financial affairs. If you do not have a power of attorney, your family will need to turn to the court system, which will create delays and added stress. You’ll also want to have a healthcare power of attorney in place. 

5—Legal Advice. Estate planning laws are governed by your state of residence. Your best option is to make an appointment with a local estate planning attorney to learn whether there are any other documents and plans you need to put into place. Some law firms provide a means of documenting assets to ensure that, at the time of death, your family is not embarking on a scavenger hunt to identify assets. In certain states, you can assign a funeral representative to make sure your funeral, burial or cremation and memorial service wishes are carried out. Your attorney will know what you and your family need.

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: Augusta Free Press (Nov. 27, 2018) “5 estate planning must-haves”