Category Archives: Wills

Using Testamentary Trusts: Part One-Tax Based Trusts

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Property that passes under a Last Will and Testament is distributed in two distinct manners.  For those with minimal assets and concerns regarding taxes, asset protection and waste, an outright transfer of property is simplest and most efficient way to pass property.  But, in most situations, concerns about protecting the testamentary assets leads to the use of trusts established under the Will known as testamentary trusts.

Testamentary trusts come in two forms: trusts that are structured to delay, minimize or eliminate estate taxes and trusts used to protect the underlying assets from waste by a minor or disabled beneficiary.  Next week, I will discuss the latter type of testamentary trust.  Today, we look at the three main types of tax based testamentary trusts used by estate planners.

Marital Trust-The most common form of tax-based trust is established to take advantage of the federal and New York state marital deduction for estate tax purposes.  Under the laws of both the state and federal estate tax system, unlimited assets may be passed to a surviving spouse without incurring an estate tax.  Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the assets in a marital trust are treated as part of the surviving spouse’s taxable estate.

Marital trusts can be structured to provide the surviving spouse with a lifetime income interest as well as the ability to receive principal distributions.  Beyond tax savings, a marital trust can ensure that the assets in the Trust will be transferred to your children and not to any subsequent spouse if your spouse remarries.

Unlike the other testamentary trusts mentioned in this post, same-sex couples for New York estate tax purposes can now utilize a marital trust.  However, it should be noted that assets in a marital trust for a same-sex couple would be subject to federal estate tax under current federal law.

Credit-Shelter Trust-A distinct disadvantage of a marital trust is that the assets in a marital trust are subject to estate taxes after a surviving spouse passes.  For individuals and couples with assets in excess of the current estate tax exemption, it is possible to preserve a portion of their assets from estate tax even after the surviving spouse passes.  This is accomplished by using a credit-shelter trust.

A credit-shelter trust is funded with a portion of a decedent’s estate up to the federal or New York state estate tax exemption.  The surviving spouse receives the income generated by the trust property for their lifetime and can also receive principal distributions for their health, education, maintenance and support.  A decedent’s children may also be beneficiaries of the trust.

Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the remaining assets in the trust pass federal estate tax-free.  However, if the federal exemption were used, New York state estate tax would be due.  A secondary disadvantage is that utilizing a credit-shelter trust removes a certain amount of flexibility and therefore, it is not always the ideal strategy for individuals who have estates below the federal estate tax exemption.

Disclaimer Trust-For individuals and couples with assets below the federal estate tax exemption, it is likely that their estate planning will focus on funding a marital trust.  In some circumstances, assets can grow between the time an estate plan is enacted and the date the first spouse passes.  Even if a credit-shelter trust is not mandated under a will, using a disclaimer trust can allow a surviving spouse to receive similar benefits.

A disclaimer is a post-mortem (after death) planning technique by which a surviving spouse renounces some or all of their inheritance.  If a disclaimer trust were included in a will, the disclaimed assets would pass as if the surviving spouse had predeceased and the disclaimed assets would fund the disclaimer trust.

Assets held inside a disclaimer trust will pass estate tax-free upon the death of a surviving spouse.  The benefit of using a disclaimer trust over a credit shelter trust is that it allows the surviving spouse flexibility in deciding whether to preserve certain assets and shelter them from estate taxes after they die.   The disadvantage is that funding a disclaimer trust requires an affirmative step by the surviving spouse and additional paperwork will be required.

The use of tax-based trusts under a will allows a surviving spouse the benefit of their spouse’s assets while also preserving the maximum amount of those assets from excess taxation.  This benefit, coupled with the traditional benefit of using a testamentary trust, makes having one or more of these trusts included in your Will a very smart idea.

Please contact info@levyestatelaw.com for more information about testamentary trusts.

Establishing a Charitable Legacy

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When preparing an estate plan, many individuals wish to include a charitable component in their planning.  From a personal perspective, a charitable bequest allows an individual to benefit a group, institution or cause important to them and their families.  From a tax perspective, charitable planning can provide significant benefits to an individual and his estate.

The benefits of charitable or philanthropic planning can range from the tangible to conceptual.  Charitable contributions can reduce the size of a taxable estate while also providing a 100% charitable deduction for the value of the contribution.  Certain charitable vehicles can also create a guaranteed stream of income for the donor Charitable giving is also personally rewarding to donor and his or her family.  By using their wealth to help others, the donor establishes a legacy of giving that can continue from generation to generation in the donor’s family.

Charitable giving in an estate-planning context can take several forms.  Among the most common:

1)    Specific and General Charitable Gifts-Under the terms of a donor’s Will or Trust, a donor may leave a specific amount or specific percentage of their estate to charity.  The donor may choose a specific charity or leave the choice up to their fiduciaries.  The donor’s estate will be able to deduct the value of the gift from the value of his or her taxable estate.

2)    Charitable Annuities-Many public charities have established charitable annuities to provide donors with a steady stream of income for the rest of their lives.  The donor contributes a gift to the charity and receives an income payment for the rest of their life.  The annuity amount is determined by using the donor’s age, the value of the gift and the annuity rates used by the charity.  Using charitable annuities reduces the value of the donor’s taxable estate while creating a tax deduction equal to the gift less the present value of the annuity payments.

3)    Charitable Trusts-These trusts come in two main forms, charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts.  Each includes an interest for a term of years and a remainder interest.  Charitable remainder trusts provide a lifetime income stream to a specific individual and leaves the remaining assets to a charity.  Conversely, a charitable lead trust provides a lifetime benefit to a charity and the remainder interest to the donor’s heirs.  The charitable deduction for both trusts is based on the value of the interest that the charity receives.

4)    Private Foundations-A private foundation is a nonprofit organization administered and controlled by a private individual or family.  The foundation is required to pay 5% of its corpus every year to qualified charities that are chosen by the foundation’s directors or trustees.  Families looking to make a long-term charitable investment may prefer the flexibility that a foundation provides.  A foundation can also serve as a source of family pride for the continued philanthropic work that a family engages in.

5)    Donor-Advised Funds-Donor Advised Funds provide similar benefits to a private foundation without the corresponding complexities.  The funds are run through a public charity and allow the donors to determine how the funds are distributed and what purposes the contributions are used for. Using donor advised funds can maximize a donor’s charitable deduction without the cost of a direct gift or the regulation of a private foundation or trust.

The goals behind any charitable gifting strategy may be different for each donor, but the benefits are universal.  After ensuring that your family is cared for financially, it is a great way to further enhance the legacy you leave behind to your family, friends and community.

Please contact info@levyestatelaw.com for more information about charitable planning.

A Matter of Trust: Tips for Choosing Your Fiduciaries

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There are several key components to any estate plan.  A will or trust will describe who will be entitled to certain assets, how the assets will be held and when distributions will be made to the beneficiaries.  An equally important component is who will be in charge of administering the estate or trust.  These persons are commonly referred to as fiduciaries.

A fiduciary is a person who takes care of property or other matters for another person.  In estate planning, the three most common forms of fiduciaries are executors, trustees and guardians.  An executor is the person responsible for the administration of an estate of a deceased person.; a trustee manages and administers a trust for the trust’s beneficiaries; and a guardian cares for the personal and financial needs of another person who legally cannot take care of themselves (typically, minor children or persons with severe disabilities).

Selecting fiduciaries is often overlooked by estate planners and their clients as a secondary concern to who receives the estate or trust’s assets and how the assets are held.  But, choosing the wrong person to serve as a fiduciary can have severe consequences (litigation, wasted assets, etc.) for the beneficiaries and fiduciaries alike.

Fortunately, selecting the right people should not be difficult if you keep the following tips in mind:

1)    Make sure the nominated fiduciary is willing to serve-It is not uncommon for a person to be nominated for a fiduciary position and be unaware of their appointment.  This is especially true of appointments under wills where the actual work will not occur for many years.  During the drafting phase of any estate-planning document, clients should contact the people they wish to serve as fiduciaries and confirm their willingness to serve.

2)    Ensure that the nominated fiduciary is qualified to serve-Spouses typically name each other as their executor and trustee.  Alternatively, children are often nominated to serve as the initial or successor fiduciary.  While this is understandable, the nominated person must be aware of their responsibilities and be capable of carrying them out.  A fiduciary is held to a very high standard of care and failing to live up to their fiduciary duties has can lead to many headaches for fiduciary and beneficiary alike.

3)    Be mindful of a fiduciary’s relationship with the beneficiaries-The relationship between the fiduciary and the person appointing them is not the only one that should be considered.  While it may not be necessary or wise to get a beneficiary’s approval of a fiduciary, consideration should be given to how they will interact.  This can become especially tricky when issues of divorce and stepparents come into play.  If there is potential for conflict between a fiduciary and a beneficiary, appointing a co-fiduciary or even an alternate fiduciary is advisable.

4)    Understand how a fiduciary is compensated-Under New York law, fiduciaries are entitled to statutory commissions for their service to the estate or trust.  In some instances, a family member serving as a fiduciary will waive their right to commissions even though they are entitled to them.  If you choose a corporate fiduciary or a professional to serve, they will likely have a set fee schedule for their services.  This may be in excess of what the statute requires and, in the cases of attorneys serving, may be in addition to legal fees that they charge.

5)    Choose successor and co-fiduciaries carefully-When a fiduciary stops serving, the will or trust instrument typically has a named successor who will take their place.  In some instances, the will or trust creator names co-fiduciaries to ensure that one person is not overburdened. Both successor and co-fiduciaries will have to work with other fiduciaries and the beneficiaries and must be compatible with both.  Conflict between fiduciaries can snowball quickly and lead to protracted legal battles that may severely deplete the assets of a trust or an estate.

Once assets are transferred to a fiduciary or a person is put in their care, the responsibility to protect those assets/people becomes theirs.  Fiduciaries are held to the highest standards of care because they are given exclusive control over a person’s most important assets.  You should use the same level of care when choosing who your fiduciaries will be.

Please contact info@levyestatelaw.com for more information.

Now or Later: Choosing Between a Will and a Revocable Living Trust

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A Last Will and Testament is the most essential part of any estate plan.  It explains who your assets will pass to, how they will pass (outright or in trust), who will be in charge of administering the assets and who will care for your minor children.  For many people, a properly drafted will is sufficient to allow their estate to pass as they wish.

In some circumstances, however, a will is secondary to another document known as a Revocable Living Trust.  A revocable trust is trust established and funded during the lifetime of an individual (the “Grantor” of the trust).  At the Grantor’s death, a short will known as a “pour over will” pays any remaining assets in the Grantor’s estate to the revocable trust.  Revocable trusts have become an extremely popular alternative to the traditional last will and testament plan.

So, which is the better fit for your planning needs?  Consider these ten factors:

  1. Probate-One of the main advantages of a revocable trust is the avoidance of the process known as probate.  During the probate process, a will is submitted to a court (in New York, the court is called the Surrogate’s Court) and the named executor under the will is granted the power to distribute the Grantor’s assets.  The process can take several months and may cost a significant amount in legal and court fees.  A properly drafted and administered revocable trust can minimize or eliminate the need for the probate process.  This is especially important for individuals with property in multiple jurisdictions.
  2. Funding-In order to ensure that a revocable trust works properly, assets must be transferred to the trust before the Grantor dies.  Any assets not in the trust at the date of death will have to pass through the probate process.  This negates one of the main benefits of a revocable trust. A will requires no lifetime transfers or retitling of assets.
  3. Administration-During the Grantor’s lifetime and after they die, a revocable trust must be administered in accordance with trust instrument.  A will requires no lifetime administration.
  4. Cost-An estate plan that includes a revocable trust will typically cost more up front than a plan that includes only a will.  However, the costs after an individual dies may be less for a revocable trust due to the limited or nonexistent probate costs.
  5. Privacy-Once a will is submitted to the court, it becomes part of the public record and the general public can access it. The trust instrument, unlike a will, is not submitted to a court and the beneficiaries of the trust can remain private.
  6. Tax Planning-One common misconception about revocable trusts is that they provide tax planning benefits over wills.  In reality, both wills and revocable trusts can be drafted to minimize or eliminate estate and other transfer taxes.
  7. Revocation and Amendment-Both wills and revocable trusts can be amended or revoked any time prior to the Grantor or individual’s death.  After the Grantor’s death, both become irrevocable and the fiduciaries of the estate or trust cannot change the terms of the will or trust.
  8. Disability-The trust agreement creating a revocable trust will include successor trustees who will serve if the initial trustees can no longer act as trustees.  It is also common to have a second person serve as a co-trustee with the grantor of the trust.  If the grantor becomes disabled or incapacitated, the remaining co-trustee or successor trust can administer the trust’s assets without applying for guardianship over the grantor.
  9. Ability to Challenge-While will contests are more common, it is also possible to challenge the validity of a revocable trust on the basis of a lack of capacity on the part of the grantor and the trust being created due to the undue influence of another party.
  10. Asset Protection-During the Grantor’s lifetime, a revocable trust provides no asset protection from creditor claims.  After the Grantor dies, the Trust can be structured to protect assets from creditor claims.  This is option is also available when drafting wills.

The choice between a will and a revocable should be well thought out and discussed with your advisors.  While a revocable trust does provide certain advantages to a traditional will, it must be properly drafted, funded and administered to ensure that you receive the maximum benefit.

Please contact info@levyestatelaw.com for more information about revocable trusts.