Arizona Estate Planning

Are You Single with a Minor Child? If So, You Need a Plan

You have a minor child who depends on you for their survival, so you need to make sure that they will be cared for if you are ever unable to care for them. By creating an estate plan, you can address your minor child’s care and custody and provide instructions about how your money and property should be used for their care should something happen to you.

Care and Custody of Your Child

Creating an estate plan allows you to name someone to care for your minor child if you are unable. A child under the age of majority (eighteen or twenty-one depending on your state law) cannot legally care for themselves (unless they have been emancipated). A guardian must be appointed to take care of the minor child if both parents have passed away or are unable to care for the child. It is important to note that if the other legal parent is still alive, that parent may receive custody of the child. However, you need to have a plan in case there is no other legal parent or the other legal parent cannot care for the child. If you do not choose a guardian, the judge will look to state law to determine the appropriate guardian, who may not be the person that you would have chosen.

How do you nominate a guardian?

There are a few different ways to nominate a guardian to care for your child after your death. First, it can be done in a last will and testament (also known as a will). In this document, you can name someone to be your child’s guardian after your death, a person to wind […]

On the Net2023-06-22T12:12:44-07:00May 6th, 2023|Beneficiaries, Common Problems, Estate Planning, Estate Planning for Singles|

What You Need to Know About Beneficiary-Controlled Trusts

Would you like to provide your children or loved ones with an inheritance but protect them from the risks that may accompany a large windfall? If so, you can create a beneficiary-controlled trust in which the person you name as the trust’s primary beneficiary has rights, benefits, and control over the property held by the trust, but with important protections. In a beneficiary-controlled trust, you can name the primary beneficiary as the sole trustee, or if you name a co-trustee, the beneficiary can be given the authority to remove the co-trustee and select a successor co-trustee if they choose. In addition, a beneficiary-controlled trust may include a broad, non-general power of appointment that enables a beneficiary who is also trustee to limit the ability of other more remote beneficiaries to enjoy the property held by the trust.

What Are the Pros?

If you want to provide an inheritance to a mature child or loved one that you trust to make prudent financial decisions, a beneficiary-controlled controlled trust is a strategy that you should consider. Even beneficiaries who handle money wisely could encounter situations in which their money and property are vulnerable to creditors’ claims, divorce, lawsuits, or estate taxes: a beneficiary-controlled trust can protect the property held in the trust against those claims. Although you can include terms in the trust document that limit the degree of involvement and control you would like the beneficiary to have, a beneficiary-controlled trust can still enable the beneficiary to have a considerable amount of control over their inheritance and how it is used.

Beneficiary as sole trustee. Under most states’ laws, even if a beneficiary is the sole trustee, most creditors may not […]

On the Net2023-02-25T13:03:20-08:00January 28th, 2023|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Trusts|

Issues to Consider If You Want to Leave Your Retirement Account to a Minor Child

Your retirement account may be one of the most valuable things you own. Many people consider naming their children as the beneficiaries of these accounts because they think it is a way of easily transferring their wealth if something happens to them. However, there are some factors that make this type of transfer more complicated than you may think, especially if your child is a minor.

Can a Minor Be Named Individually as a Beneficiary?

Yes, you can name your minor child as the beneficiary of your retirement account or as the contingent beneficiary who would receive it if the primary beneficiary you have named on the account dies before you pass away. However, if your child is a minor when you die and they inherit your retirement account, a court may have to appoint a guardian or conservator to handle any money distributed to the child from the account. This will take time and money, and the guardian or conservator the court chooses may not be the person you would have chosen. You can avoid this by proactively naming a conservator or guardian for your minor child in your will.

Under the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, most beneficiaries must receive an entire retirement account within ten years of the account owner’s death. However, minor children of an account owner fall into a special category of beneficiaries (called eligible designated beneficiaries or EDBs). Their mandatory ten-year payout period does not begin until they turn twenty-one, meaning the beneficiary must receive an entire inherited retirement account at age thirty-one. In the meantime, however, they are required to take required minimum distributions (RMDs), which will likely be […]

On the Net2023-02-25T12:33:50-08:00January 25th, 2023|Beneficiaries, Common Problems, Estate Planning|

Important Milestones You Can Incorporate in Your Estate Plan

Life is full of contingencies. While some outcomes are relatively certain, other events are more difficult to predict. This uncertainty can create estate planning challenges. Because life changes quickly and sometimes unexpectedly, your estate plan needs to be flexible.

You can make changes to your estate plan when you are still alive, but when you pass away, your plan is effectively—but not entirely—set in stone. Incorporating milestones into your estate plan is one way to hedge against the unpredictable future. By creating incentives for particular events, you can continue to exercise your values and provide for your loved ones beyond your lifetime.

Clarifying Your Wishes with If-Then Statements

If-then statements allow outcomes to be determined with conditions. They are found in deductive logic, computer programming, and legal documents, including estate planning documents.

The premise of an if-then statement is simple: if a given criteria is met, then a certain action follows. For example, you might write in your will that, “If my spouse predeceases me, then I leave my house to my oldest son,” or, “If both my spouse and I pass away, then [Person X] will be nominated as guardian of our children.”

Such clauses can help you retain some power over outcomes that would otherwise be out of your control. They can also help you to plan for future contingencies in a way that is not possible with simple declarative statements (e.g., “I leave my house to my spouse.”).

If-then clauses can be combined to account for numerous future possibilities. So, in addition to “If my spouse predeceases me, then I leave my house to my oldest son,” you could specify that “If my son […]

On the Net2023-02-25T12:32:32-08:00December 22nd, 2022|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Peace of Mind|

Batman: The Masked Philanthropist

Among the superheroes, Batman is unique because he has no superpowers. Although he is trained in the martial arts and possesses a range of high-tech gadgetry that allows him to fight crime, Batman is entirely human. He does not have genetic mutations, X-ray vision, overpowering physical strength, flying ability, genius-level intellect, or any other god-like powers.

But Bruce Wayne does possess something that is key to his moonlighting as Batman: money. As the heir to an enormous fortune, Wayne is one of Gotham’s wealthiest citizens. He is also a major philanthropist who donates money to various causes. While his philanthropy is overshadowed by his masked vigilantism, neither would be possible without the money left to him by his parents.

Carrying on the family legacy means different things to different families. You probably do not want your heirs to follow in the footsteps of Batman—at least when it comes to crime fighting. You might, however, want to inspire them to the philanthropy of Bruce Wayne. If so, your estate plan should be structured in such a way that it gives your loved ones the finances—and the flexibility—to do good on their terms.

Batman’s Birthright

Most superheroes are fated to become who they are due to forces beyond their control. Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk were the unwitting victims of radiation. The X-Men were born with genetic mutations that made them societal outcasts. Captain America received an experimental “super-soldier serum.” And Superman hailed from the alien planet Krypton.

Bruce Wayne developed the ability to overcome powerful foes, but he does so primarily through his personal drive and ingenuity, with an assist from his family fortune, which he inherited at age eight when his parents, Martha and Thomas, were killed. Also instrumental in […]

On the Net2023-02-25T13:07:20-08:00December 5th, 2022|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Peace of Mind|

Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts: What You Should Know

No one wants to pay more taxes than they have to. To carry out this objective, many people search for the perfect estate planning tool that will allow them to control as much of their money and property as possible while reducing the amount they or their loved ones will have to pay the government. If you have looked for the tax-saving estate planning tools, chances are you might have come across the spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT). Here are some important things you should know before you settle on this tool as your estate planning solution.

What is a spousal lifetime access trust?

A SLAT is a type of irrevocable trust created by one spouse (trustmaker spouse) for the benefit of the other spouse (beneficiary spouse) that is used to transfer money and property out of the trustmaker spouse’s estate. This strategy allows married couples to take advantage of their lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion amounts by having the trustmaker spouse make sizable, permanent gifts to the SLAT that decrease the value of their estate while maintaining some limited access to the money and property that is gifted for the beneficiary spouse’s benefit.

How does it work?

The trustmaker spouse gifts money or property (of which they are the sole owner) to the SLAT for the benefit of the beneficiary spouse. If the couple resides in a community property state, they will likely need to convert community property into separate property through a partition agreement. The trustmaker spouse reports the gift on a gift tax return. The beneficiary spouse can receive distributions from the trust, from which the trustmaker spouse may also indirectly benefit. Upon the death […]

On the Net2023-02-25T12:34:37-08:00November 15th, 2022|Asset Protection Trusts, Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, FAQ, Peace of Mind, Spousal Lifetime Asset Trusts, Trusts|

An Introduction to Dynasty Trusts

When people create estate plans, they typically focus on handing down their money and property to their children, grandchildren, and other living heirs. But some people want to leave behind a more enduring legacy. For those interested in multigenerational wealth transfer, a dynasty trust could be the answer.

A dynasty trust is an irrevocable trust that offers the tax minimization and asset protection benefits of other types of trusts, but unlike a trust that ends with outright distributions to your children or grandchildren, a dynasty trust can span more than two generations. Also known as a perpetual trust, a dynasty trust theoretically can last forever—or at least for as long as trust money and property remain. Because the trust could last for many years, and the rules generally cannot be changed once the trust is created, a dynasty trust must be set up with great care.

How Does a Dynasty Trust Work?

A dynasty trust starts the same way as any other trust. The trust’s creator (i.e., the grantor) transfers money and property into the trust, either during their lifetime or at the time of their death, in which case the trust is a testamentary dynasty trust. Regardless, as an irrevocable trust, once the dynasty trust is funded, it is set in stone. It cannot be revoked, and the rules the grantor sets for the trust can only be altered under certain state statutes governing trust modifications.

Who Should Serve as Trustee of a Dynasty Trust?

One role that the grantor must seriously consider is who will act as the trustee. It is common for the grantor of a dynasty trust to name an independent trustee, such as […]

On the Net2023-02-25T13:42:24-08:00October 25th, 2022|Asset Protection Trusts, Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Trusts|

Will Our Child Have to Handle Multiple Trusts after Our Deaths?

When a married couple creates an estate plan using a revocable living trust, they have the option of creating a single joint trust or two separate individual trusts. While the pros and cons of each are beyond the scope of this article, spouses may choose to create separate trusts for a variety of reasons including the following:

the desire to leave property to different beneficiaries or for greater asset protection from the financial risks of one spouse
the ability to keep inherited or individually owned property separate from jointly acquired property, or
the need for greater flexibility or more certainty with respect to tax planning after the death of the first spouse.

Whatever the reasons for creating separate trusts, when the ultimate beneficiary is the same for both spouses’ trusts (often the couple’s child or children), the question that inevitably arises is whether the beneficiary of these separate trusts will always have multiple trusts to deal with? Keeping track of the property owned and invested by each trust and filing tax returns for multiple trusts can be an administrative headache. The good news is that, in general, if multiple trusts have similar terms and neither the trust agreement nor state law prohibit the consolidation of the trusts, then the trusts can usually be combined into one.

Under section 417 of the Uniform Trust Code (UTC), which has been adopted (either completely or in some form) in thirty-five states and the District of Columbia^[1] as of the date of this writing, a trustee, after giving notice to the qualified beneficiaries, may combine two or more trusts into a single trust, “if the result does not impair rights of […]

On the Net2023-02-25T13:49:21-08:00October 20th, 2022|Asset Protection Trusts, Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Trusts|

What if I Cannot Find a Beneficiary?

When someone has named you as the executor (also known as a personal representative) of their will or the trustee of their trust passes away, you are obligated to distribute that person’s money and property according to the document’s terms to the designated beneficiaries. (For convenience, the roles of executor and trustee will be referred to throughout this article as the general term fiduciary.) Sometimes, perhaps because of a family conflict or just falling out of touch, the whereabouts of a will or trust beneficiary are unknown. What should you, as the fiduciary, do if you cannot locate a beneficiary of the will or trust?

As a fiduciary, you have an obligation to use reasonable diligence to locate a missing beneficiary. What is considered reasonable depends on the circumstances, including what efforts have been made to locate the missing beneficiary and how much money or property is at stake.

At a minimum, a fiduciary should call the last known phone number and send notice of the estate or trust administration to the last known address. If this initial effort yields no results, then the fiduciary should contact known family members or friends for information that may lead to the beneficiary’s location, search social media and people-search sites on the Internet, publish notice in the newspaper, check property records, and otherwise use their best efforts to locate the missing beneficiary.

If the value of property to be distributed to the missing beneficiary is very small, then the fiduciary will likely not be required to spend a lot of the estate or trust’s money to locate the missing beneficiary. If, however, the property value is significant, then the fiduciary may have to […]

On the Net2023-02-25T13:20:13-08:00October 5th, 2022|Beneficiaries, Common Problems, FAQ, Probate|

Having a Baby Changes Everything: Guardianship Considerations For Parents Creating Wills

JDSupra: “Once couples have children, they are eager to get a plan in place for who will take guardianship of their children. Having children and not having a will or a selected guardian means parents are left to worry about what would happen in the event of their untimely death. For example, if both parents die, leaving no will, and minor children, any money the parents had will pass to the children. For children under the age of 18, the court would then need to supervise any money the children inherit in a conservatorship. This involves an attorney filing to have someone be appointed a conservator, and the conservator having to work with the court to manage the money, including the court having to approve any expenditures for the child.“

On the Net2018-07-09T12:40:26-07:00July 12th, 2018|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning|

Thirteen Estate Planning Tips for Beneficiaries with Special Needs

WealthManagement.com: “Life is more complicated for families who have a loved one with a disability. From finding the right medical professionals and the right schools or other programs, to obtaining necessary therapies and services, individuals with disabilities face additional steps, extra time and a need for specialized knowledge at every stage of life. In addition to facing these stresses, families may receive misinformation, which makes decision making more difficult.

Planning for Beneficiaries with Special Needs

While the development of an estate plan can be difficult for any family, for a family of an individual with a disability, the planning, as with all things, has added complexity. Primary caretakers of a loved one with a disability routinely wonder who’ll care for, love and financially support their family member when they’re gone.”

On the Net2018-06-18T13:53:28-07:00June 22nd, 2018|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Special Needs Trusts|

Tom Wolfe’s will reveals he left the bulk of fortune to his wife of 40 years and asked to be cremated

Daily Mail: “Late author Tom Wolfe left his estate to his wife and two children, it has been revealed. Wolfe’s will was filed in Manhattan Surrogate’s Court on Thursday.The ‘new journalism’ pioneer left his wife, Sheila, ‘all of the tangible personal property’ and ‘all my right, title and interest to any real property and any cooperative apartment used by me or my family as a residence…,’ according to court paper.”

On the Net2018-06-18T11:35:44-07:00June 19th, 2018|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Rich & Famous|

Your Parent Didn’t Have A Will: What Should You Do Now?

Forbes: “Mom or dad has passed away and despite your requests over the last few years for them to see a lawyer and do a will, they never did. What do you do now. Make a diligent search for a will. Look through your parent’s records and file cabinets, talk to their close friends and other relatives, ask their accountant and any lawyer they worked with in the past. Look around the house for business cards of lawyers, accountants or financial advisors.”

On the Net2018-06-11T13:36:04-07:00June 15th, 2018|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills|

Rich Kids Are Counting On Inheritance to Pay for Retirement

Bloomberg: “At first glance, it may look like brazen entitlement: Sixty-three percent of affluent children between the ages of 18 and 22 say financial stability in retirement will depend on inheriting money. As in, the money their parents spent a lifetime accumulating—or, given increasing income inequality, inherited themselves. Before you start growling, consider that this may be a signal of desperation, not greed. The rise in student debt, increased life expectancy and the many competing priorities for money that are considered the “new normal” for younger generations have them wondering how they will pay for it all.”

On the Net2018-06-11T12:28:38-07:00June 13th, 2018|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning|

ABLE Accounts Give Disabled More Financial Freedom

Kiplinger: “The ABLE Act of 2014—the acronym stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience—allowed people of any age who developed a qualifying disability before age 26 (or their parents, relatives or friends) to invest up to $15,000 per year in an account that they can tap tax-free. Now, four years later, 36 states and the District of Columbia offer ABLE plans, and more states are joining their ranks. Texas introduced its ABLE program in May, and plans in California and several other states are on the way soon.”

On the Net2018-06-11T12:10:35-07:00June 12th, 2018|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Special Needs Trusts|

Estate Planning: Leaving Assets to a ‘Troubled’ Heir

TrustBuilders.com: “If you have a child who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or who is financially irresponsible, you already know the heartbreak associated with trying to help that child make healthy decisions. Perhaps your other adult children are living independent lives, but this child still turns to you to bail him out – either figuratively or literally – of trouble. If these are your circumstances, you are probably already worrying about how to continue to help your child once you are gone. You predict that your child will misuse any lump sum of money left to him or her via your will.”

On the Net2022-10-11T15:45:27-07:00June 11th, 2018|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning|

Real Estate Inheriting Property Overseas Can be a Dream Come True, but it Comes with Challenges

Washington Post: “Artist Carey Maxon was living in Brooklyn in 2015 when she received an email informing her that she had been named sole heir in a will in Italy. It was not a scam. Maxon recognized the name of the executor who sent the message — and of the architect whose farm she had lived on after college. Ermanno Gardani had died, leaving her a Tuscan estate, complete with 1,000 olive trees, forests, farmland and two homes, as well as an apartment in Milan.”

On the Net2018-06-04T12:18:16-07:00June 8th, 2018|Beneficiaries, Estate Planning|