New York Estate Planning Lawyer Blog

A Reuters story late last week suggested that while estate planning feuds of the famous usually involve millions, the principle issues are the same as those faced by all local residents. Every case must be evaluated individually, but the same main issues are found again and again. That is why our New York estate planning lawyers urge residents to visit with experienced professionals when making preparations because they have likely seen similar issues in the past and can help anticipate problems that might come up down the road. As this latest story explained "anyone thinking about wealth transfer faces the same issues: dysfunctional families, potentially unequal positions in the family business, perhaps multiple marriages with kids from each." This applies whether one has $50,000 or $50 million.

For example, second marriages often create planning problems. When crafting an estate plan, one must balance the needs of the second spouse with the children of the first marriage. If one doesn't do it, as the author notes, "you're basically buying a litigation case." For example, the longest estate litigation case of the last century was that of Anna Nicole Smith. She was a second wife of a billionaire investor. The children from the man's first marriage engaged in a prolonged battle to ensure that Ms. Smith did not receive any substantial portion of the man's wealth. The case was still not resolved with Ms. Smith herself passed away.

Family businesses also present common issues for those in all income brackets. Much family wealth is wrapped up in a business. Often some of the children participate in the business while others do not. This often creates significant estate planning issues regarding who gets what share of the business. One of the most well-known examples of this is that of the Koch family in New York. The patriarch had created a fortune after developing a new cracking method in oil refinement. However, upon his death the man's four sons engaged in a prolonged legal dispute over control of the business. As the article notes, "there are a lot of ticking time bombs in family businesses that creates litigation."

Many judges involved in these sorts of cases have explained that they believe estate litigation is on the rise. The fact patterns of the cases are consistent: second marriage issues, family business struggles, and similar situations. Those involved also report that the size of the estate is often of no consequence. Estate disputes are not only the concern of millionaires.

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New York Estate Planning Attorney Shares Common Estate Planning Mistakes

The Dynasty Trust May Keep Inheritance In the Family

NuWire News published an interesting blog post last week that runs down a few ways that community members can use estate planning techniques to protect assets in "uncertain times." Of course, our New York estate planning lawyers realize that uncertainty exists at all times, because no one knows for sure what tomorrow might bring. However, there are always some circumstances when future financial trouble seems particularly likely--such as when one might need long-term care either at home or a long-term care facility. The article authors note that it is always beneficial to shield assets before they become a target, otherwise, depending on the circumstances, there are a range of penalties that may attached to the conveyance. For example, when it comes to applying for New York Medicaid, it is vital that asset transfers be made at least five years before applying. Strategies exist to protect assets even when on the nursing home doorstep (without five years to wait), but there is much more than can be done the earlier one takes the time to plan for these issues.

Outside of the long-term care context, there is similar benefit from protecting assets well ahead of time, before they may be targeted by a creditor. The article discusses ten different techniques that may be applicable, depending on one's circumstances. For example, the story discusses spousal gifting trusts. These are special trusts (also known as irrevocable grantor trusts) that allow married couples to protect assets from creditors and estate taxes while still retaining control and use of the assets.

Obviously insurance considerations are also important for protecting assets in uncertain times. After all, insurance is all about having security in the face of potential problems down the road. Long-term care insurance is clearly helpful to account for senior care costs. Unfortunately, that particular insurance is often out of reach for middle class community members. However, even basic life insurance should not be forgotten when thinking about estate plans. For younger families with children life insurance provides security in the case of untimely death. For wealthier families the insurance can also be important to protect assets from estate taxes.

At the end of the day there is a seemingly endless array of combinations that may work in each individual case to protect assets from the uncertainty of the future. In many cases a combination of trusts, gifts, donations, insurances, and other strategies combine to protect assets from taxes, long-term care costs, and creditors. Sadly, many community members fail to take advantage of these options until it is too late, when the adverse event--death, divorce, lawsuit--has already occurred.

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Adult Children Often Remind Senior Parents of Estate Planning Importance

Tips for Giving Financial Aid to Family and Friends

Estate planning usually doesn't come to mind when one thinks about award winning Hollywood movies. Most popular films are about great adventures, tragedies, and disasters. Planning for one's long term financial and medical well-being, on the contrary, is all about prudently working to avoid major crisis or drama. However, a film that many movie buffs believe has the inside track to win this year's Academy Award for Best Film actually involves estate planning, with a trust and a trustee at the center of the action. This weekend the movie won the Golden Globe Award for Best Dramatic Film.

"The Descendants" tells the tale of a man who is dealing with the impending death of his wife who suffered a traumatic injury and is on life support. The film's protagonist, played by George Clooney, is the victim's husband. As his wife slips away he is forced to deal with the consequences of handling her estate. She had come from a very wealthy family, and the couple (along with their two children) had lived on acreage of land in Hawaii that was held in trust.

Clooney, as the husband, is the trustee of his wife's multi-generational estate worth billions. The other trust heirs (his cousins) want to sell the land to generate income to meet their personal needs. However, Clooney remain unsure of the best long-term decision. He knows that the original intent of the family was to preserve the land for succeeding generations.

After calling the movie "the best trust film ever released," writers at The Trust Advisor noted that the film echoes many real-life situations faced by trustees debating the wishes of those who have passed with the needs of those still living. They explained "every multi-generational trust is a balancing act between the living and the dead, with the trustee in the precarious position of having to weigh the wishes of the vanished grantors against the priorities of their heirs."

Our New York estate planning attorneys were not surprised to learn that the movie was based in large part on the real life situation faced by the Campbell family--heirs to a billion dollar Hawaiian estate. For one hundred and seven years a trust held title to thousands of acres of land on the big island. In 2007, after the last of the heirs who was alive when the trust was created passed away, the trustees were forced to decide how best to handle the situation. Eventually some of the remaining beneficiaries took large cash disbursements. A few of the others chose to roll over their interests into a new real estate corporation, meaning that the family still controls thousands of acres on the island.

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Trustees Need to Be Educated On Their Roles in Estate Plans

Careful Consideration Required Before Selecting Successor Trustee in Estate Plan

New York estate planning is primarily concerned with passing on assets to family members and saving taxes in the process. While the inheritance planning portion of the effort may seem straightforward, there are many considerations involved. It is much more than simply saying that John gets the house and Jane gets the car. When done right, the process should include consideration of many issues like what legacy one wishes to leave, how they'd like their children to remember them, and what values they wish to pass on. For many families this process involves leaving some assets to a charity of choice.

A story in this weekend's Western Farm Press emphasized how charitable giving is an important part of estate planning for many families. It was a follow up to an article that had been recently written about the value that farm families have in visiting an estate planning attorney to keep a farm alive in the future. The latest story noted that including valued charities in one's inheritance is a helpful way do some good while saving on taxes in the process.

It was explained how using these charitable donations in combination with estate tax exemptions can go a long way to pass along assets to desired family, friends, and causes without losing it to the government. Many assets that have appreciated significantly in value can be given to charity which may allow them to avoid being eaten up by capital gains taxes. Also, retirement savings, like IRAs, can be included in estate planning efforts to benefit charity. This often helps to reduce or eliminate tax liabilities. When done properly it can increase the funds that are going to heirs while also increasing the amount provided to a charity.

Perhaps the most common way that our attorneys work with clients on charitable giving is via use of charitable remainder trusts. These legal entities are unique tax-exempt irrevocable trusts that often provide the best avenue to transfer cash or assets to a charity of choice. Upon the trust's creation, assets are transferred into it. The one who created the trust is then allowed to receive income from that trust (either for life or a set number of years). Whatever is remaining at the end of that income collection period is then given to the named charitable cause. In fact, in certain circumstances the trust income may be paid over the life of one's spouse or children. There are limits on payout rates and other tax implications, and so it is always important to have experienced legal advice to explain whether or not one of these devices in useful in your specific situation.

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Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) as an Estate Planning Tool

Economic Uncertainty Leads to Rise in Estate Planning Interest

Western Farm Press published a story yesterday reminding readers of the importance of conducting proper estate planning. The publication, geared toward those in the agricultural industry, explained that many farms had been saved that otherwise would have been split up because of savvy planning ahead of time. The story reminded readers of a basic principle that ourNew York estate planning lawyers wholeheartedly endorse. It noted that planning is important regardless of the size of one's estate so that "if something happens to you today, your assets will go where you want them to go, to the people you want to have them."

In the context of farms, it is particularly important to consider the tax implications of asset transfers upon death. It was explained that many farms have been lost when one party in the operation dies, leaving others unable to pay the taxes that come due. Estate taxes are hard to pay without selling the very property that one acquires. Farmers are often asset and land rich, but cash poor. That means that those who inherent a farm are often required to sell the land itself to come up with the cash needed to pay the tax bill. Estate tax issues may not be a problem for those in certain income brackets, but there remains constant volatility in the area. For many families their tax liability could change dramatically from year to year depending on what the laws happen to be at the time that one passes on.

Regardless of estate tax concerns, however, there are many basic estate and inheritance planning issues that are important for farmers to consider. The story suggests that it is helpful to think of one's estate as in either accumulation mode, conservation mode, or transfer mode. The younger generations are often still acquiring assets, while older community members are likely to want to preserve what they have or pass it along. Estate planning helps most clearly with preservation and transfer.

However, it is often more difficult for those goals to be met that some realize. One advocate in the agricultural community explained that "many successful farm families often do a poor job of estate planning." In particular, many of the families fail to ensure that they have proper documents in place and ready to go when they might need them, such as a Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy. Others fail to keep a plan updated. A sophisticated effort to save on estate taxes one year may be futile if not altered to account for changes in the law down the road.

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Consider Alternatives to a "Last Will & Testament"

Not All New York Elder Law Attorneys Are Alike

Our New York estate planning lawyers ran across a Forbes article last week that began with the provocative claim that "70% of intergenerational wealth transfers fail." The story was discussing a new Williams Group study which examined the long-term effects of wealth transfers in 3,250 families. "Failure" in the study was characterized as situations where wealth was dissipated by heirs, often with the family assets becoming a source of disagreement and friction.

The researchers were quick to note that poor professional assistance was not to be blamed; estate planning attorneys, financial advisers, and tax experts were not found to play a role in the wealth transfer problems. In fact the researchers noted that "these professionals usually did well for their clients." Instead, the transfers that ended with problems were usually caused by poor family transition planning. In other words, the authors explained that "no one in the unsuccessful transferring families was preparing their heirs for the multiple kinds of responsibilities they would face when having to take over the reins."

To combat the problems that arise when large sums of wealth are given to unprepared children and grandchildren, it is important to identify long-term lessons and values that must pass on along with the assets. Some suggest identifying a "family mission" and a strategy to ensure that the family mission is carried out. The heirs should understand that mission and be aware of ways to honor it. For example, it is likely that the mission would include a range of philanthropic goals, family business development plans, and other targets. It is helpful for the heirs to have experience practicing those family duties well ahead of time, perhaps by assisting with a few family business matters or charity efforts.

The report suggests that at the center of all successful wealth transfers--beyond proper estate planning--is open and honest communication between families. Many wealthy seniors worry that there will be undesirable consequences if they talk openly with their children about their business, assets, and attitudes about wealth. There is a fear that if children know what is coming to them they will become lazy, take advantage of the situation, or begin feeling entitled to more. However, many experts have found that secrecy breeds problems down the road. This is true for all families regardless of their overall financial situation. It is almost always beneficial to have conversations about family assets and long-term legacies. The holiday season is perhaps a perfect time to do so.

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Now Remains a Good Time for Baby Boomers to Conduct Estate Planning

Estate Planning May Be A Family Decision

This weekend our New York estate planning attorney Bonnie Kraham had an article published in the Times Herald-Record where she explained the importance of beneficiary designations in New York estate plans. These designations are often less well-known than other aspects of an estate plan, such as trusts, wills, health-care proxies, and powers of attorney. The designation is a contractual document that directs where an asset will go upon your death. They are most often involved in IRAs, annuities, and insurance policies. Beneficiary decisions must be made in conjunction with other aspects of any estate plan to protect assets from outside costs and keep them in the bloodline.

For example, Attorney Kraham discussed beneficiary designations in the context of inheritance trusts. These trusts are increasingly popular and useful legal tools to protect a child's inheritance from the child's creditors or divorcing spouse. If you have an asset in a qualified plan, it is important for the contingent beneficiary designation to be that child's inheritance trust, instead of the child as an individual. Essentially what this does is ensure that the benefit of the inheritance trust applies to the qualified asset. A spouse will typically be named the beneficiary with the child's trust named as contingent beneficiary, ensuring that the funds remain in the bloodline and are protected from outsiders.

Similarly, when your New York estate plan involves use of a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT), it is vital that beneficiaries be considered closely. In particular, Attorney Kraham explains that it is helpful to name the MAPT as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Life insurance policy proceeds are never assets held in the name of the policy holder, and so when those proceeds are passed directly into the MAPT they do not count toward the "penalty period" that otherwise applies to asset transfers within five years of applying for Medicaid. As the article explained, we recently had a client in this exact situation. The man had a $500,000 life insurance policy on his wife with the couple's MAPT named as the beneficiary. If the insurance proceeds were paid directly to the surviving spouse, those funds would have been unprotected from possible nursing home costs. In addition, the MAPT funds can still be used to pay for things like real estate taxes, home insurance, and home repairs. However, this option is only logical when the surviving spouse does not need the life insurance policy proceeds while alive for day-to-day living expenses.

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Careful Consideration Required Before Selecting Successor Trustee in Estate Plan

Many Challenges Face Estate Executors

In many cases the most difficult aspect of conducting proper New York estate planning is ensuring that everything necessary is taken into account. Experienced New York estate planning lawyers usually know what options make the most sense in any given situation, but those plans are less effective if certain aspects of a community members' situation are not accounted for within the overall plan. Few individuals forget to discuss assets like bank accounts and real estate. Fewer take the time to conduct less common planning needs, such as ensuring proper business succession details are in place.

Another often overlooked planning area involves art and antique collections. Last week Wealth Management discussed some tips for art succession planning. The authors noted many families have considerable wealth invested in their antique or art collections, but many fail to take much planning care with these items. The articles notes that "Many don't realize the true value of their 'stuff,' thinking that the antique toy collection, family jewelry, or painting passed down by grandpa have no significant worth for which succession planning is essential." Often that idea is misguided. A new Social Welfare Institute study from researchers out of Boston College found that in a few decades inter-generational asset transfers will total $41 trillion, of which roughly 10-13% will be art and antiques.

Considering that sizeable sum, it is incumbent that these objects be properly accounted for in all estate plans. Failure to do so is a serious preparation mistake. Not accounting for these assets may result in significant tax liabilities. Also, without proper evaluation there may be large discrepancies in the asset allocation to heirs--with one child getting much more than another accidentally. Even worse, heirs may dispose of collectibles at rates much less than their actual worth if they do not suspect something is valuable and are not given any guidance on its worth.

To avoid these problems, residents should follow a few basic steps. For one thing, an up-to-date art and antique inventory is essential to start the planning. For more advanced collectors, specially designed software can be purchased to better keep track of these items. Also, all items should have a qualified appraisal and valuation. All purchase and sale records regarding these items should be maintained adequately. When meeting with an estate planning attorney, it is important to keep them aware of the extent and value of these collections. The advisors will be able to explain what strategies are most appropriate. For example, depending on long-term wishes, an irrevocable trust or charitable remainder trust might be logical options.

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Succession Plans Are Essential for Family Businesses

High-Profile Examples Highlights Need for Clarity in the Estate Planning Process

Families across the country will come together to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday next week. As a Forbes article recently explained, the holiday is a perfect time to discuss estate planning issues, because the planning is all about helping out one's family. One of the main goals of an estate plan is to ensure that surviving family members will be taken care of and not forced to endure stressful, complicated, and costly procedures to get financial affairs in order following a death.

One way to broach the topic over Thanksgiving dinner, say the article authors, is to frame the talk in the context of high-profile celebrity stories. The article includes a list of the "Top 5 Celebrity-Based Estate Planning Conversation Starters." Kim Kardashian's story made the list to highlight the role that marriages have on one's estate. The socialite ended her seventy two day marriage last month. Of course all marriages (short and long) have significant effects on one's estate planning documents, and estate planning attorneys should be consulted when a marriage is entered into or ended. It is smart to make appropriate changes even before a divorce is finalized; otherwise the estranged spouse may still retain control if a death occurs before the separation is official.

The feud over Michael Jackson's estate is also ripe with lessons. It was explained how the music pop star created a trust before he died and named his mother, three children, and personal charity as beneficiaries. Two trustees were named to help manage the trust. Our New York estate planning lawyers help clients in our community create these legal entities all the time. However, besides creating the trust, it is vital that the trust be "funded." Funding is the process where assets are moved from an estate and into the trust. Failure to do this makes the trusts seemingly ineffective. That is where problems have arisen for the Jackson estate.

Michael Jackson's trust was never actually funded. That means that there was essentially nothing for the beneficiaries to receive--even though the singer's estate continues to grow. The deceased star's estate made a staggering $120 million last year alone. The unfunded trust problem has resulted in much in-fighting and legal wrangling. Also, because the property was not in the trust, it still had to pass through the probate court. It was only this week, two and half years after his death, that those in charge of the late singer's estate agreed to move $30 million from the estate into the trust. However, this step still does not guarantee that any of those assets will be given to the trust beneficiaries. The trustees still control the assets in the trust and will determine when any assets are distributed to beneficiaries and how much will be given.

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Reality Star Feuds with In-Laws in Estate Fight

Iron Clad Will Likely Avoids Inheritance Fight After Death of Amy Winehouse

Investment News published a story yesterday declaring that the current financial, political, and social climate made it a "perfect storm" for estate planning. It was explained how tax policy proposals, low interest rates, and a relatively weak economy make now a particularly worthwhile time for local families to take steps to plan for their long-term financial future. Our New York estate planning attorneys continue to help many local families do just that. As one observer explained in the article, "If individuals are trying to transition assets to the next generation, we currently have a perfect storm--in a good sense--to do it."

Any time is a good idea to visit a professional and make future financial preparations. However, it may be particularly valuable to do so now, because planning strategies currently available might soon be gone. For one thing, large estate tax and gift tax exemptions now make it possible for individuals to transfer up to $5 million (or $10 million for couples) tax free. However, it is unlikely that the current tax scheme will remain--it is only a matter of what changes will be made and when. Observers have noted that estate rules have been changed 19 times in the last quarter century alone.

The current climate may present particularly attractive options encouraging some families to make major decisions to save on taxes and pass on assets. But many advocates explain that the tried and true planning tools that have long been available often remain the best way for many community members to accomplish their long-term estate planning goals. For example, while it may be favorable to give large gifts in the current environment, many families are uncomfortable making extremely large gifts. Instead, their goals may be best met by making smaller gifts under the $13,000 annual exemption amount. Those families can then save on estate taxes down the road by setting up trusts that distribute money more conservatively along the way.

No matter what the economic or political climate, trusts remain a primary tool to flexibly transfer assets and save on taxes. A variety of different trust mechanisms remain available to residents to customize their estate planning and gifting strategies. Grandparents can set aside funds for grandchildren by using a generation-skipping trust. Charities can be provided for through use of a charitable remainder annuity trust. Of course the first step in tailoring a plan to meet your specific goals is visiting an area estate plan attorney to explain your wishes and learn how they can best be fulfilled.

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Federal "Super Committee" May Target Gift Tax in Deficit Reduction Scheme

Proposed Tax Policy Changes May Affect Future Options for Estate Planners

Proper Inheritance planning requires much more than simply filing in the blanks on standardized forms. That is why experienced New York estate planning attorneys are essential advisors when local community members are evaluating their long-term financial preparations. Proper planning of these affairs requires consideration of unique family dynamics and an ability to anticipate potential issues before they actually arise. Anticipating possible conflict and accounting for it ahead of time is one of the main benefits that local residents can derive from creating and updating their New York estate plan.

For example, local families often have concerns about the effect that a second marriage will have on their inheritance plans. Many emotions are at play when a parent remarries after a divorce or the death of a spouse. As a CNN story this weekend explained, adult children commonly express apprehension when a parent re-enters the dating pool or indicates a wish to get remarried. Financial concerns are occasionally the cause of that trepidation. One woman who lost her father several years ago explained, "I want my mom to be happy, but how do I know that her suitors don't have ulterior motives? I'm concerned that she'll jump into another marriage and her second husband will take advantage of her financially."

Conversations between loved ones about these issues are frequently thorny and often result in strained family relationships. On one hand, as the article author notes, a parent is free to use their finances as they see fit. After all, an inheritance is not an entitlement but a gift. However, adult children need not stand by if a parent is genuinely making damaging financial decisions or is legitimately being taken advantage of--elder financial exploitation is a common problem. Therefore, in these situations an experienced, trained professional can often provide a crucial perspective to balance the competing concerns.

Helping families in these situations is a role that our New York estate planning lawyers have filled for years. For example, many widows and widowers control significant assets held in trust. In those situations it is often advisable to have a lawyer act as co-trustee, providing a layer of protection for the family. Having the assistance a trusted attorney typically provides comfort to adult children who may be concerned about a second spouse's ability to take control of the assets. The lawyer acting as co-trustee can help the surviving spouse invest for his or her own benefit without forgetting the need to grow the principal for the benefit of heirs. It is not easy to fairly account for the needs of each party involved in these situations. However, the task is made manageable when a family has the aid of a professional who has worked in similar situations in the past and knows what to expect.

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Adult Children Often Remind Senior Parents of Estate Planning Importance

New York Estate Planning Attorney Shares Common Estate Planning Mistakes

Professional inheritance planning continues to rise in popularity among all classes of society as more and more seniors reach retirement age and come to appreciate the legal tools available to help in their planning efforts. Interestingly, a new poll discussed in Time magazine this month explains that many of the newest retirees from the Baby Boomer generation have doubts about their heirs' ability to manage an inheritance. This is a common concern, and our New York estate planning lawyers work with many clients in this area who are specifically tailoring their plans to account for it.

The new survey found that only 49% of millionaire Baby Boomers indicated that leaving money to their children was a priority in their estate planning. When analyzed closely it is clear that the polling figures do not indicate that these parents have stopped worrying about the well-being of their children. Instead, many of them have deep concerns about the effect that a large inheritance will have on their offspring. For example, one-fifth of survey respondents felt that their children would simply squander the inheritance and a quarter of these seniors thought that receiving too much money would only make their heirs lazy. Perhaps because of this, a majority of these retirees admit that they keep their children in the dark about their exact net worth so as to prevent expectations about what will be left behind.

Fear about the financial sense of children has long been a concern for local community members. For decades, attorneys at our New York elder law estate planning firm have worked with residents who were worried about a family member's ability to handle money. Fortunately, tailoring inheritance plans to account for spendthrift children is exactly a benefit one derives from seeking professional help in this area. A variety of trusts exist which allow parents to pass on the assets they feel appropriate to their heirs in a way that guards against their fears that the inheritance would be wasted, abused, or usurped by a non-relative.

For example, an inheritance could be distributed on a prolonged timeline with certain portions being given to the child at different ages. In this way a child may be given time to mature, eliminating the risk of an entire inheritance being wasted beforehand. More complex options are also available for parents with concerns about spendthrift children. A trust could be created that is managed by a third party so that the child benefits from but does not have direct access to the assets. In other cases a "sprinkling" trust might be a good option. It creates a separate legal entity that "sprinkles" benefits in either equal or unequal amounts to the named beneficiaries over a period of time--often the spendthrift child and his or her own children.

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Parents Grapple with Effect of Inheritances and the Meaning of Money

What to Do About Children Who Can't Handle Money

One of our New York estate planning attorneys, Bonnie Kraham, Esq., recently authored an article that shares information on the increasing use of trusts in the estate plan of many local middle class families. The story was published in this weekend's Times Herald-Record, and explains the various types of trusts that residents can use and the way that each holds and transfers property. Unfortunately, there remains a misconception among some local community members that creating a New York trust is a project only for the wealthy. That is not the case. As attorney Kraham notes, there has been a "living trust revolution" over the past few decades where many middle class families have discovered the ways in which these legal entities can be used to avoid probate, save taxes, and protect assets.

All trusts begin with a written agreement, and each includes at least three necessary parties. These include a "grantor" who creates the trust, "trustee" who manages the assets, and "beneficiaries" who use the trust assets. For example, the three roles may be filled when a senior couple creates a trust (grantors) to be managed by their lawyer (trustee) to provide for the couple's children (beneficiaries). The three roles need not be filled by different individuals, however. Often a grantor will also act as beneficiary, so that they can still use those assets while they are alive. Following the written agreement which establishes the trust, assets are transferred into the entity by way of "retitling." This involves changing the name on accounts, mutual funds, and stock certificates to the name of the trust, and transferring title to property to the trust.

The two main types of trusts are testamentary and living. Testamentary trusts are created only after an individual's death pursuant to their will, while living trusts are created while a grantor is still alive. Living trusts are an increasingly common way for many families to transfer assets at death. Among other benefits, a living trust can help families avoid probate, saving time and expense in closing the estate.

Usually these trusts are revocable, meaning that they can be dissolved at any time. However, a few special types of trusts are irrevocable. For example, when a local family wants to protect assets from future nursing home costs they may create a New York Medicaid Asset Protection Trust. These irrevocable trusts have special rules that apply to how trust property can be used and transferred. Some legislative changes have recently been proposed which may limit the effectiveness of these special trusts to save assets from long-term care costs. Therefore, it remains ever important to consult an experienced elder law estate planning attorney to understand what options are available and prudent in your particular case.

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New York Medicaid Planning Attorney Shares Information on Medicaid Application Process

New York Estate Planning Attorney Shares Common Estate Planning Mistakes

Last month we shared information on the unique estate planning issues related to the inheritance rights of children conceived posthumously. A growing number of community members are cryopreserving their gametes for use through in vitro fertilization. This is a particularly popular process for those diagnosed with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy and for those in the military who are leaving on a tour of duty. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that assisted reproductive technology accounts for only 1% of yearly births in the country. However, the overall use of the technology is rising dramatically. The total number of these births doubled in the last ten years, rising to 60,190 in 2009.

The expanding use of cryopreservation has presented novel legal questions about the rights of children conceived after the death of one of their parents. The inheritance rights of these children remain unclear, particularly as they relate to government benefits and trust participation. Several high-profile legal battles have ensued in the last few years as parents fought with the U.S. Social Security Administration to have their children receive their former partner's benefits even though the child was conceived after the partner's passing. The Social Security Administration usually defers to state rules regarding parentage and inheritance rights. Currently, most states only grant inheritance rights to children born after the death of a parent if they are conceived naturally.

Yesterday, Fox News reported on an appellate court decision in one of those cases where the court found that an 8-year-old girl born two years after her father's death was not entitled to his Social Security benefits. This decision overruled a lower court ruling in the same case which had found otherwise. The appellate judges declared that the federal government's interpretation of the state law was reasonable, and therefore the denial of benefits was upheld. The resolution in this case and several others like it lead many observers to believe that the United State Supreme Court will be forced to decide the matter soon.

New York has yet to officially recognize the biological relationship between children conceived posthumously and their deceased parents. While cryopreservation is not a common practice, area residents who use these services must be acutely aware of the unique inheritance planning issues that they may face. This complex and unsettled legal matter makes it imperative that community members visit with a New York estate planning attorney to ensure that they are not unfairly surprised by the inheritance complications which may arise down the road.

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The Inheritance Rights of Children Conceived After Death By In Vitro Fertilization

Planning For Your Digital Life After Death

A trust is a centerpiece of many New York elder law estate plans. Trusts are usually superior to wills for transferring assets at death. Trusts are preferred because they can be used to avoid probate, reduce estate taxes, protect children from earlier marriages, and more. Essentially these entities remove assets from a personal estate and place it in a trust so that more wealth can be given to beneficiaries.

Transferring assets to a trust means that a trustee must be designated to manage the entity and its assets. Therefore, selecting an appropriate trustee is an important aspect of the New York estate planning process. A Yahoo Finance article this week discussed the role of the trustee and the need to give careful thought to trustee selection. Those who create a trust usually chose between an individual trustee (often a friend or family member), a professional trustee (like a bank, lawyer, or trust company), or a combination of both.

Trustees have a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries of a trust, and so it is vital to select a trustee who can fulfill that duty. Trusts require the trustee to appropriately balance the needs of a current beneficiary while preserving capital for future beneficiaries. In addition, trustees must be able to file annual fiduciary returns. While friends and family members will usually try to act in the best interests of beneficiaries, they are often inexperienced with trust management. Difficulties often arise when family issues conflict with the best interests of the beneficiaries. Also, a trust may be held in limbo if an individual trustee dies or becomes incapacitated in some way.

In many cases a professional trustee is a prudent choice. The article notes that "while trustees often do an acceptable job of completing basic tasks, conflicts and problems can arise when trustees don't understand where their loyalties should be and how to deal with the complex financial issues that can come with the job." Banks, lawyers, and trust companies are capable of providing the management services needed to maximize the value of a trust. In addition, a professional trustee will not come with potentially distracting family conflicts. In these ways, choosing a professional trustee is often the best way to ensure quality, consistent management of a trust.

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Parents Grapple with Effect of Inheritance and the Meaning of Money

New York Estate Planning is Much More than Wills & Trusts