Wills are legal documents that outline your final wishes regarding the distribution of your assets and property.

Who Should Be Your Successor Trustee?

If you have a revocable living trust, you probably named yourself as trustee so you can continue to manage your own financial affairs. But eventually, someone will need to step in for you when you are no longer able to act due to incapacity or after your death. Your successor trustee plays an important role in the effective execution of your estate plan.

Key Takeaways:

  • Because successor trustees have a lot of responsibility, they should be chosen carefully.
  • Successor trustees can be your adult children, other relatives, a trusted friend, or a corporate or professional trustee.

Responsibilities of A Successor Trustee 

At Incapacity: If you become incapacitated, your successor will step in and take full control of your trust for you – making financial decisions involving trust assets, even selling or refinancing assets, and other tasks related to your trust’s assets.

Since your trustee can only manage assets that the trust owns, it’s vitally important that you fully fund your trust. Your successor may also be involved in paying bills and helping to ensure you get the care you need.

After Death: After you die, your successor acts similar to an executor of an estate. The successor takes an inventory of your assets, pays your final bills, sells assets if necessary, has your final tax returns prepared, and distributes your assets according to the instructions in your trust.

Like incapacity, the successor trustee is limited to managing assets that are owned by the trust, so fully funding your trust is vitally important.

Your successor trustee typically acts without court supervision, which is why your affairs can be handled privately and efficiently – and probably one of the reasons you have a living trust in the first place. But this also means it will be up to your successor to get things started and keep them moving along.

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An Important Consideration

Your successor will be able to do anything you could with your trust assets, as long as it does not conflict with the instructions in your trust document and does not breach fiduciary duty.

It isn’t necessary for the successor trustee to know exactly what to do and when, because your attorney, CPA, and other advisors can help guide him or her, but it is important that you name someone who is responsible and conscientious.

Who Can Be Successor Trustees

Successor trustees can be your adult children, other relatives, a trusted friend or a professional or corporate trustee (bank trust department or trust company). If you choose an individual, you should name more than one in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to act.

What You Need to Know:

Your successor trustee should be someone you know and trust, someone whose judgment you respect and who will also respect your wishes.

When choosing a successor, keep in mind the type and amount of assets in your trust and the complexity of the provisions in your trust document.

For example, if you plan to keep assets in your trust after you die for your beneficiaries, your successor would have more responsibilities for a longer period of time than if your assets will be distributed all at once.

  • Consider the qualifications of your candidates, including personalities, financial or business experience, and time available due to their own family or career demands. Taking over as trustee for someone can take a substantial amount of time and requires a certain amount of business sense.
  • Be sure to ask the people you are considering if they would want this responsibility. Don’t put them on the spot and just assume they want to do this.
  • Trustees should be paid for their work; your trust document should provide for fair and reasonable compensation.

Rest assured, we can help you select, educate, and advise your successor trustees. You are not alone. If you have any questions or concerns, contact us today to schedule an appointment with us.

Wills vs. Trusts: A Quick & Simple Reference Guide

Confused about the differences between wills and trusts?  If so, you’re not alone. While it’s always wise to contact experts like us, it’s also important to understand the basics with our wills vs. trusts guide.

Here’s a quick and simple wills vs. trusts guide:

What Revocable Living Trusts Can Do – That Wills Can’t

  • Avoid conservatorship and guardianship. A revocable living trust allows you to authorize your spouse, partner, child, or other trusted person to manage your assets should you become incapacitated and unable to manage your own affairs. Wills only become effective when you die, so they are useless in avoiding conservatorship and guardianship proceedings during your life.
  • Bypass probate. Property in a revocable living trust does not pass through probate. Property that passes using a will guarantees The probate process, designed to wrap up a person’s affairs after satisfying outstanding debts, is public and can be costly and time-consuming – sometimes taking years to resolve.
  • Maintain privacy after death. Wills are public documents; trusts are not. Anyone, including nosey neighbors, predators, and unscrupulous “charities” can discover the details of your estate if you have a will. Trusts allow you to maintain your family’s privacy after death.
  • Protect you from court challenges. Although court challenges to wills and trusts occur, attacking a trust is generally much harder than attacking a will because trust provisions are not made public.

What Wills Can Do – That Revocable Living Trusts Can’t

  • Name guardians for children. Only a will – not a living trust or any other type of document – can be used to name guardians to care for minor children.
  • Specify an executor or personal representative. Wills allow you to name an executor or personal representative – someone who will take responsibility to wrap up your estate after you die. This typically involves working with the probate court, protecting assets, paying your debts, and distributing what remains to beneficiaries. But, if there are no assets in your probate estate (because you have a fully funded revocable trust), this feature is not necessarily useful.

What Both Wills & Trusts Can Do:

  • Allow revisions to your document. Both wills and trusts can be revised whenever your intentions or circumstances change so long as you have the legal capacity to execute them.

WARNING: There is such a thing as an irrevocable trust, which cannot be changed without legal action.

  • Name beneficiaries. Both wills and trusts are vehicles that allow you to name beneficiaries for your assets.
  • Wills simply describe assets and proclaim who gets what. Only assets in your individual name will be controlled by a will.
  • While trusts act similarly, you must go one step further and “transfer” the property into the trust – commonly referred to as “funding.” Only assets in the name of your trust will be controlled by your trust.
  • Provide asset protection. Trusts, and less commonly, wills, are crafted to include protective sub-trusts which allow your beneficiaries access but keep the assets from being seized by their creditors such as divorcing spouses, car accident litigants, bankruptcy trustee, and business failure.

Learn More About Wills & Trusts Today

While some of the differences between wills and trusts are subtle; others are not. That is why we created the wills vs. trusts guide to reference. Together, we’ll take a look at your goals as well as your financial and family situation and design an estate plan tailored to your needs. Call us today and let’s get started.

What Is Dying Intestate: Can A Will or Trust Help

What Is Dying Intestate: Can A Will or Trust Help

Most people understand that having some sort of an estate plan is, as Martha Stewart would say, a “good thing.” However, many of us don’t take the steps to get that estate plan in place because we don’t understand the nuances between wills and trusts – and dying without either.

Here’s what will generally happen if you die, intestate without a will or trust. For this example, we’re assuming you have children, but no spouse:

  1. If you should die intestate, your estate will go through probate and all the world will know what you owned, what you owed, and who got what. Your mortgage company, car loan company, and credit card companies will all seek payment on balances you owed at the time of your death.

After that, state law will decide who gets what and when.

  • For example, if your only heirs are your children and you have not provided any instructions, state law will mandate divvying up proceeds equally.
  • Your older children will get their shares immediately if they’ve attained adulthood.
  • But, the court will appoint a guardian to manage the money for your minor children until they become adults.
  • Shockingly, that guardian can charge a lot of money and be a total stranger – as can the guardian who raises your child.
  • Yes, if you die without a valid will, the court, not you, will decide who raises your minor children.

Some Things To Consider About Wills and Trusts

Keep in mind that since your death has been published to alert valid creditors, it’s not uncommon for predators (fake creditors) to come forth and make demands for payment – even if they’re not owed anything.

The bottom line? Dying intestate allows state law and the court to make all the decisions on your behalf – regardless of what your intent might have been. Publicity is guaranteed.

  1. If you should die with a valid will, your assets will still go through the probate process. However, after creditors have been satisfied, the remaining assets go to whom you’ve identified in your will.
  • So, if you want to leave money to your children and name a guardian for the minor ones, the court will usually abide by your wishes.
  • The same holds true if you specified that you wanted to give assets to a charity, your Aunt Betty, or your neighbor.
  • Keep in mind that predatory creditors are still an issue as your death has been publicized. Even with a will, probate is a public process.

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The bottom line? While a court oversees the process, having a will allows you to tell the court exactly how you want your estate to be handled. But, a public probate is still guaranteed.

  1. If you’ve created a trust, you’ve taken control of your estate plan and your assets. Trust assets are not subject to the probate process and one of the most important benefits of trusts is that they are private. Notices are not published, so you avoid predators coming after your estate.

You’ll have named a trustee to manage your estate with specific instructions on how your assets should be dispersed and when.

  • One word of caution – trusts must be funded in order to bypass probate.
  • Funding means that your assets have been retitled in the name of your trust.
  • Think of your trust as a bushel basket. You must put the apples into the basket as you must put your assets into the trust for either to have value.

You do still need a will to leave any assets inadvertently or intentionally left out of your trust and to name guardians for minor children.

Call Williams Starbucks To Help You Navigate The Process

The bottom line? Trusts allow you to maintain control of your assets through your chosen trustee, avoid probate, and leave specific instructions so that your children are taken care of – without receiving a lump sum of money at an age where they are more likely to squander it or have it seized from them.

Don’t let the will versus trust controversy slow you down. Contact us or call the office today; we’ll put together an estate plan that works for you and your family whether it be a will, trust, or both.

5 Factors to Consider When Selecting a Guardian for Your Children

There is no question that having children changes everything — and estate planning is no exception. If you and your spouse pass away or become legally incapacitated, and arrangements were never made in the event of such an emergency, your minor child or children will have to be placed with a new family. Not surprisingly, such a drastic change can be a disruptive process for minor children — even if they are placed with members of your family. If you choose a guardian for your child in your will or other estate plan documents, this difficult time can go much more smoothly if you know the main factors to consider when selecting a guardian.

Who Makes a Good Guardian?

A guardian for your minor child “steps into” your shoes in the event you can no longer care for him or her. No one wants this to happen, but when a parent becomes incapacitated or dies, the minor child left behind will need care. Because a guardian plays such an important role in your family’s life, there are several factors to consider when selecting a guardian to take on this role:

  • Shared values. It is best to choose someone who has a common level of religious belief. For example, if you are not the religious type you may have objections to someone who would expect your child to join and regularly attend church.
  • Parenting style. Whether you run a tight ship at home or prefer a laissez-faire approach to raising children, choosing someone who will continue in your style is likely the best fit.
  • Involvement. Someone who travels all the time will not be able to regularly show up to your kids’ soccer games, gymnastics meets, band concerts, and live theater performances — an important part of being a guardian to your children.
  • Energy level. Having the stamina to be able to keep up with your child — especially during the younger years — is an important factor.
  • Other children. While a potential guardian who already has children should not be a deal-breaker, you should consider how adding more children into the family will affect the dynamic, particularly when it comes to the ages of the kids.

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Other Factors to Consider

In the same manner that you can choose different individuals to manage the estate’s finances and your minor children’s day-to-day needs, you can also choose more than one guardian for your kids. You may want to assign one guardian per child, depending on your family’s circumstances. That being said, setting up guardianship this way may result in your children being separated from one another, which is usually not a good outcome.

Choosing someone who has the resources to care for your children — even if you have left money behind for their care — should also be a factor to consider. Finally, choosing someone who is young enough to be able to care for your child through his or her adulthood, as well as someone who is in good enough health to withstand the challenges of raising a child, are important factors that should be taken into account.

Selecting Your Child’s Guardian

Once you have made a decision on who will be your child’s guardian, contact an experienced estate planning attorney. We can draft the documents you need in order to make this legally binding, as well as create an estate plan that suits your family’s needs and will protect your loved ones in the event you are no longer able to do so yourself. Contact Williams Starbuck today to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about the full process.

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What to Ask A Potential Will and Trust Attorney

It goes without saying that estate planning is incredibly important and is more than just having a will or a trust. Estate planning offers a sense of security for you and your loved ones that your wishes will be carried out. With such an important and personal endeavor, selecting the right Wills and Trusts Attorney is crucial.

Doing your homework, familiarizing yourself with the options, and asking questions will be critical to getting someone who’s actively looking out for your interests.

There are several key factors you should consider when interviewing potential attorneys and ultimately deciding which one to hire.  

Funding a Trust

Will your estate planner help with funding your trust (or otherwise aligning asset ownership with your plan)? How much of the funding process with they do for you?

For some clients, this can be a critical service due to the complexity of assets he or they may own that need to be accounted for. Having someone thorough and reliable in this part of the process will make it easier to ensure the estate planning is completed properly.

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Organization and Payment

What does your estate planning process look like? How long will it take until the entire process is complete? When is payment due and how do I pay?

These questions may seem simple, but, not unlike when you pay for home repairs, it’s important to have an idea of the end date of the process. It is also important to know when you are expected to provide information and payment so that you are not the cause of any delays. Additionally, you never want surprises when it comes to payment amounts or dates. It is common to put down a retainer or deposit with a wills and trusts attorney, but it’s always important to know ahead of time.

Long-term Access

What long-term plans do you have for your firm? Will you or another attorney in your firm be around to help me in the future?

Creating a will or trust isn’t a one-and-done process. Wills and trusts are frequently revisited over the years because of changes in your circumstances and in the law. If at all possible, it’s best to have the same attorneys working with you. Although you can switch attorneys or firms each time you need an update, attorneys with plans to continue to offer services into the future can be a safer bet for ensuring continuity in your estate planning.

Planning for the Future

Can you help my family members if I become sick or when I die? Just because an attorney prepares estate planning documents, does not mean that they will help with estate or trust administration. Having the attorney who prepared your estate planning documents to assist your family during times of incapacity or at your death can be extremely helpful. Since he or she is already aware of your wishes and will have a copy of your documents, addressing these difficult situations can be quicker and involve less hassle.

Have Questions? Let Us Answer Them

There’s no reason to get overwhelmed by the choice of a wills and trusts attorney. Asking just a few simple, but critical, questions can help you find someone who’s on the same page. Contact us or give us a call today to schedule an appointment.  We would be happy to answer these questions and any others you may have.

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Common Misconceptions About Estate Planning

You have worked hard for years, have family members and friends you care about and have approached a time in your life when “estate planning” sounds like something you should do, but you are not exactly sure why. You may feel that you are not wealthy enough or not old enough to bother or care. Or you may already have a Will and feel that you are all set on that front.

Whatever your current position, consider these common misconceptions about estate planning:

Estate Planning is for Wealthy(er) People

False. Anyone who has survived to age eighteen and beyond has likely accumulated a few possessions that are of some monetary or sentimental value. While things like your home, your car, and financial accounts are self-evident assets, that collection of superhero figurines or your iTunes library also deserves proper attention. There is no minimum asset value required to justify having a Will, especially since there are many low-cost options, including estate planning attorneys who will not charge an arm and a leg for a basic Will.

Estate Planning is for Old(er) People

False. Tragedy can strike at any moment, and it is best to have your affairs in order so as not to put your loved ones in a financial or bureaucratic bind while they are grieving. Young parents should ensure that proper guardians are in place to take care of their children if they are no longer around, lest the children end up with the most irresponsible member of the family or, worse, a complete stranger.

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Estate Planning Means Having a Will

False. Having a Will is smart because it puts you in charge of the disposition of your assets. A Will allows you to pick your executor, designate the guardians for your minor children, and name any individuals and charitable organizations as beneficiaries of your estate.

If you were to die without a Will (i.e., intestate), the law of the state where you reside at your death would govern who receives what part of your estate, who administers your estate, and who takes care of your children. There are some situations where state law may override the provisions in your Will (e.g., a spouse’s elective share), but for the most part, you are in the driver’s seat.

However, a Will is only one tool in the estate planning toolbox. There are other vehicles that allow you to remain in control of your possessions and family’s future during life and upon death. Depending on your situation, a Will alone may not be the most efficient or the most cost-effective means to achieve your goals.

Non-Probate Options

Upon your passing, your Will has to go through probate – a process whereby a court reviews your Will and determines its validity. It is a lengthy and often costly process in many states, to begin with, and can become even lengthier if a Will is contested (e.g., on the grounds that someone coerced or cajoled their way into an inheritance).

The delay in the disposition of your assets and the accompanying legal costs may put your family members in financial straits. If your goal is to ensure that your survivors’ cash flow is uninterrupted after your death, it would be wise to incorporate a trust or a life insurance policy into your estate plan. These assets are considered “non-probate” – they pass outside of your Will.

There are other non-probate assets that may constitute a part of your estate. For example, a joint tenancy arrangement on your home, IRA, and payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) accounts designate specific beneficiaries upon your death, and the assets pass to them without the delay and cost of the probate process.

If your Will provides for a different beneficiary of your IRA account or another non-probate asset, it will be superseded by the beneficiary designation form on file with that account’s or asset’s administrator. Therefore, it is wise to review all of your beneficiary designations periodically, but certainly upon life-altering events like marriage, the birth of a child, or divorce.

Start Planning Now

You are neither too young nor too poor to engage in estate planning! Just remember that a Will may be a necessary, but not the only means to plan your estate in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Keep on top of your assets, and your survivors will have another good thing to say about you at your memorial.

Now that you know the common misconceptions about estate planning, Contact us today for any questions and to schedule an appointment. 

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Do You Need a Will? The Answer is Yes

Most Americans do not have a simple will as part of their estate plan. You might believe that a will is only for the rich and famous, and not the average person who has a far smaller net worth. On the other hand, you may think that a will is entirely unnecessary since you have a trust, jointly owned property, or have named beneficiaries on your insurance.

Do You Need A Will?

So, do you really need a will? The short answer to this question is “yes.” In fact, everyone who owns anything – no matter how little value it may seem to have – should have a will. This is because a will puts you in charge of directing others on your wishes and distribution of assets upon your death. Without a will or other estate plan – referred to as intestacy – you have no control and your state’s rules determine who gets what after your death. Even if you have a trust, jointly owned property, or have named beneficiaries on your insurance, a will is important, even as just a “backup” plan.

As a practical matter, the simpler your affairs are (typically, the fewer assets you own) – the less complicated your will and overall estate plan is going to be. Surprisingly to most, it does not take much to complicate your estate. For example, if you have minor children your will must name a guardian for those children in the event of your death.

Likewise, if you have a relative who is disabled, elderly, or without the financial sophistication to manage your assets after your death, a will allows you to name someone to watch over these assets for your loved ones in a special needs or supplemental needs trust. And, these are just two examples of the many things that can complicate your affairs and your estate plan.

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Why It’s Important

Many people believe if they have made beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, property deeds or retirement accounts that a will is not necessary at all.  While it is true that those particular designations will ensure the right people you elected will receive benefits or inherit those assets, the distribution stops there. If there are other assets that you own – such as a car, a china set, or jewelry to name a few – or if you would like to give part of your estate to a charitable organization, a will is essential to your estate planning needs.

What Happens If You Don’t Make One

Furthermore, when a person dies without a will (referred to as intestate), the estate goes into probate. Probate is a judicial proceeding by which the court decides the rightful heirs and distribution of assets of a deceased. Going through probate can be both more time-consuming and expensive without a will than it is with a will. This is because your will can waive certain probate requirements (like having the executor post a bond or obtain judicial approval to have an estate sale).

At the same time, probate without a will follows the governing state’s intestacy laws which may likely result in a less-than-perfect split of assets that not only may not be in line with the deceased’s wishes but may leave many surviving loved ones unhappy. Consequently, for many reasons the creation of a will can fill in gaps of property assignment or plug holes in beneficiary claims on life or other insurance policies.

Family dynamics also play a part in estate planning, something state intestacy laws do not account for. Many people have blended families. There may have been second or third marriages. Older couples may choose to cohabitate after a death or divorce and never legally get married. You may have to treat your children differently on current accounts due to distance, and without a will, those assets will not be distributed fairly.

It is important to note that a will can also include a no-contest clause, reducing the likelihood that potential heirs from arguing over its contents, something that simply isn’t possible if you don’t make a will.

Create One Now

Creating a will as part of your estate plan is primarily about passing your wealth to your loved ones after you die since a will only “works” after it’s gone through the probate court process. It really is about giving you both independence and control of what happens to your assets after your death. Instead of leaving the distribution of your property to local intestacy laws, a will can put your wishes down on paper and direct a selected person to carry out your desires exactly as expressed.

Contact us today or give us a call to schedule an appointment to start the estate planning and will process. We are here to help.

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Picking a Guardian for Your Minor Child(ren)

We know it’s hard. Thinking about someone else raising your children can stop you in your tracks. It feels crushing and too horrific to consider. But you must. If you don’t, a stranger will determine who raises your children if something happens to you. Your children’s guardian could be a relative you despise or even a stranger you’ve never met. That’s why it’s crucial you are picking a guardian for your minor children.

No one will ever be you or parent exactly like you, but more than likely, there is someone you know that could do a decent job providing for your children’s general welfare, education, and medical needs if you are no longer available to do so. Parents with minor children need to name someone to raise them (a guardian) in the event both parents should die before the child becomes an adult. While the likelihood of that actually happening is slim, the consequences of not naming a guardian are more than intense.

If no guardian is named in your will, a judge – a stranger who does not know you, your child, or your relatives and friends – will decide who will raise your child. Anyone can ask to be considered, and the judge will select the person he or she deems most appropriate.

Families tend to fight over children, especially if there’s money involved – and worse – no one may be willing to take your child; if that happens, the judge will place your child in foster care. On the other hand, if you name a guardian, the judge will likely support your choice.

How to Choose a Guardian

Your children’s guardians can be a relative or friends. Here are the factors our clients have considered when selecting guardians (and back up guardians).

  • How well do the children and potential guardians know and enjoy each other
  • Parenting style, moral values, educational level, health practices, religious/spiritual beliefs
  • Location – if the guardian lives far away, your children would have to move from a familiar school, friends, and neighborhood
  • The age and health of the guardian candidates:
    • Grandparents may have the time, but they may or may not have the energy to keep up with a toddler or teenager.
    • An older guardian may become ill and/or even die before a child is grown, so there would be a double loss.
    • A younger guardian, especially a sibling, maybe concentrating on finishing college or starting a career.
  • Emotional preparedness:
    • Someone who is single or who doesn’t want children may resent having to care for your children.
    • Someone with a houseful of their own children may or may not want more around.

 

WARNING: Serving as a guardian and raising your children is a big deal; don’t spring such a responsibility on anyone. Ask your top candidates if they would be willing to serve, and name at least one alternate in case the first choice becomes unable to serve.

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Who’s in Charge of the Money

Raising your children should not be a financial burden for the guardian, and a candidate’s lack of finances should not be the deciding factor. You will need to provide enough money (from assets and/or life insurance) to provide for your children. Some parents also earmark funds to help the guardian buy a larger car or add to their existing home, so there’s plenty of room for extra children.

Factors to Consider

  • Naming a separate person to handle the money can be a good idea. That person would be the trustee in charge of the assets, but not the guardian of the children, responsible for the day-to-day raising of the children.
  • However, having the same person raise the children and handle the money can make things simpler because the guardian would not have to ask someone else for money.
  • But the best person to raise the children may not be the best person to handle the money and it may be tempting for them to use this money for their own purposes.

Let’s Continue this Conversation

We know it’s not easy, but don’t let that stop you. You will be glad that you are picking a guardian for your minor children now. We’re happy to talk this through with you and legally document your wishes. Know that you can change your mind and select a different guardian anytime you’d like.

The chances of needing the guardian to actually step in are usually slim (we always hope this is the one nomination that’s never actually needed); but, you’re a parent and your job is to provide for and protect your children, so let’s do this. Contact us or call our office now for an appointment and we’ll get your children protected.

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