Read more about the article How Wealthy People Save on Taxes—Can Regular People Do the Same? – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

How Wealthy People Save on Taxes—Can Regular People Do the Same? – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

As a direct result of tax cuts made in recent years, Americans can give nearly $13 million in assets without paying any federal estate taxes. Only 0.2% of all tax payers worry about federal estate taxes these days, explains the article “Here are six ways the rich save big on taxes, from putting houses in trusts to guaranteeing inheritance for future generations” from Business Insider. Could some of their tactics work for “regular” people too?

Among these tax avoidance techniques include putting homes and vacation homes in trusts lasting decades and any appreciation in the property’s value doesn’t count towards their taxable estate. Qualified Personal Residence Trusts, or QPRTs, basically freeze the value of real estate properties for tax purposes. The home is placed in the trust, which retains ownership for however many years desired. When the trust ends, the property is transferred out of the taxable estate. The estate only pays the gift tax on the property’s value when the trust was formed—regardless of the appreciation of the home.

Dynasty trusts allow taxpayers to pass wealth to generations who haven’t been born yet and are only subject to the 40% generation-skipping tax once. Florida and Wyoming allow these trusts to last up to 1,000 years, which spans about 40 generations. Heirs don’t own the trust assets but have lifetime rights to the trust’s income and real estate.

Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) can be funded with various assets, from yachts to closely held businesses. Taxpayers put assets in the trust, collect annual payments for as long as they live and get a partial tax break. Only 10% of what remains in the CRT must be donated to a charity to qualify with the IRS.

Taking loans to pay estate taxes is scrutinized by the IRS and has many hoops to jump through. Asset-rich people use this method but are cash-poor and facing a big estate tax bill. The estate can make an upfront deduction on the interest of “Graegin” loans, named after a 1988 Tax Court case. Suppose illiquid assets comprise at least 35% of the estate’s value. In that case, families can defer estate tax for as long as 14 years, paying in installments with interest and effectively taking a loan from the government. However, Graegin loans are prime targets for IRS auditors and can lead to legal battles.

Private-placement life insurance, or PPLI, can pass on assets without incurring any estate tax. A trust is created to own the life insurance policy, which has been created offshore. This strategy is only for the very wealthy, as it usually requires $5 million in upfront premiums and a small army of professionals to set up and administer.

A down market has one silver lining for high-net-worth individuals: it’s an excellent time to create new trusts, as people can transfer depressed assets at a lower tax basis. The Grantor-Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) pays a fixed annuity during the trust term; any appreciation of the asset’s value is not subject to estate tax.

An experienced estate planning attorney will know which of these strategies might work for your family, along with many others used by “regular” people.

Questions? Contact us to schedule an initial call with one of our experienced estate planning attorneys.

Reference: Business Insider (June 12, 2023) “Here are six ways the rich save big on taxes, from putting houses in trusts to guaranteeing inheritance for future generations”

Sims & Campbell, LLC – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning Attorneys

Read more about the article How Do Beneficiary Designations Work? – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning
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How Do Beneficiary Designations Work? – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

Beneficiary designations guarantee that certain assets are transferred efficiently at a person’s passing. Assets with designated beneficiaries transfer automatically to the named beneficiary, no matter what’s in the original asset owner’s will or trust document instructions.

Inside Indiana Business’s recent article, “Who are your beneficiaries?” explains that because the new owner is determined without the guidance of a will document, assets with designated beneficiaries are excluded from the decedent’s probate estate. The fewer assets subject to probate, the less cost and time associated with settling the estate.

Many different types of assets transfer via beneficiary designation at the death of the original owner. These include retirement accounts (IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457(b)s, pensions, etc.), life insurance death benefits and the residual value of annuities. Bank and brokerage accounts can also be made payable on death (POD) or transferable on death (TOD) to a named beneficiary, if desired. POD and TOD designations bypass probate–like beneficiary designations.

The owners can name both primary and contingent beneficiaries. The primary beneficiary is the first in line to inherit the asset. However, if the primary beneficiary predeceases the owner, the contingent beneficiary becomes the new owner. If there’s no contingent beneficiary listed, the asset transfers to the owner’s estate for distribution. There’s no restriction on the number of beneficiaries who can inherit an asset.

Charities can also be beneficiaries of assets. Because a charity doesn’t pay income tax, leaving a taxable retirement account or annuity to a charity will let 100% of the value go toward the charity’s mission. When an individual inherits, income tax may be due when the funds are distributed.

A trust can also be named beneficiary of an asset. This strategy is often employed when minors or those with disabilities are beneficiaries. Designating a trust as a beneficiary can be complex, so do so with the advice of an experienced estate planning attorney.

Simply naming an estate as a beneficiary is typically not a good strategy because this will subject the asset to probate, which can result in unfavorable income tax outcomes for retirement accounts.

When no beneficiaries are named, the owner’s estate will likely become the default, which leads to probate.

Take time to review your current beneficiary designations to be sure they reflect current wishes. Review these designations every five years or when life circumstances change (marriage, birth, divorce, death).

Whenever you name or change a beneficiary, verify that the account custodian or insurance company correctly recorded the information because errors are problematic, if not impossible, to correct after your death.

Questions? Contact us to schedule an initial call with one of our experienced estate planning attorneys.

Reference: Inside Indiana Business (June 5, 2023) “Who are your beneficiaries?”

Sims & Campbell, LLC – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning Attorneys

Read more about the article What Should I Do Now for a Successful Business Succession? – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning
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What Should I Do Now for a Successful Business Succession? – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

According to the Conway Center for Family Business, family businesses account for 64% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), yet 57% of those businesses have no formal succession plan.

Twin Cities Business’s recent article, “Don’t Wait for the Future,” notes that many businesses are founded on a high degree of personal trust and loyalty, often a simple handshake agreement. However, these informal agreements aren’t enough to protect you against disagreements and damaged relationships, which can be costly. A lack of business succession planning can negatively impact business owners, as well as their heirs and employees.

There are two key reasons business owners should think about a business succession structure sooner rather than later. One is taxes. Under the current laws, the estate tax exemption is scheduled to sunset in 2025. This leaves business owners with a small window to take advantage of the planning opportunities around this exemption. Second, the absence of a succession structure may result in business disruption at a very emotional time for owners and employees.

The reason why so many business owners are unprepared is that many of them find it uncomfortable or daunting to discuss succession planning or enacting formal agreements. Others don’t truly see the importance of such discussions. And, in other cases, it can be seen as a sign of disloyalty.

The good news is that partnerships can be strengthened if you address this process the right way, with respect for everyone’s point of view and a willingness to listen. The result will be that you’re totally confident that everyone’s interests are secured. This lets you focus on your business, instead of being distracted by unspoken concerns.

Formal contingency plans help business partners clarify their vision for the future. Many are so busy with personal lives, families, and work that they frequently fail to consider the impact of events outside their control. However, these conversations help us think clearly about what we want in the future and what it will take to get there.

If the process is handled correctly, guided by an experienced attorney, the result should be peace of mind and a higher degree of protection for partners and their families.

Contact us to speak to one of our experienced estate planning attorneys.

Reference:  Twin Cities Business (April 10, 2023) “Don’t Wait for the Future”

Sims & Campbell, LLC – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning Attorneys

Read more about the article How Estate Planning Transfers Business Interest with Limited Liability Companies – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning
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How Estate Planning Transfers Business Interest with Limited Liability Companies – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

Limited liability companies, or LLCs, are used in estate planning to achieve estate tax savings and consolidate asset management, according to a recent article, “Estate Planning With Limited Liability Companies: Transfers of Business Interests as a Planning Opportunity,” from The National Law Review.

In many cases, the LLC is used as a business entity to facilitate gifting or transfers to children, often at discounted values, reducing the value of the donor’s assets, ultimately subject to gift and estate taxation. There are also non-tax benefits, as a properly structured LLC insulates owners from liability and provides an organizational control mechanism.

As a “manager-managed” entity, the management functions and authority over the LLC rests in designated or elected managers, as opposed to owners, also known as “members.” Separating management from ownership transfers some of the asset’s economic benefits, while retaining control over operations. Limiting managerial or voting rights also justifies using valuation discounts for the membership interests who lack control over the company, presenting a tax-planning opportunity.

An LLC offers several benefits:

  • A streamlined method of transferring ownership
  • Creating a structure for centralized management, control, and succession
  • Preserving family ownership through rights of purchase and first refusal
  • Establishing procedures to resolve internal family disputes
  • Gaining protection of LLC assets from claims asserted against owners
  • Gaining protection of owner assets from claims asserted against the LLC

Significant tax savings can be achieved through lifetime gifts of LLC interests because of valuation discounting and removing future appreciation from the donor’s estate. In addition, if transfers are made to trusts for the children, it may be possible to achieve even further benefits, including increased protection against lawsuits, dissolving marriages, and future estate taxes.

These are complex transactions requiring the knowledge of an experienced estate planning attorney and careful vetting by tax advisors. One downside to lifetime gifting: unlike assets passing as part of an estate, gifted assets do not receive a basis adjustment for income tax purposes at the time of the donor’s death. Another downside is that the donor generally cannot benefit economically from the assets after they are transferred. However, if the donor is concerned about divesting themselves of the transferred assets and the income, the transfer could be structured as a sale rather than a gift to provide increased cash flow back to the transferor.

A final note: if the LLC is not operated consistently with the entity’s non-tax business purposes, it may be vulnerable to attack by the IRS or third parties, undermining its benefits for estate tax planning and limited liability protection. The entity must be managed to support its valid business purpose as a legitimate enterprise.

Questions? Contact us to speak to an experienced estate planning attorney.

Reference: The National Law Review (May 19, 2023) “Estate Planning With Limited Liability Companies: Transfers of Business Interests as a Planning Opportunity”

Sims & Campbell, LLC – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning Attorneys

Read more about the article Estate Planning Lessons from Elvis’ Mistakes- Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning
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Estate Planning Lessons from Elvis’ Mistakes- Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

So far, part of the Presley legacy appears to be the failure to create effective estate plans, says a recent article from Kiplinger, “Five Estate Planning Lessons We Can Learn From Elvis’ Mistakes.” An effective estate plan transfers assets and legacy to the right people at the right time, while keeping the wrong people out.

In this case, the right people would be the people whom Elvis and Lisa Marie wanted to benefit, and a good estate plan would have ensured that their desired beneficiaries or heirs received their inheritance. The right time would be to give control of assets to loved ones when they are mature enough to benefit for a lifetime. Keeping the wrong people out would mean minimizing tax and administrative costs and protecting heirs from lawsuits, divorce, creditors and a second level of estate taxes upon their own death.

Most recently, Priscilla Presley challenged a 2016 amendment to Lisa Marie’s trust which would have removed Pricilla as co-trustee from serving alongside Lisa Marie’s former business manager, Barry Siegel. This may have been her intent. However, the amendment didn’t include basic legal formalities. A confidential settlement was recently reached on this issue.

Priscilla had grown Elvis’ estate after his death. Despite his fame, he left an illiquid estate worth $5 million in 1977—adjusted for inflation, roughly $20 million in today’s dollars. The IRS successfully asserted that the estate was worth far more and asserted $10 million in estate taxes.

The estate didn’t include as much royalty income as expected because Elvis’ business manager, Colonel Tom Parker, sold the music catalog to RCA for $5.4 million, of which only $1.35 million went to the estate. Priscilla then assumed control of the estate. From her wise use of Graceland profits, merchandising and royalties for music recorded after the RCA deal, Priscilla grew the estate to $100 million.

In 1993, Lisa Marie turned 25 and was eligible to receive and control her inheritance. She established a revocable trust to hold her inheritance, then appointed a businessman as her co-trustee with primary control over her assets. In two years, he sold 85% of her interests in Elvis Presley Enterprises, an entity The Elvis Presley Trust created to conduct business, including Graceland and worldwide licensing of Elvis Presley Products.

The deal was worth $100 million but brought the estate only $40 million after taxes, plus $25 million in stock in a future holding company of American Idol, later made worthless due to bankruptcy by its parent company.

Careful planning could have avoided substantial income tax on the sale and provided the family a much better financial return. Siegal was removed as trustee in 2015 when lawsuits between Siegel and Lisa Marie began, which were pending when she died unexpectedly in 2023.

The lessons from the Elvis estate:

Use a trust, not a will. The trust removes delays, and higher costs and keeps private details private.

Make sure that your estate plan addresses estate tax issues. The goal is to reduce the value of the taxable estate and increase the value of your legacy to family and loved ones. The estate tax must be paid in cash within nine months from the date of death. This often requires a sale of estate or trust assets to pay the tax and can lead to heirs getting less than the full value of assets because of the need to come up with the cash. A simple testamentary charitable lead annuity trust (TCLAT) could have prevented the estate tax assessed after Elvis’ death and provided substantial benefits to Lisa Marie.

Plan for a lifetime legacy. Lisa Marie gained complete control over her inheritance at age 25. First, however, she needed to prepare for the complexity of the business and other assets she inherited and learn how to maintain a lifetime of living within her means.

Plan for estate taxes on the sale of the family business. Careful planning can almost always reduce the tax triggered by the sale of appreciated property. Unfortunately, no tax mitigation planning was taken before the $100 million sale of Elvis Presley Enterprises. As a result, the maximum capital gains tax, federal and estate combined, can be more than 40%.

Carefully choose the successor trustee or executor and provide at least two alternatives. Elvis appointed his father Vernon as the executor. Elvis died tragically in 1977 when Vernon was elderly and not well. Appointing a business manager as a trustee creates an inherent conflict of interest due to the business manager’s ability to profit from decisions made. A professional trustee would have been a better choice due to the complexity of the estate and Lisa Marie’s age.

Reference: Kiplinger (May 18, 2023) “Five Estate Planning Lessons We Can Learn From Elvis’ Mistakes”

Contact us to review your estate plan with one of our experienced estate planning attorneys!

Sims & Campbell, LLC- Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning Attorneys

Read more about the article How Gifting and Joint Ownership Can Go Wrong- Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning
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How Gifting and Joint Ownership Can Go Wrong- Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

As with many things related to estate planning, do-it-yourself solutions appearing to be fast and easy fixes often become problems for parents and their children. Trying to simplify asset protection by gifting is loaded with risks, says a recent article, “SENIOR SCENE | Pitfalls of gifting and joint ownership of assets” from The Sentinel-Record.

Most notably, the laws governing eligibility for Medicaid used for nursing home care require a 60-month “look-back” period, where any transfer of assets for any reason makes the person ineligible for Medicaid benefits up to 60 months or even longer from the date the gift was made.

Secondly, creditors of the person making a gift could claim any transfer was a fraudulent transfer made in an attempt to defeat the rights of creditors to make a claim. Both parent and child could end up in costly, time-consuming litigation over creditor claims.

Third, and perhaps most problematic, is the chance for the child’s creditors to attach the assets in order to satisfy a claim against the child. This could also occur if the child is embroiled in a divorce—the assets could be considered a marital asset by the court.

Gifting assets was a popular estate planning strategy to reduce or eliminate estate taxes in the past. Nevertheless, in light of the very high current federal estate tax exemptions, this is only used for some families.

Another disadvantage of gifting is the transfer of tax cost basis from the parent to the child for capital gains tax purposes. As a result, the child would be forced to pay capital gains taxes on the increase in value from the parent’s tax cost—typically the original purchase price—versus the ultimate sales price.

Contrast this with a child who inherits an asset at death from a parent. When the child inherits the asset at death, the asset receives a step-up in tax basis to its date-of-death value. This is one of the most favorable tax rules remaining, which is lost when gifting during life is used.

Another problem occurs when seniors make assets jointly owned, especially bank accounts. The bank often encourages this, trying to be helpful so the child may pay the parents’ bills. However, by placing the child’s name on the account, the parent may be subjecting their account to potential creditor claims of their children.

In addition, the jointly owned account passes only to the surviving owner, so the estate plan may be circumvented by having the assets in the account pass to the one child rather than passing to all the remaining trust under a will or trust.

An estate plan created by an experienced estate planning attorney can eliminate many pitfalls of gifting and joint ownership. Before making gifts or establishing joint accounts, meet with an estate planning attorney to learn how to achieve your goals, including planning for Medicaid, without putting your assets at risk.

Reference: The Sentinel-Record (May 28, 2023) “SENIOR SCENE | Pitfalls of gifting and joint ownership of assets”

Contact us to review you estate plan with one of our experienced estate planning attorneys!

Sims & Campbell, LLC- Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning Attorneys

Read more about the article What Legal Documents Does Every Senior Need?-Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

What Legal Documents Does Every Senior Need?-Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

Legal documents pertaining to health care, end-of-life treatments and allowing others to access medical records are vital to protecting adults at any age. However, they are especially important for seniors, says a recent article from The News-Enterprise, “All seniors need legal documents for medical issues.”

These documents include a living will, health care power of attorney and HIPAA authorization. In addition, they give you the ability to name the individuals you want access to secure medical information and who will be able to make decisions about your health care during incapacity.

The health care power of attorney is the broadest and most important medical estate planning document. Depending upon where you live, it may be known as medical power of attorney, healthcare proxy, or healthcare surrogate.

Here’s where an estate planning attorney is needed: like many estate planning documents, the health care power of attorney can be broad, encompassing both a living will, and a HIPAA authorization within one single document, or it can be extremely limited. By having a document created for you, rather than using a boilerplate form, you can ensure your exact wishes are followed.

The health care power of attorney generally makes specific determinations. The document needs to name one person or agent and a backup agent to act on your behalf. Many people think they can change their agent if the agent becomes incapacitated or unavailable. Still, all too often, they need to remember to have their document updated, and then, when they need to have an agent act on their behalf, no one can do so.

Without an appointed agent, court intervention becomes necessary, which is time-consuming and costly.

The health care power of attorney should specify when the agent may act on behalf of the person and address both access to information and decision-making. The ability to immediately make decisions is critical when the individual is at an advanced age or has urgent medical needs. In addition, other provisions are included to ensure the agent has the full ability to act.

A living will, sometimes called an advance medical directive, may be a separate document or contained within the health care power of attorney. It includes instructions for end-of-life decisions. These may be as detailed as outlining when artificial nutrition and hydration may be used or as simple as naming an agent with the right to remove the person from life support. If you have strong feelings about using life-prolonging devices, your wishes can be legally enforceable through a living will.

Lastly, a HIPAA authorization permits another person to have access to review medical records.

These health care documents should be created with the help of an experienced estate planning attorney to ensure the person carrying out your wishes is the person whose judgment you trust and to clarify your wishes. Preparing for these tough decisions in advance is hard. However, this is a gift to those you love, who will otherwise be left hoping they did what you would have wanted.

Reference: The News-Enterprise (May 27, 2023) “All seniors need legal documents for medical issues”

Contact us to review you estate plan with one of our experienced estate planning attorneys!

Sims & Campbell, LLC- Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning Attorneys

Read more about the article What Should I Know About Wills? – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

What Should I Know About Wills? – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

A valid last will lets you do the following:

  • Leave assets to people that would be excluded by the laws controlling property distribution after you die;
  • Change how your assets would be distributed to family members;
  • Establish caretakers for your children; and
  • Create requirements for inheriting.

Forbes’ recent article entitled, “Last Will And Testament: Everything You Need To Know,” explains that a will is a legal document created in anticipation of your death. The best known function of a last will is to determine who gets property. However, a last will can also control other things about your property and responsibilities. It’s an important tool in estate planning and one that almost everyone should create.

There are different kinds of last wills that you can create to take control of your legacy. Let’s look at some of the most common types.

Simple Will. With this last will, assets are left directly to beneficiaries. Simple wills are easy to write in most cases, and you can amend them as needed over time. They are a sound choice for those who don’t have children from a prior marriage, who do not have a lot of assets and who do not have concerns about anyone challenging their last will and testament.

Complex Will. This will is used if you have more specialized needs, such as creating a testamentary trust, which is created within your last will. You create the testamentary trust to transfer ownership of assets into a trust instead of directly to beneficiaries. A complex last will can also be used to create a special needs trust (to leave assets to a person with disabilities who relies on means-tested government benefits) or to create a protective trust for your child.

Holographic Will. A holographic will is handwritten by the creator of the last will (known as the testator). This type of last will isn’t recognized in all states.  A holographic last will must also often meet specific requirements, such as the last will being signed by witnesses present when the testator signed the document.

Living Will. This is much different from the other kinds of wills. A living will does not specify who inherits assets, but rather is aimed at making advanced decisions about medical care. When you create a living will, you specify what kinds of medical care you do and do not want if decisions must be made while incapacitated.

Questions? Contact us to schedule a complimentary initial call with one of our experienced estate planning attorneys.

Reference: Forbes (May 18, 2023) “Last Will And Testament: Everything You Need To Know”

Sims & Campbell, LLC – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning Attorneys

Read more about the article What if My Executor Dies? – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

What if My Executor Dies? – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

If the executor dies while the estate is being administered, it can create many complications, says a recent article, “What Happens If the Executor of My Will Dies?” from Yahoo! Finance. One solution is to name a successor executor to avoid some of the problems. Many people fail to do this. It’s a big mistake.

In estate planning, an executor is charged with settling the estate of a deceased person. The executor is named when your will is created. That is when you have the opportunity to name the person you trust to act as an executor. If you die without a will in place or your will fails to name an executor, any interested party can petition the probate court to become the executor.

You probably prefer to select the person to be your executor, rather than hoping the court names someone you trust to follow your wishes.

The executor has a number of tasks to complete, including but not limited to:

  • Creating an inventory of the decedent’s estate
  • Notifying creditors of the decedent’s passing
  • Liquidating estate assets to pay creditors
  • Distributing remaining assets among heirs according to the terms of the will

Executors have a fiduciary duty when settling estates, meaning they must always act in the best interest of the decedent’s heirs. If they fail to do this, they can be removed.

If the executor dies before the person who makes the will, a new one needs to be named. This is yet another reason why last wills need to be updated on a regular basis, especially if the executor is close in age to the testator, the person who created the will.

The court will name an executor if the testator fails to update their will or write a new one. Any interested person can petition the court, which may not be what you had in mind. Someone who is not qualified or doesn’t have the best interest of heirs could be appointed.

What if the executor dies during the probate process? If a successor executor is named in the will, they can step up to finish the estate settlement. However, this only happens if the testator names one or more successor executors. When there is no successor executor named, the court will name one.

The easiest way to avoid complications arising from the death of the executor is to name one or more successor executors. Another is to place most or all of your assets in a trust, which would allow them to bypass probate. For a trust, you’ll need to name a trustee who will manage assets on behalf of beneficiaries.

Placing assets in a trust avoids complications following the death of an executor as the trustee would be responsible for distributing the assets. Instead of waiting for probate to be included, the trust beneficiaries could receive their assets according to the terms of the trust.

Contact us to review your estate plan with one of our experienced estate planning attorneys.

Reference: Yahoo! Finance (May 15, 2023) “What Happens If the Executor of My Will Dies?”

Sims & Campbell, LLC – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning Attorneys

Read more about the article Estate Plans Require Preparation for Success – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning
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Estate Plans Require Preparation for Success – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning

Making wishes clear to family members is never enough to satisfy legal standards, according to a recent article, “Preparation is essential part of estate plan” from The News-Enterprise. Quite the opposite occurs when family members refuse to follow verbal requests, especially when personal grievances come to the surface during times of grief.

A second misconception concerns the spouse or children being able to step in and take action for a loved one solely based on the family relationship.

Many parents have children who would make poor agents, so many don’t name their children to act on their behalf. Even if you want your spouse or child to act on your behalf, you have to name them in the proper legal documents.

A third frequent misconception is that documents can be created when needed. Not so! Documents like Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will and others must be created well in advance. An incapacitated person cannot sign legal documents, so if no planning has been done, the family will have to petition the court to name a guardian—an expensive, time-consuming and complicated process.

Every adult should have three basic documents while they are in good health: a Health Care Power of Attorney, a Durable Power of Attorney and a Last Will and Testament.

The Health Care Power of Attorney gives another person the right to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to do so. It also gives another person the right to access protected health care information, including medical and health insurance records. It may also be used to authorize organ and/or tissue donation and set limitations for donation. Finally, the document may direct end-of-life decisions regarding artificial life support.

The Durable Power of Attorney allows another person to handle legal and financial matters. It can be effective upon signing or upon incapacity. Without correctly executed Powers of Attorney, the family will need to apply for guardianship.

The Last Will and Testament determines who should receive any specific property and how your property is to be divided and distributed. Wills are only effective upon death, so any property in the will continues to be yours until death. Wills are also used to name the executor who will be responsible for administering the estate. It can also be used to set up additional protections for disabled beneficiaries, minor children and others who are not good with finances.

Speak with an experienced estate planning attorney to be certain to have these essential documents to prepare for the times when life doesn’t go as expected. Preparation is key to protecting yourself and those you love.

Contact us to schedule a complimentary initial call with one of our experienced estate planning attorneys.

Reference: The News-Enterprise (May 13, 2023) “Preparation is essential part of estate plan”

Sims & Campbell, LLC – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning Attorneys