A good estate plan includes a will. Wills are an efficient way to distribute property according to the person’s intent and avoid family fighting at the time of distribution. Wills have been around for a long time, and are part of the tool set of every experienced estate-planning attorney. A common, but serious mistake that people make is to use generic wills that they find online. Wills found online are problematic because they may not comply with the Illinois Wills statute and may leave gaps in the property distribution.
An experienced Illinois estate-planning attorney on the other hand, will have a personal relationship with her clients and ensure that wills reflect the nuances of each individual case. After drafting the will, the attorney will guide the client through the process of reviewing, revising, and executing the will.
Planning for pet care after one dies is an area of estate planning that people often overlook. Sometimes, a family member will step up to take care of the pet. However, when family members are not willing or able to take on the responsibility of caring for a pet, the pet could end up in a shelter.
Discuss pet care with your estate planning lawyer.[/caption]
Fortunately, an estate-planning attorney will make sure that a strong estate plan contains adequate resources to provide for the pet. In Illinois, one can go about providing for a pet in two ways. However, both methods are not equal.
The first option is for the pet owner to make a bequest in a will to a family member providing resources to take care of the pet. While this method is easy because the bequest is usually part of the main will, it may not be in the best interest of the pet. Illinois wills usually have to go through probate, which can mean long delays before the funds are available for the pet care. Moreover, wills are open to challenges during probate, which may mean even longer delays.
Most people want to make sure their families are taken care of once they pass away. However, in the event of prolonged illness or long term care, that goal may not be possible to achieve. Medical expenses and long term care can reduce the value of an estate very quickly. Heirs and family members may wonder who is responsible for the payment of debts after death. The answer may depend upon the status of the estate once the decedent has passed.
Solvent Estate
A solvent estate is one that has enough assets to pay off all of the debt of the decedent. The estate representative will pay off all of the debts using the assets of the estate. For example, if the estate is worth $500,000.00 and the debts add up to $200,000.00, after the debts are satisfied, the estate would then be worth $300,000.00. If the decedent has left a Last Will and Testament, the remaining monies would then be given to the people that were named therein.
More than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s, a progressive brain disorder that leads to the eventual loss of memory, reasoning and intellect. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics, it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. While numbers rise for newly diagnosed cases, funding for research to combat the disease is not materializing fast enough.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports an estimated $562 million in funding for Alzheimer’s research in fiscal year 2014. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that the cost of care will exceed $200 billion this year and reach $1.2 trillion by 2050. A survey of 170 leading biomedical scientists released this year by BrightFocus Foundation, a Maryland-based nonprofit, revealed that:
If you do not have a lot of money or assets, you may be wondering why it is important for you to have a will. However, a will is not only for the rich. You do not have to be rich to feel that you have something of value. Perhaps it is a precious belonging that you want a certain person to have. If you do not have a will in place, you will not have a say in how things are managed once you are gone.
A will can be changed as your life changes. According to CNNMoney it is a good idea to review your will periodically, particularly if your marital status changes or if your family expands. It is also recommended that you review your named beneficiary on any retirement such as any IRA and 401 (k) accounts, as these will automatically be transferred upon your death. If your beneficiaries are deceased or no longer in your life, you want to ensure your assets transfer to those you care about most.
Although there are several types of IRAs, the two most popular are Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. Both types of IRAs have their benefits and limitations, but they can be invaluable tools if used properly. Contributions to Traditional IRAs are tax deductible, subject to annual contribution limits. Contributions to Traditional IRAs can result in significant tax benefits, especially for people in higher income tax brackets. Additionally, transactions within the IRA are also protected from taxation. Withdrawals are generally subject to income tax, but there is presumption that the contributor will be at lower tax bracket during retirement.
Conversely, contributions to Roth IRAs do not provide the ability to deduct contributions from income. However, withdrawals are exempt from income tax, which means that any appreciation in value between the time of contribution and time of withdrawal will be tax exempt.
Both of these instruments have limitations on the amount one can contribute and when distributions are possible. Although one may contribute as much money as one wants to either type of IRA, there are specific rules that govern how much one can contribute tax free. Distributions can happen at any time, but unless certain conditions are met, distributions before the age of 59 ½ could result in significant tax and early withdrawal penalties. Because the rules governing the taxation of contributions and distributions from IRAs are very complex, it is important to obtain assistance from a tax advisor or estate planning attorney.
While IRAs are important retirement planning tools, the rules governing them are complex and an experienced estate planning attorney should assist with reviewing these strategies in conjunction with the overall estate plan. At the Law Office of Cynthia Hayes Hutchins, P.C., we have over 25 years of experience estate planning, and we are ready to answer any questions that you may have.
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According to AARP Magazine, one common mistake people make is “failing to tie your business to your estate plan.” As one attorney told AARP, “parents sometimes do not want to talk to their kids about it and just leave the business to the kids.” This method does not take into consideration how to provide for children who work outside of the business. Sometimes failing to adequately plan for a family or small business means that the business ends up being sold under market, and distribution is not always uniform.
Another common mistake is to leave lump sums of money in cash instead of in a trust. A different attorney told AARP the anecdote of a father who left $250,000 “to his heroin-addicted son, who was penniless six months later.” A trust, according to AARP, “stipulates how you want the property distributed... the trustee holds your property and doles it out per your instructions.”
A third common mistake is failing to keep your estate plan updated. “Each time the law or your family changes,” reports AARP, “revisit your estate plan.” Even with all this, the most important aspect of estate planning is retaining an experienced estate planning attorney. Do not go through planning your estate alone. Contact a dedicated Chicago-area estate-planning firm today.
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There are five different types of trusts that can be used when beginning estate planning, according to CNN Money Magazine. A trust, according to Fidelity.com, “is a fiduciary agreement that allows a third party, or trustee, to hold assets on behalf of a beneficiary or beneficiaries.” A trust specifies how you would like your assets to be passed on to the people who you have designated as beneficiaries, and differs from a will because it deals only with specific assets owned by the trust rather than an overall plan for your estate upon your death.
The first type of trust, according to CNN Money Magazine, is a credit-shelter trust. This is also known as a family trust, in which you designate “an amount to the trust up to but not exceeding the estate-tax exemption.” The rest of your estate can then be passed to your spouse upon your death tax-free. Another type of trust is known as a generation-skipping trust, which “allows you to transfer a substantial amount of money tax-free to beneficiaries who are at least two generations your junior—typically your grandchildren.”
The next type of trust, according to CNN Money Magazine, is a qualified personal residence trust, which “can remove the value of your home or vacation dwelling from your estate.” This type of trust is very useful if your home “is likely to appreciate in value.” Another type of trust is called an irrevocable life insurance trust. It can be helpful when your heirs need money quickly after you are gone, for example, to keep a family business running. The fifth type of trust is a qualified terminable interest property trust, which is particularly useful if “you are part of a family where there have been divorces, remarriages, and stepchildren.”
Determining which type of trust is best for you is only one aspect of estate planning. When you are ready to begin planning for your family, the most important first step is to seek the counsel of a lawyer. Do not go through the planning process alone. Contact an experienced DuPage County estate-planning attorney today.
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Part of estate planning invariably involves making plans for a funeral. Many estate plans involve the notion of a pre-paid funeral, but unless the specifics are laid out with the assistance of a qualified estate-planning attorney, a pre-paid funeral could end up being a “grave error,” at least according to AARP Magazine. In some cases, such as that of Mississippi resident Evie McComb, a person will purchase a pre-paid funeral, file away the paperwork without alerting his or her family to the decision, and after his or her death, the paperwork will not surface. As was the case with McComb, the surviving family ended up paying for what had already been paid. “Evie’s daughter, Johnnye Denman, presented the document to the funeral home and asked for a refund,” according to AARP Magazine. “Too late, they said.”
Estate planning is not just about deciding where your money will go. When planning for your family after your death, your assets are not the only things about which you will need to decide. Especially if your children are young, you will need to take into consideration what will happen for them upon your death. It may seem morbid to think about, but planning ahead is far less morbid than not having a plan—which leaves your family to make decisions without you. Naming a legal guardian in the event of your death, if your children are minors, is an important part of estate planning. 
According to IllinoisLegalAid.org, a “guardian is a person who has been appointed by the court to handle the personal or financial affairs of another person.” Many parents opt to appoint a trusted relative or friend as the guardian of their children. It is important that the person who you prefer to have as your child’s guardian is trustworthy and close to the child—this person will be handling all the financial, as well as day-to-day, decisions in your child’s life if you are unable to do so. If your child is developmentally disabled and relies solely on you, even if your child is over 18 you will need to consider naming a legal guardian. According to IllinoisLegalAid.org, “many important decisions may need to be made concerning matters such as health care, living arrangements, and habilitation.”
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