King & Wood, P.A.

An Estate Plan To-Do List to Get Planning Done

“Whether you’ve experienced a marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or the loss of a loved one, it’s crucial to ensure that your plan aligns with your current circumstances.”

Even if your New Year’s resolutions have fallen by the wayside, don’t let the resolution to create or revise your estate plan pass without tackling it. A recent San Francisco Bay Times article, “Kickstart 2025 With 5 Estate Planning Resolutions to Secure Your Future,” offers a step-by-step list of the tasks to complete your estate plan.

Start by locating your estate planning documents. Review them to be sure they’re up to date. If your will includes people no longer living or beneficiaries you’re no longer feeling generous towards, you’ll need to make those changes.

Review your estate plan with an eye on the people you’ve named for specific roles. Will the executor or trustee be a good fit? What about the person you’ve named as Power of Attorney? Your estate plan should also include a Healthcare Proxy. As you age, you need to be sure the people in these roles can still physically get to the bank or the hospital and navigate online banking or healthcare portals on your behalf.

Digital assets are now part of everyone’s life. However, not everyone addresses their digital assets in estate plans. You’ll need to review and record your digital accounts, from emails to social media to cryptocurrency, and create a list of the accounts, login information and passwords. If you have two or three-factor identification, you’ll need to be sure your digital executor can access your mobile phone or email to confirm their identity. Many people use password managers to gather their information. However, a notebook will do as long as your digital executor knows its location.

If you haven’t reviewed your healthcare directives in a while, you’ll want to do so. Your wish to be kept off any life-support systems while in your thirties may have changed as you have gotten older. After COVID, many people who would have never wanted to be on a respirator learned that it was lifesaving, not life-ending. Speak with your healthcare proxy about your wishes, so they know what you want and your estate planning attorney to ensure that they are documented properly.

An experienced estate planning attorney can help you avoid or minimize the probate process. For instance, placing assets in a trust can take the asset out of your taxable estate if the right trust is used. The assets in the trust won’t go through probate and will remain private. If using Payable on Death accounts makes sense for your estate plan, be sure that the accounts you want to transfer to someone else on your death are titled correctly.

An estate planning attorney will guide you through the process to ensure that you have the right documents, so your loved ones can help you if you become incapacitated and know your wishes when you die. It’s a gift to those you love, easing their burden and building your legacy.

Reference: San Francisco Bay Times (Feb. 5, 2025) “Kickstart 2025 With 5 Estate Planning Resolutions to Secure Your Future”

Do I Have to Pay Deceased Loved One’s Taxes?

“When someone passes away, their tax headaches don’t die with them. In fact, those obligations can further complicate the lives of survivors: Federal estate taxes may be due and state inheritance taxes could also come into play.”

Sooner or later, someone has to resolve the tax liabilities when a loved one dies. It is usually a family member who faces this task. For one woman, the unexpected passing of her father in early 2018 left her the task of filing his 2017 return and the family’s estate planning attorney filed the 2018 return through the father’s estate. The family is still waiting for the 2017 tax refund from the IRS, and needs to resolve a stimulus check for $1,200 her family received last spring that had to be sent back.

Many families are facing similar situations, as reported in this recent article “Death and taxes: Americans grapple with filing the final tax return for deceased relatives in a pandemic year” from USA Today. Survivors are anxious about complex tax issues at the same time they are in mourning for a loved one.

The final tax return uses IRS Form 1040, the same one that would have been used if the taxpayer were living. The major difference: the word “deceased” is written after the taxpayer’s name.

If the taxpayer was married, the surviving spouse may file a joint return for the year of death. For two years after the taxpayer’s death, the surviving spouse may file as a qualifying widow or widower, which lets them continue to use the same tax brackets that apply to married-filing-jointly returns.

The larger the estate and income for a decedent, the more complicated taxes after death can become. Estate planning attorneys recommend naming an executor in the will and tasking them with taking care of final taxes.

The estate tax is paid on assets owned at the time of death. As of this writing, estates valued at more than $11.7 million (or $23.4 million per married couple), pay a 40% federal tax, in addition to state estate or inheritance taxes, if there are any. It is generally expected that the coming months will see a large reduction in the federal estate tax exemption.

The deadline to file a final return is the tax filing deadline of the year following the taxpayer’s death. The executor or administrator is usually the person who signs the tax return, although a surviving spouse signs the joint return. If there is no executor, whoever is responsible for filing the return signs it and should note that they are signing on behalf of the decedent. For a joint return, the spouse signs the return and writes “filing as surviving spouse” in the space for the other spouse’s signature.

There’s one more step if a return is due. If the deceased is owed money, the IRS Form 1310 should be used. That’s the Statement of a Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer. The IRS says that surviving spouses signing a joint return don’t have to file this form, but tax experts think it’s a good idea to try to proactively prevent any delays.

If the decedent owes taxes, the tax bill is to be settled by the estate’s executor. If there are insufficient funds to pay the federal income and estate taxes, relatives are not responsible for the remaining balance.

Note that the executor may be held liable if the assets are distributed before paying the taxes, or if the debts of the estate are paid before taxes are paid. The same is true if the executor is aware of the insufficient funds and inability to pay the taxes but spends assets anyway.

Talk with an estate planning attorney about the taxes that will need to be paid from an estate. You don’t want to leave a legacy of tax pain for the family.

Reference: USA Today (April 22, 2021) “Death and taxes: Americans grapple with filing the final tax return for deceased relatives in a pandemic year”

Delaying Social Security during COVID can Be Risky

“The Covid economy has pushed a lot of older workers into early retirement. However, hold off on taking those government checks.”

Putting off claiming Social Security until age 70 is one of the best financial strategies for American workers, but only 4% of people born between 1943-1947 were able to wait that long. According to a recent article titled “Forced to Retire? Don’t Claim Social Security Just Yet” from Bloomberg, the pressure to claim Social Security earlier than anticipated is especially great now.

Covid has had a harsh impact on the labor market. More than 2.7 million workers age 55 and older lost their jobs or left the labor market since March 2020, out of 38 million workers from this age group. Nearly three million Americans are at risk for early and involuntary retirement.

Claiming benefits before age 70, when benefits reach their maximum, means permanent cuts for you, your surviving spouse and any dependents. Over the years, Congress has cut Social Security benefits by raising the retirement age and gradually increasing monthly benefits, if workers wait until age 70. For people born after 1960, who are 61 years old in 2021, monthly benefits increase by a little under 7% per year between ages 62 and 70. That’s a healthy rate of return.

Delaying is the best option, but it’s not always the most comfortable one. People worry about dying early, about the Social Security system collapsing, or massive cuts being made to Social Security. Economists know that most people believe they will die sooner than the mortality tables predict.  While there are plenty of articles about how Social Security will become insolvent, there are just as many articles saying it won’t.

Here is an example of how delaying Social Security benefits can work. Let’s say Jane Doe claims Social Security at age 62. She receives a monthly benefit of $1,125. But if she waits until age 70, her monthly benefit will be $1,980. An $855 monthly increase would give her a lot more spending power.

Some options: Jane could spend down her retirement account of $100,000—which is the average American retirement account. That would last year eight years if she withdrew $1,125 per month, about what her Social Security benefit would be. When she got to age 70, she could claim the higher benefit from Social Security.

She could also keep working at a low-paying job and be helped by a new law that expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit to childless low-pay workers. Even if the job is low paying, it will help extend her retirement account, until she can maximize her Social Security. While Social Security benefits are based on 35 of a worker’s highest-paid years, it is good to avoid “zero income” years.

Even delaying Social Security for a few years, can have an important impact for workers and their dependents.

Reference: Bloomberg (April 17, 2021) “Forced to Retire? Don’t Claim Social Security Just Yet”

Wealthy Women Face Challenges in Estate and Tax Planning

“Given the expectation the Biden administration will roll back some of Trump’s favorable policies of the past four years, tax consultants and accountants are already hard at work. But for HNW women, dealing with election fallout is minor, compared to the bigger fish they have been frying in the tax pan for decades.”

Election cycles often mean changes to estate and tax planning strategies around estate planning, charitable donations and capital gains, but that’s not the only challenge facing wealthy women now, says a recent article “For Wealthy Women, Tax and Estate Planning is Weak Link” from Think Advisor. Preparing for big changes, from presidential elections to death or divorce, is all too often a surprise, even for accomplished and financially successful women.

Statistically, women do outlive men, so there needs to be a plan for the unexpected. As attitudes shift and more women build their own wealth, they are less likely to stay in unsatisfying marriages. Although the overall rate of divorce in America is declining, the number of “gray” divorces is increasing.

One essential step in planning for high net worth women is to consider what assets they will need to continue their current lifestyles, and what assets would be at risk, in case of death or divorce.

Some assets are not available to singles, like the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust, an irrevocable trust available to couples but not to singles. For those considering divorce who have a SLAT agreement, speak with your estate planning attorney, as the SLAT may include a provision that terminates spousal trust rights upon divorce. Women should not assume that these or other assets will be available to them in case of a divorce.

There are also future costs associated with losing a spouse. If women do not have long-term care insurance, it should be purchased, if she still qualifies. These policies become more expensive as time goes by, so the 40s and 50s are the ideal time to invest in them.

Timing and tax policy changes from a new administration make this a good time to begin planning for any changes that may come in the next year. Women with substantial net worth should be making plans for gifting and trusts now. The gift tax lifetime exemption remains at $11.7 million, but even if there is no legislative action, on January 1, 2026, this will return to $5 million.

Dramatic changes in asset valuation resulting from the pandemic may make this a good time to transfer shares to children and grandchildren, including real estate holdings and closely held family businesses.

The effects of COVID-19 have provided a global lesson in preparing for the unexpected. Among many other issues has been a huge backlog in most surrogate courts. Even families who had an estate plan in place, found their estate planning hampered by waiting for courts to appoint executors.

In many cases, surviving spouses (mostly women) found themselves unable to move an estate plan forward, gain access to assets, even to pay household bills. Families who have been lucky enough to escape the impact of COVID-19 so far, should take the opportunity to plan for the unexpected, including the creation of a revocable trust, so the trustee can swiftly access assets and start managing right away, rather than waiting for courts to clear.

Reference: Think Advisor (Jan. 6, 2021) “For Wealthy Women, Tax and Estate Planning is Weak Link”

Combining Households during Coronavirus

 

“If family members are anxious about each other, sometimes it seems it might be easier if they simply joined households. This is not just due to COVID-19.”

Not that long ago, multigenerational living was how most people lived.  Since people are living longer, it may become the norm again. In times of crisis like these, says the article “Moving ahead during coronavirus,” from The Mercury, many parents and adult children are combining family units to care for each other.

Parents might move in with their son or daughter’s family. The adult children and their spouse and children may also come to live with Mom and Dad. It is not just about parents and children, since siblings also decide it’s better for everyone to live closer.

If family members are considering combining households, they need to create a plan for important issues. Who will pay for what, what is the back up if the arrangement does not work and what boundaries will be set, so that the children and their parents have a sense of privacy?

Conversations about how this arrangement relates to the parent’s overall estate plan also need to take place. Will parents fund the entire household, if one or more adult children are not working? Will there be expectations of eventual re-payment? How does the household pay its bills and who will be responsible for what chores?

An important question to address, is the issue of a parent’s gifting assets to the adult child. If the long-term plan is for the parent to apply for Medicaid, it will be important to plan any asset transfers to avoid having the parent become ineligible for long-term care coverage.

It’s easy for this kind of joint living arrangement to be derailed by misunderstandings and expectations that are not discussed. Writing out a document with the help of an estate planning attorney can make the discussion more concrete and ensure that the agreement will complement and not conflict with the estate plan. Every situation is different, and what works for one family may not work for another. Having an outside professional involved can reduce the emotional aspect and clear the way for a happy arrangement that works for everyone.

Reference: The Mercury (July 28, 2020) “Moving ahead during coronavirus”

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What COVID-19 Does to Roth Conversions

“Has the Covid-19 stock market volatility caused your retirement accounts to decline? Will the temporary suspension of required minimum distributions (RMD) or a reduction in your compensation lower your 2020 tax liability?”

With a combination of lowered 2020 tax liability, the potential for future tax increases and potentially lower portfolio values, we are in uncharted financial waters. However, all of these factors may make a Roth conversion more attractive than ever, according to the article “Covid-19 and the CARES Act enhance the Roth conversion game” from the Jacksonville Business Journal.

A quick look first at essentials of the traditional and Roth IRAs:

Tradition IRA contributions are tax deductible.

• Growth inside the account is tax-deferred,
• Qualified distributions are taxed as ordinary income, and
• Required minimum distributions must begin at age 72.

Roth IRA contributions are not tax deductible.

• Growth inside the account is tax free,
• Qualified distributions are tax free, and
• There are no required minimum distributions.

Roth IRAs are an essential part of both estate and retirement planning. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA lets you decide when you or your beneficiaries pay taxes. Convert all of your IRA to a Roth, and pay the taxes up front, based on the year the conversion is made. If you have a low-income year, and the value of your IRAs is low, that’s the time to do the conversion.

Just be mindful that making this move for a large amount of money could potentially move you into a higher tax bracket. Being strategic and moving a portion of your IRA could make more sense, especially if you expect that you’ll be in a higher tax bracket during retirement, or if you anticipate that your ultimate beneficiary may be in a higher tax bracket within ten years following their inheritance. (As a result of the SECURE Act, inherited IRA accounts must be emptied within ten years after they are received.)

You’ll also need a plan to pay the taxes on that conversion. In a perfect world, those taxes would be paid from funds outside of your retirement accounts. If the only way to pay this tax is by using funds from your IRA, you can have the funds withheld during the conversion. Be sure to run the numbers before doing the conversion. If you pull money from your IRA account to do the conversion, there will be less money to grow long-term for you, and it will be included in your taxable income for the year.

We all like something for nothing, but there are costs to Roth conversions. The five-year rule requires that a Roth needs to exist for five years, before you can take out money tax free. You’ll need to be sure that you have enough cash on hand to live on for five years after the conversion. However, that’s not all. There are a number of different variations on the five-year rule, depending on your situation. If you are under age 59½ and take a distribution of profits before the five years, you will get hit with a 10% penalty without an allowable exception on the amount you converted. An experienced estate planning attorney will be able to help you make a strategically sound decision.

Reference: Jacksonville Business Journal (July 13, 2020) “Covid-19 and the CARES Act enhance the Roth conversion game”

 

‘Siegfried & Roy’ Star Roy Horn Named Siegfried His Executor

The late 'Siegfried & Roy' star, Roy Horn, named lifelong friend and performance partner, Siegfried Fischbacher as the executor of his multi-million-dollar estate, according to his will filed in Las Vegas courts.”

Legal documents revealed that performer Roy Horn’s last will and testament was filed in the Las Vegas courts on June 18, 2020, according to the article “’Siegfried & Roy’ Star Roy Horn’s Will Names Siegfried As Executor Of His Multi-Million Dollar Estate” as reported in The Blast. The document gave Siegfried Fischbacher the power to administer and distribute Horn’s assets after his death. If Siegfried was not able to perform the tasks, Roy Horn had named Lynette G. Chappell as the alternate executor.

Lynette G. Chappell was the performer’s longtime assistant.

Roy Horn died at age 75 after contracting COVID-19. Siegfried had told an interviewer that he drove to the hospital with Lynette and was able to see his life partner one more time before he died.

Roy Horn also named Siegfried’s longtime lawyer, John Moran Jr., to be co-executor of his estate with Chappell, if Siegfried was unable or unwilling to be his executor.

The will, which was signed in 2016, also included directions that Roy Horn’s multi-million estate be distributed to beneficiaries, which were named in a private trust. The trust was not attached to the legal filing that included the last will and testament, so the names of his beneficiaries will remain private. The will does state that Roy Horn is unmarried and has no children. He was survived only by his brother, Werner Horn.

Siegfried was given broad powers to manage all of the financial issues of the estate, including paying for the funeral and any expenses regarding handling Horn’s remains. As the executor, the personal representative is empowered to perform any act necessary to administer the estate and any trust established under the will. The will also permits Siegfried to hold, retain, invest, sell or manage any real or personal property, distribute assets of the estate without requiring pro-rata distribution of specific assets, employ attorneys, accountants, custodians, and any other agents or assistants as the executor deems necessary and to pay them and pay for their expenses from income or principal.

According to reports, Siegfried and Roy had a combined estimated net worth of more than $100 million, after they had signed several highly lucrative contracts to perform their award-winning show on the Las Vegas Strip.

The duo performed on the Las Vegas Strip for decades, until 2003, when their show abruptly ended when Roy was attacked on stage by a white tiger. He was dragged off the stage by the tiger and suffered severe injuries, including a severed spine, a stroke and massive blood loss.

Siegfried revealed in a recent interview with a German publication that Roy Horn had been cremated and his ashes are being kept in a chapel in their Las Vegas compound.

Reference: The Blast (June 27, 2020) “’Siegfried & Roy’ Star Roy Horn’s Will Names Siegfried As Executor Of His Multi-Million Dollar Estate”

 

Coronavirus Makes Estate and Tax Planning an Urgent Task

“What may have seemed like something to take care of ‘one day,’ has turned into a basic necessity that makes it essential and necessary for you to encourage your clients to act now.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought estate planning front and center to many people who would otherwise dismiss it as something they would get to at some point in the future, says the article “Estate and Life Insurance Considerations During the Covid-19 Pandemic” from Bloomberg Tax. Many don’t have a frame of reference to address the medical, legal, financial, and insurance questions that now need to be addressed promptly. They’ve never experienced anything like today’s world. The time to get your affairs in order is now.

What will happen if we get sick? Will we recover? Who will take care of us and make legal decisions for us? What if a family member is in an assisted living facility and is incapacitated? All of these “what if” questions are now pressing concerns. Now is the time to review all legal, insurance and financial plans, and take into consideration two new laws: the SECURE Act and the CARES Act.

An experienced estate planning attorney who focuses in estate planning will save you an immense amount of money. Bargain hunters be careful: a small mistake or oversight in an estate plan can lead to expensive consequences. A competent legal professional is the best investment.

Here’s an example of what can go wrong: A person names two minor children—under age 18—as beneficiaries on their IRA account, life insurance policy or bank account. The person dies. Minors are not permitted to hold title to assets. Minors in New York are considered wards of the court in need of protection and court supervision. Therefore, in this state, the result of the beneficiary designation means that a special Surrogate’s Court proceeding will need to occur to have a pecuniary guardian appointed for the minors, even if the applicant is their custodial guardian.

Another “what if?” is the support for a disabled or special needs beneficiary who may be receiving government support. If the parents are gone, who will care for their disabled child? What if there are not enough assets in the estate to provide supplemental financial support, in addition to the government benefits? Life insurance can be used to fund a special needs trust to ensure that their child will not be dependent upon family or friends to care for their needs. However, if there is no special needs trust in place, an inheritance may put the child’s government support in jeopardy.

Here are the core estate planning documents to be prepared:

• Last Will and Testament
• Revocable Living Trust
• Durable General Power of Attorney
• Health Care Declaration

The SECURE Act changed the rules regarding inherited IRAs. With the exception of a surviving spouse and a few other exempt individuals, the required minimum distributions must be taken within a ten- year time period. This causes an additional income tax liability for future generations. There are strategies to reduce the impact, but they require advance planning with the help of an estate planning attorney.

Reference: Bloomberg Tax (June 18, 2020) “Estate and Life Insurance Considerations During the Covid-19 Pandemic”

 

 

Keeping Yourself and Loved Ones Safe during the Pandemic

 

“Seniors are especially at risk during the coronavirus pandemic. The numbers are shocking.”

The numbers are frightening, especially for those over 80. By the time seniors with COVID-19 are admitted to the hospital, it’s usually too late to do anything about their legacy. This topic was taken up recently in the article “Tips for protecting seniors and their legacy in the pandemic” from My Edmond News. That includes creating a last will and testament, naming a health care power of attorney, or having a conversation about their end-of-life wishes. Here are thoughts on how to stay safe and prepare for the worst.

Follow the recommended health guidelines and be careful. Hand washing, social distancing, avoiding crowds, wearing masks and cleaning surfaces are very important for seniors. Online shopping or going to the grocery store during senior hours are better choices, if you have a choice.

Beware of scammers. Scammers who target the elderly use their fear of the pandemic to provoke action. One of the latest scams is a phone call from someone claiming to be a contact tracer, saying they are tracking people who have been exposed to COVID-19. They ask for Social Security numbers, birthdays and zip codes. No legitimate contact tracer will ask these questions.

Make a plan for your digital assets. Seniors are active on Facebook, use email and a variety of apps to stay in touch with grandchildren and manage their finances. Make a list of all of your online accounts and passwords, so that a trusted family member or friend will be able to help, if you are incapacitated or die. Untangling digital assets is much more complex than tangible assets—there’s no paper trail to follow.

Get your legal affairs in order now. Depending on your state of residence, you may be able to have documents witnessed and notarized remotely. Your estate planning attorney will know what the current rules are and be able to get documents prepared.

Create a Power of Attorney. This will let the person you name as POA take care of your finances, pay bills and keep your financial life from falling apart if you become ill.

Have a Health Care Power of Attorney created. This allows the person you name to get information on your medical decisions and make health care decisions, if you cannot.

Use an estate planning attorney to have these documents created. They are powerful documents, and their advice in helping select the right person can prevent a world of trouble in the future. The estate planning attorney who hears you say “Well, my nephew is the only one, but he’s been in and out of rehab for six years now,” can help you make a better choice!

Have a Will, or Last Will and Testament, created by an estate planning attorney. A professionally prepared last will sets out your wishes for distribution of your assets and is legally enforceable.

Update your beneficiaries. Distributions from accounts including IRAs, pensions and life insurance policies are not governed by your last will, but by the beneficiaries you name. As your life changes, these need to be updated. You really don’t want an old boyfriend or ex-spouse receiving your entire life insurance policy.

Once you have your estate plan done, you’ll realize it was easy to do, and well worth the peace of mind of knowing that you and your loved ones are protected.

Reference: My Edmond News (June 1, 2020) “Tips for protecting seniors and their legacy in the pandemic”

 

Why You Need an Advance Directive Right Now

 

“COVID-19 is quickly becoming the leading cause of death in the United States. As of today, Indiana has over 37,000 cases of COVID-19 and over 2,100 deaths. That is why articulating your wishes regarding end-of-life health care, is more important than ever.”

The number of Americans who have died in the last few months because of COVID-19 is staggering, reports Inside Indiana Business in an article that advises readers to “Get Your Advance Directives in Place Now.” Just talking with family members about your wishes is not enough. You’ll need to put the proper legal documents in place. It’s not that hard, and it is necessary.

Only one in three Americans has completed any kind of advance directive. Many younger adults don’t feel the need to complete these documents, but there have been many examples that prove this is the wrong approach. Both Terri Schiavo and Karen Ann Quinlan were only in their twenties when they were not able to make their wishes known. Family members fought in and out of court for years.

The clinical realities of COVID-19 make it hard for healthcare workers to determine their patient’s wishes. Visitors are not permitted, and staff members are overwhelmed with patients. COVID-19 respiratory symptoms come on rapidly in many cases, making it impossible to convey end-of-life wishes.

Advance directives are the written instructions regarding health care decisions, if you are not able to communicate your wishes. They must be in compliance with your state’s laws. The most common types of advance care directives are the durable power of attorney for health care and the living will.

A durable power of attorney for health care names a person, usually a spouse or family member, to be a health care agent. You may also name alternative agents. This person will be able to make decisions about your health care on your behalf, so be sure they know what your wishes are.

A living will is the document that states your wishes about the type of care you do or don’t want to receive. Living wills typically concern treatments like CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), breathing machines (ventilators), dialysis, feeding tubes and certain treatments, like the use of an IV (intravenous, meaning medicine delivered directly into the bloodstream).

Studies show that people who have properly executed advance directives are more likely to get care that reflects their stated preferences.

Traditional documents will cover most health situations. However, the specific symptoms of COVID-19 may require you to reconsider opinions on certain treatments. Many COVID-19 patients need ventilators to breathe and do subsequently recover. If in the past you wanted to refuse being put on a ventilator, this may cause you to reconsider.

Almost all states require notarization and/or witnesses for advance directives and other estate planning documents to be valid. Many states, including Indiana and New York, now allow for remote notarization.

Talk with your estate planning attorney about putting all of your estate planning documents in order.

Reference: Inside Indiana Business (June 8, 2020) “Get Your Advance Directives in Place Now”