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The purpose of this article is to explain the goals of estate planning so as to make you an expert on the subject. After reading this article, you will not only understand this for yourself, but also be able to explain it to your friends and family.

Estate Planning Goals

There are two primary goals in estate planning: the first is that your wishes be carried out. You want to make sure that you are cared for during your lifetime in the way that you want, and by the people that you designate. You want to be guaranteed that your wishes are observed, even if you no longer have the capacity to tell people what you want. When you pass away, you want the right people in charge of your property, and you want your estate to be administered and distributed exactly the way that you have designated.

The second goal of estate planning is to reduce the costs of administration during your lifetime and upon your death. You want the costs minimized so as to distribute as much of your estate as possible to your family and beneficiaries. You also want your administrator’s burden to be as light as possible and to be completed quickly. 

Congratulations! You are now an expert on the purposes of estate planning. Now let’s look at how you can achieve this.

Your Wishes Carried Out

The surest way to have your wishes carried out is to put them in writing. Better yet, put them in a document that courts and financial institutions will recognize. Preferably use language that is familiar and recognizable by the courts.

The law says that property transfers at death must be contained in either a will or a trust. Otherwise, there is no legally enforceable way to carry out your wishes. I have had people tell me that they were leaving their property to someone with instructions as to how that person was to distribute it. If those instructions are not in a will or a trust, you should assume that the distribution will never happen as you intend. Moreover, your beneficiaries not be able to do anything about it. By creating a will or trust, you can be assured that your desires will be fulfilled.

Corporations and Limited Liability Companies

Corporations and limited liability companies are separate legal entities existing under authority granted by state law. They have their own identity, separate and distinct from the persons who created them and from their members or shareholders. As separate legal entities, they have the power to contract, to own and convey property, to sue and be sued. As separate legal entities, corporations and limited liability companies are responsible for their own debts. Normally, the shareholders, directors and officers are not legally responsible for corporate liabilities.

If you operate a business as a sole proprietorship or partnership, all of your assets are subject to the business’ liabilities. By operating your business as a corporation or limited liability company, you protect all non-business assets from the business’ liabilities. If the worst happens, all that you lose are the assets owned by the business entity itself.

Administrative Costs

There are two types of costs associated with the administration of an estate. The first has to do with the fees incurred in court proceedings. The second has to do with taxes, including estate, gift and income taxes. Each of these costs is independent of the other. Since most people want to leave the maximum amount of their estate to their loved ones, the question is how to reduce these costs.

“Probate” is the court-supervised administration of a decedent’s estate. Probate is generally required where the decedent’s estate has a fair market value of $100,000 or more, not including joint tenancy property, property being transferred to a spouse, property subject to trusts, or contractual benefits such as life insurance or retirement accounts for which there are beneficiaries. It does not matter whether the decedent did or did not create a Will.

Under the best of circumstances, probate takes a minimum of 6 months. Both the start and completion require notices to interested parties and court hearings, and after the representative is appointed, at least 4 months must be allowed for creditors to present their claims against the estate. For the most part, your beneficiaries do not receive anything until the estate is closed. Your estate must pay fees to both an executor or administrator, and their attorney. Those fees are based upon the size of the estate, and start at $8,000 for a $100,000 estate.

The best way to avoid the costs associated with probate proceeding is to create a trust. Unless there is a dispute, trusts are not subject to review by the courts. They are private, quick to administer, and the trustee’s fees are typically less than half of the costs of probate.

The second kind of administrative expense is the tax owed to the federal government. In 2005, estate taxes are imposed on any estate in excess of one million five hundred thousand dollars in net value. Those taxes start at 37% and very quickly increase to nearly 50%.

Through the use of trusts and other estate planning devices, it is possible to avoid the burden of estate taxes so that your beneficiaries can receive your estate in a nearly intact condition.

With a little advance planning, all of your goals can be met. Your wishes will be carried out as you intended. Administrative costs and taxes will be eliminated or minimized. Your beneficiaries will receive everything that you wish for them. You will have peace of mind.

- The Estate Planning Law Team
  Rogers Sheffield & Campbell, LLP

This article is not intended to provide legal advice. For legal advice on any of the information in this post, please contact us directly, use the form to the right or contact us by phone at 805-963-9721.