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Mechelle McNair Asks Probate Court for Over $3.7 Million to Pay Estate Tax Bills

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On March 30 Jonula “Mechelle” McNair, the widow of murdered NFL quarterback Steve McNair, asked a Tennessee probate court to allow the dispursement of over $3.7 million from her husband’s estate to pay nearly $2.9 million in estate taxes owed to the IRS and over $860,000 in estate taxes owed to the state of Tennessee.

The motion filed with the probate court stated that the tax payments were due on or before April 5. In fact, both federal and Tennessee estate taxes are due nine months after the date of death, but since McNair died on July 4 and April 4 fell on a Sunday, the estate had an extra day to pay. Strangely enough the motion that sought release of the funds was filed on March 30 and the judge signed the order granting the motion on the same day, leaving not a minute to spare.

The motion does state that both the federal and Tennessee estate tax returns will need to be amended once Mechelle McNair’s share of the estate is finally determined. But since the estate clearly has the cash necessary to pay the estimated tax bills, Mechelle McNair apparently decided to pay the bills on time in order to avoid interest that would begin to accrue on any unpaid portion due and owing after April 5.

The really sad thing in all of this is the fact that 100% of both federal and Tennessee estate taxes could have been avoided if Steve McNair had simply taken the time to do proper estate planning. This would have meant over $3.7 million in the pockets of his heirs instead of in the pockets of the IRS and the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

Connecticut Estate Tax Laws

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Connecticut, Land of Both Estate and Gift Taxes

NOTE: State laws change frequently and the following information may not reflect recent changes in the laws. For current tax or legal advice, please consult with an accountant or an attorney since the information contained in this article is not tax or legal advice and is not a substitute for tax or legal advice.

Connecticut residents, as well as nonresidents who own real estate and/or tangible personal property located in Connecticut, are subject to gift taxes and state estate taxes under the following guidelines.

What is the Connecticut taxable estate?

The Connecticut taxable estate is the sum of (1) the total value of the decedent’s federal gross estate less allowable deductions other than the deduction for state death taxes; and (2) the aggregate amount of Connecticut taxable gifts made by the decedent during his or her lifetime for all calendar years beginning on or after January 1, 2005.

When is an estate subject to the Connecticut estate tax?

If the Connecticut taxable estate as determined above exceeds $2,000,000, then Connecticut estate tax is due and payable on the value of the taxable estate, including the first $2,000,000. Note: For deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2010 and on or before December 31, 2010, the state estate tax exemption was increased from $2,000,000 to $3,500,000.

What Connecticut estate tax forms must be filed?

All estates subject to the Connecticut estate tax must file Form CT-706/709, Connecticut Estate and Gift Tax Return, with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, and also file a copy of Form CT-706/709 with the appropriate Connecticut probate court.

Are transfers to a surviving spouse taxable?

Outright transfers to a surviving spouse are not taxable.

For married couples who have used AB Trust planning to reduce federal estate taxes, Connecticut estate tax may be due on the B Trust after the first spouse’s death. A married decedent’s estate is authorized to make an election on Form CT-706/709 to treat property as marital deduction qualified terminable interest property (“QTIP”) only for purposes of calculating the Connecticut estate tax (this is called a “state QTIP election”). What this means is that if the estate is passing to a surviving spouse through an ABC Trust scheme, then the payment of both Connecticut and federal estate taxes can be deferred until after the death of the surviving spouse.

Do Connecticut nontaxable estates have to file any tax forms?

If the sum of the Connecticut taxable estate is $2,000,000 or less for deaths occurring before January 1, 2010 or after January 1, 2011, or $3,500,000 for deaths occurring between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010, then no Connecticut estate and gift tax return will be due. However, all Connecticut estates must file Form CT-706 NT, Connecticut Estate Tax Return (For Nontaxable Estates), with the appropriate Connecticut district probate court. Do not file Form CT-706 NT with the Department of Revenue Services. Form CT-706 NT must be filed with the appropriate Connecticut district probate court.

When is the Connecticut estate tax return and any payment required due?

For deaths occurring before July 1, 2009, Form CT-706/709 for the Connecticut estate tax is due within nine months after the date of the decedent’s death unless an extension of time to file is requested.

For deaths occurring on or after July 1, 2009, Form CT-706/709 for the Connecticut estate tax is due within six months after the date of the decedent’s death unless an extension of time to file is requested.

Use Form CT-706/709 EXT, Application for Estate and Gift Tax Return Filing Extension and for Estate Tax Payment Extension, to apply for an extension of time to file.

Payment of the Connecticut estate tax is due at the same time as Form CT-706/709 unless an extension of time to pay has been granted.

Where is the Connecticut estate tax return filed?

Mail the Connecticut estate tax return, Form CT-706/709, and all other required forms to:

Department of Revenue Services
P.O. Box 2978
Hartford, CT 06104-2978

Do not mail your Connecticut nontaxable estate return, Form CT-706 NT, to the Department of Revenue Services. Instead, this form gets filed with the appropriate Connecticut district probate court. What is the Connecticut estate tax rate?

The Connecticut estate tax rate is a progressive one that starts with 5.085% of the first $100,000 over the $2,000,000 threshold and rises to 16% for the amount above $10,100,000.

Where can I get more information about Connecticut estate taxes?

For more information on Connecticut estate taxes, refer to Connecticut Estate Tax Resources From the Department of Revenue Website.

What about other states that collect estate taxes or inheritance taxes?

For information about other states that collect estate taxes, refer to the State Estate Tax and Exemption Chart.

For information about state inheritance taxes, which are different from state estate taxes, refer to the State Inheritance Tax Chart.

About.com

Planning Matters: Even estates of rich and famous crash and burn

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If you are like most people, you have done no estate planning. If that is the case, you are in good (bad) company.

You would think lawyers — trained legal professionals — would have completed their own estate plan. Alas, lawyers are no different than anybody else and often fail to plan. One of the most famous and respected lawyers of all time, Abraham Lincoln, died without a will. I also have known a number of attorneys who died without even having the simplest of wills.

More often problems arise when lawyers, who are not estate planning specialists, attempt to do their own estate plans. These lawyers often believe they are qualified to prepare estate plans for themselves and their clients. I regularly review wills and trusts, powers of attorney and other estate planning documents that are drafted by lawyers who are not estate planning specialists.

These plans usually have unintended results.

There are health care powers of attorney that do not to have living will provisions, mental health care powers, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act access and releases or signed patient advocate acceptances.

It is not uncommon for trusts to have faulty tax provisions. I have seen wills, which are death instruments; contain health care powers, which can only be used during a lifetime.

I often see financial powers of attorney that do not allow for the gifting of assets to the family instead of spending it all down on nursing home care. Unfortunately, many times I only see the estate planning documents after the maker’s incapacity or death when there is little that can be done to remedy the situation.

What do Pablo Picasso, Howard Hughes and Sonny Bono all have in common? None of them had a will.

Often the rich and famous do no planning or poor planning. However, with estates whose amounts end in lots of zeros, the unintended consequences have much more of a financial impact.

The rich and famous make the same mistakes as everybody else, only worse. The failure to plan or failure to plan properly has resulted in many their estates to be eaten up administration expenses, taxes and litigation costs.

One of the more well-known estates that had unintended results is the estate of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Considering his stature in the entertainment world, Elvis left a relatively modest $10.2 million estate.

However, the settlement costs of his estate totaled nearly $7.4 million leaving only about $2.8 million to his heirs. About 73% of his estate was eaten up by the settlement costs.

The super-rich also are not immune from doing poor planning. Conrad Hilton of the Hilton Hotel chain left an estate of nearly $200 million. More than half of that was consumed in settlement costs.

Author and filmmaker Michael Crichton, best known as the author of “Jurassic Park” and creator of the TV series “ER,” died unexpectedly when his wife was pregnant. He had not provided for his unborn child in his estate plan. This resulted in substantial legal fees for his widow in her quest to obtain a share of his estate for their child.

Andy Warhol on the other hand, did proper estate planning. This resulted in only a fraction of his estate being eaten up in settlement costs. Although his estate settlement costs were nearly as much as Elvis’ at a reported $6.9 million, because his estate was nearly $300 million, only 2.3% of his estate was consumed by the settlement costs.

Because it looks like many celebrities’ estate settlement costs have left their legacy as “not so rich and famous,” don’t take your cue from them.

Do proper planning with a legal specialist in estate planning. You wouldn’t go to an oncologist to treat your diabetes any more than you should have a divorce or criminal lawyer prepare your estate plan.

The estate planning professional who prepares your estate plan should have a working knowledge of not only estate planning, but also federal and state tax laws and elder law. Without a working knowledge of all three of these areas, your estate plan could be missing some critical elements. So go forth and do proper estate planning today.

Matthew M. Wallace

Top 5 Estate Planning Mistakes

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I recently read a report that suggested that only about 20 percent of the population has a formal estate plan. After reviewing the points below, please take a minute to consider whether it’s time for you to create or update your estate plan.

Here are five estate planning mistakes that people make that can be avoided.

1. Dying without a will or trust – If you die without a will or trust, the state in which you reside and the IRS will simply make one for you.  Of course, they have no interest in avoiding or reducing estate taxes, minimizing estate administration costs or protecting your family and legacy. The distribution of your assets will just be turned over to the Probate Court. The probate process is needlessly time consuming, frustrating and expensive. It is also open to the public, meaning creditors, predators or anyone else will have complete access to all information about your estate. For the vast majority of people, the benefits far outweigh any initial costs.

2. Having an “I love you” will – An”I love you” will is one in which all the decedent’s assets have been left to the spouse. On paper, it might seem to be a caring, thoughtful gesture, but the reality is quite different, because such a will simply passes the complex issues and problems associated with transferring and protecting wealth onto the spouse or other loved ones.  It creates more problems than it solves, particularly for future generations.

3. Giving property outright to your children – Here is another solution that might sound good at first, but ignores several important realities. For instance, what if the child in question is too immature to handle the responsibility of a large sum of money on his or her own? What if the child suffers a severe financial setback that puts the inheritance at risk to creditors?  What if the child marries a fortune-hunter, is addicted to drugs or alcohol, gets divorced or remarried? You may need to protect your children and heirs from their own poor decisions.  These assets are also gifted assets which carry potentially large IRS penalties if not handled properly.

4. Owning property jointly – There are two types of joint ownership, Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS) and Tenants in Common (TIC).  Problems with JTWROS include postponement of probate only until last tenancy, the loss of the double step-up in tax basis creating more to pay in capital gains taxes, and outright distribution.  With TIC, you also lose the double step-up in tax basis where it’s available, and your property is subject to the estate plan of each tenant as well as probate for each tenant.

5. Not having a trust – A trust is the single most effective estate planning tool available. There are many different types of trusts.  Among the better known and more commonly used are revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts and testamentary trusts. A Trust protects your privacy, and will help you leave what you want, to whom you want, in the way you want at the lowest possible cost overall.  The additional advantage is that you avoid Probate altogether, which means that the settlement of the living trust will be done swiftly, without court or attorney’s involvement, in contrast to having only an “I love you” Will.

When should I check my estate planning documents?

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Estate planning documents, such as Wills, trusts, powers of attorney and Health Care Directives are dynamic documents that need to be changed when the circumstances of your life change. There is a great temptation to feel that you can put the documents into a file or safety deposit box and say: “Thank goodness I won’t have to think about those documents again.” But in fact, as changes in circumstance occur, estate planning documents need to be reviewed to be certain that they are still appropriate for the new circumstances.

Here are several changes that ought to trigger a review of existing estate planning documents:

1. The birth of children. In almost every case, it is most appropriate to create a support trust to provide for the care of any minor children, and to provide for the investment of assets that are to be held until the children attain a suitable age. Such a trust also can provide for the education of the children.

2. Changes in marital status or other personal circumstances. It should be obvious that a change in marital status would be a good reason to review existing estate planning documents. Provision in a Will or trust for a new or a former spouse will likely need to be changed. In most cases, it will be inappropriate to continue to name the former spouse as the agent under a power of attorney to make financial or health care decisions.

3. The value of assets may increase or decrease. The decision to create existing estate planning documents was probably based upon certain assumptions about the value of the assets in the estate, and whether it was likely that the assets would increase or decrease in value over time. Significant changes in the value of assets may cause estate planning documents to be too complex, or perhaps, too simple to continue to meet the objectives originally identified.

4. The law regarding estate taxation may change. The law regarding state and federal estate taxation has changed numerous times and in many different ways over the past several years. Other changes are likely to occur in future years. All of these changes may have a significant impact on the propriety of existing estate planning arrangements. This factor alone is a very substantial reason why existing estate planning documents should be reviewed periodically.

5. Changes in health status. As the condition of health changes, there should be a corresponding evaluation of existing estate planning documents to be certain that the changes in the needs of the individual will be met by the estate planning documents.

For example, if a person is diagnosed with a form of dementia, existing powers of attorney should be reviewed to be certain that they will be sufficient to meet the likely increased need for the agent to undertake the management of financial decisions.

Similarly, if a diagnosis of a terminal condition has been made, all estate planning documents should be reviewed with an estate planning attorney to be certain that the documents are still appropriate in view of this change of circumstance.

All of these events are reason to double check to be certain that existing estate planning documents will be sufficient to fulfill the objectives to provide for loved ones, and to protect assets from unnecessary taxation and dissipation.

Daniel Orville Kellogg

Read This Column Before You Die

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The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. – Mark Twain

It can be both comforting and horrifying to think that our time on earth is a nano-blink of an eye, a sliver of time that passes slowly when tax forms are being prepared and quickly when the sun is shining.

Death is something we all try not to think about, yet it is our ultimate goal, the ending of every book, if life were an autobiography. We mostly shrug it off because, after all, we can’t avoid it.

But we can make the most of the inevitable. How? By planning ahead, not only for the sake of our families, but for ourselves. We’ve written before about the importance of making financial goals, but life goals are also essential. And, as with financial goals, you can’t meet them if you don’t have them.

The ultimate plan

Whether you’re getting on in age, have a terminal illness or are young and healthy, no one knows what will happen tomorrow, so prepare today. But what should your ultimate plan entail?

Make a “bucket list.” The co-author of the book, “100 Things to Do Before You Die,” died in an accident when he was 47. According to his writing partner, he had completed about half of his “to do” list when he died. Because he had a list and was determined to achieve his goals, he did many things he never would have done otherwise.

However, his co-author also noted that he traveled alone, so he could move through his list quicker. Sadly, the author missed an important point – it really isn’t about the list. Your list should be a guide to living life to the fullest. If you’re going through a list just to cross something off, why bother?

Whether you’re planning to go skydiving and want to visit the seven wonders of the world, like Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman did in “The Bucket List,” or you have more modest goals, like learning a foreign language or cooking a gourmet meal, keep in mind that it’s important to savor the moment – and shouldn’t you be savoring the moment with a loved one or friend?

When you make out your bucket list, be certain that everything on it is something you can accomplish. Although you never know until you try, dating Angelina Jolie or winning an Olympic gold medal are about as realistic for most of us as winning the lottery. While it is important to believe in yourself, you need to know your limitations.

It’s also important to give your list some thought. Many of us don’t really know what we want. Sitting and planning out your life – and beyond – is not something you should do one day during your lunch break. Take your time and really think about what you want to do. Then develop a plan for achieving everything on your list.

Update your financial goals. Ideally, you could plan for retirement first and then plan for the next phase when you’re retired. But, since no one knows when the next phase will begin, you need to plan for it now.

What do you want to happen after you’re gone? Is there a charity you would like to help? Do you want to fund your grandchildren’s college education? Think beyond your retirement and write out your goals.

Plan your estate

Estate planning is not just for the very wealthy. It’s true that current law allows an exemption of assets worth up to $5 million from federal estate taxes, but in Massachusetts any estate with a value greater than $1 million is subject to estate taxes.

If you reside in Massachusetts and your estate exceeds $1 million in value, including the value of your home, your investment portfolio, your life insurance benefits and other assets, it will be subject to state taxation at a rate of up to 16 percent.

However, because Massachusetts has no gift tax, gifts can be made during your lifetime to reduce your taxable estate. It’s been said that death and taxes are the only certainties, but with careful planning, sometimes one of the two can be avoided.

Of course, there’s more to estate planning that reducing taxes. It’s also important to have a will, which determines how your property will be divided after your death. Without this essential legal document, your property may not be divided according to your intentions. Most likely, it will also become tied up in Probate Court and it may take years before your survivors have access to your assets.

Make certain you seek the assistance of an attorney with experience making out wills. Having a will that is not legally valid can be worse than having no will at all because it may be disputed. Also, be certain to update your will periodically.

Keep in mind that retirement accounts and life insurance policies are not covered by your will, as you designate beneficiaries when you sign a contract for these assets. Make certain that you have designated individuals you truly want to be your beneficiaries and you have not unintentionally excluded anyone, such as a child born after you initially designated your beneficiaries. Plan your legacy assets. Most people consider their financial assets in planning their estate. You also have accumulated many other assets during your lifetime. Some of the best assets are the memories of special events or family gatherings. Many of these are recorded photographically and able to be passed on to heirs.

However, the asset value of the wisdom garnered, the valuable experiences received, the life lessons learned, the appreciation of others that have helped you along the way are all assets available for sharing.

Similar to a will that administers your financial assets, you can prepare a separate letter, memoranda or formal ethical will to pass on to your family and others.

Get organized

Your death will likely be difficult on your family. You can ease the burden by planning your funeral and letting your wishes be known. Do you have a cemetery plot? Have you picked out a casket? Is there a charity to which you would like contributions sent?

If you take care of every detail, your children and your spouse won’t have to. Clean out your attic and your closet and get rid of unwanted items. Give away anything you won’t use. Go through your photos and organize them. Determine if you need to change their medium to an electronic format.

People often tell me that they do not want to be a burden to their children. It can be painful for your family to have to deal with these issues; dealing with them yourself will make it easier on them.

Also, be certain to choose an executor for your will. Talk to your executor and make certain that he or she has a true understanding of your wishes and will carry them out to the last detail. Many times writing a letter of instruction to your executor or trustee is helpful for those matters not easily handled by the formal document.

You may not care what happens after you die, but keep in mind that your decisions today will have an eternal impact and could affect how you are remembered.

Seek balance

Death and taxes may be inevitable, but the more time you spend preparing for either, the better the outcome is likely to be. If you were to die tomorrow, that would be tragic. The tragedy would be compounded, though, if your family had to deal with matters without knowing your wishes. Regardless, in the process of planning for the future, don’t forget to live for today. Carrying out your bucket list is more important – and more fun – than preparing it.

Ask yourself what you are doing today that you would change. Is your career fulfilling? Do you have a secret ambition, like writing a book or taking a special trip? Act on your passions and interests today, before it is too late. Plan for the future, but enjoy life today. Carpe diem!

Darrell J. Canby

Estate Tax Tables 1997-2013

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Historical Federal Estate Tax Exemptions and Rates: 1916 – 1997

Year

Estate   Tax Exemption

Top   Estate Tax Rate

1916

$50,000

10%

1917   – 1923

$50,000

25%

1924   – 1925

$50,000

40%

1926   – 1931

$100,000

20%

1932   – 1933

$50,000

45%

1934

$50,000

60%

1935   – 1940

$40,000

70%

1941

$40,000

77%

1942   – 1976

$60,000

77%

1977

$120,000

70%

1978

$134,000

70%

1979

$147,000

70%

1980

$161,000

70%

1981

$175,000

70%

1982

$225,000

65%

1983

$275,000

60%

1984

$325,000

55%

1985

$400,000

55%

1986

$500,000

55%

1987   – 1997

$600,000

55%

 

Historical and Future Federal Estate Tax Exemptions and Rates: 1997-2013

Year

Estate   Tax Exemption

Top   Estate Tax Rate

1997

$600,000

55%

1998

$625,000

55%

1999

$650,000

55%

2000

$675,000

55%

2001

$675,000

55%

2002

$1,000,000

50%

2003

$1,000,000

49%

2004

$1,500,000

48%

2005

$1,500,000

47%

2006

$2,000,000

46%

2007

$2,000,000

45%

2008

$2,000,000

45%

2009

$3,500,000

45%

*2010

$5,000,000   or $0

35%   or 0%

2011

$5,000,000

35%

**2012

$5,120,000

35%

**2013

$5,250,000

40%

State Estate Tax and Exemption Chart

State

2009   Exemption

2010   Exemption

2011   Exemption

2012   Exemption

2013   Exemption

Connecticut

$2,000,000

$3,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,000,000

$2,000,000

Delaware

$3,500,000   effective 07/01/2009

$3,500,000

$5,000,000

$5,120,000

$5,250,000

District   of Columbia

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

*Hawaii

No   state estate tax

$3,600,000   effective 05/01/2010

$3,600,000

$3,600,000   or $5,120,000

$5,250,000

Illinois

$2,000,000

No   state estate tax

$2,000,000

$3,500,000

$4,000,000

Kansas

$1,000,000

No   state estate tax

No   state estate tax

No   state estate tax

No   state estate tax

Maine

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$2,000,000

Maryland

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

Massachusetts

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

Minnesota

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

New   Jersey

$675,000

$675,000

$675,000

$675,000

$675,000

New York

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

North   Carolina

$3,500,000

No   state estate tax

$5,000,000

$5,120,000

No   state estate tax

Ohio

$338,333

$338,333

$338,333

$338,333

No   state estate tax

Oklahoma

$3,000,000

No   state estate tax

No   state estate tax

No   state estate tax

No   state estate tax

Oregon

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

Rhode   Island

$675,000

$850,000

$859,350

$892,865

$910,725

Tennessee

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,250,000

Vermont

$2,000,000

$2,000,000

$2,750,000

$2,750,000

$2,750,000

Washington

$2,000,000

$2,000,000

$2,000,000

$2,000,000

$2,000,000

Inheritance Tax Chart

State

Are   Spouses Exempt?

Are   Descendants Exempt?

Are   Domestic Partners Exempt?

*Is   Life Insurance Included?

Tax   Rate

Tax   Form

Due   Date

**Indiana

Yes

No

No

No

1%   to 20%

Form
IH-6

9   months after death

Iowa

Yes

Yes

No

No

5%   to 15%

Form
IA 706

Last   day of ninth month after death

Kentucky

Yes

Yes

No

No

4%   to 16%

Form   92A200, 92A202, or 92A205

18   months after death

Maryland

Yes

Yes

Certain   transfers

No

10%

Varies

Varies

Nebraska

Yes

No

No

No

1%   to 18%

Form   500

12   months after death

New   Jersey

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

11%   to 16%

Form
IT-R or IT-NR

8   months after death

Pennsylvania

Yes

No

No

No

4.5%   to 15%

Form
REV-1500 or
REV-1737A

9   months after death

**Indiana’s inheritance tax has been repealed effective January 1, 2013. Thus, the information in the chart above refers to deaths that occurred in 2012 and prior years.

Unintentionally Disinheriting Your Children- It’s Easier than You Think

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One of the strange outcomes of sloppy estate planning work is the case of unintentionally disinherited children.  Obviously this isn’t something that most of us want to do, as you can ask 100 parents off of the streets whom they want to inherit their estate and all but a handful would answer, “My kids.”  Unfortunately, many estate plans fail to accommodate this simple wish.

How Disinheritance Happens

The most common way that an unintentional disinheritance occurs is responsible parents draft what is referred to as an ‘I love you will’.  This is a simple will that essentially says that when one spouse dies, the other will inherit the estate.  When the second spouse dies, the estate will then go to the children.  Sounds reasonable enough, right?

This is all well and good as long as neither spouse remarries after the other dies.  However, many spouses will remarry and draft another ‘I love you will’, and this creates a major problem.  In this second will, children from the first marriage are left out in the cold, as when the second parent dies, the entire estate is passed on to the second spouse and not the children.  At that point, it is entirely up to the second spouse as to whether or not the kids will see any money.

Since it is a second marriage, the odds of animosity towards the second marital partner are significantly higher.  This means that the chances of an unintentional disinheritance are much greater.  To solidify this concept, let’s use a hypothetical example.

Example:  Matt and Lisa and Jeff

Matt and Lisa were married at the age of 25 and had two children – Jake and Anna.  Being responsible parents, Matt and Lisa drafted a simple will that would pass the estate on to the surviving spouse and then on to the kids.  Unfortunately, Matt had a heart attack at the age of 42 and died.  Lisa inherited the estate and life insurance proceeds.

Lisa, also 42, began dating a couple of years later and fell in love with Jeff.

After dating for two years, they tied the knot at the age of 46.  Being responsible adults, they updated their estate plan to reflect their recent marriage and put together another ‘I love you will’.  Their marriage was strong and everyone was happy.

Shortly after Lisa’s 67th birthday, she died.  Her estate plan that was drafted more than 20 years earlier was reviewed and executed.  Jeff inherited the estate and Lisa’s children received nothing.  Feeling this wasn’t right, Lisa’s children, Jake and Anna, contested the will to no avail.

This created animosity and Jeff decided to draw up a new will that eliminated Jake and Anna as beneficiaries.  And there you have it:  an unintentional disinheritance.

Wrapping Up

In this post, we examined the concept of an unintentional disinheritance and how it happens.  If you wish to avoid having something like this occur, there are a number of ways to do so that can be as complicated as drafting a trust with QTIP provisions to simply updating your will based on changing needs.  We will explore these solutions in upcoming articles, but for now, it is important that you recognize this problem exists – particularly if you’re already remarried with children.

Why Does Probate Take So Long? (In California)

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In California probate proceedings are governed by the Probate Code which sets forth certain time limits. Once a petition for probate is filed, you will receive a date for the first hearing in which an administrator or executor is appointed. The hearing is often 2-3 months after the petition has been filed. Once the representative has been appointed, notice has to be given to creditors of the decedent. Creditors have four months after publication of the notice of probate or 60 days after receiving actual notice, whichever is later to file a claim. Then the process begins of collecting and valuing the decedent’s entire asset, paying the debts, taxes, possibly liquidating some assets, and finally distributed the assets to the heirs or beneficiaries.

The normal time for probate in San Diego County is between 9 months and 18 months. There are a number of factors that may make the probate process take longer. Some of these are:

1. Many beneficiaries 2. Beneficiaries that cannot be found 3. A will contest brought to dispute the validity of the will. If a contest is filed, it will have to be decided before the estate can be distributed. Sometimes this can take years if there are depositions that have to be taken and either mediation or a trial. 4. Disagreements among the beneficiaries such as who should be the administrator, whether the accounting is accurate, whether there are beneficiaries that should be disqualified, or having to set up a guardianship of the estate for minors. Each time a petition or motion is brought in the probate matter to resolve a disagreement; it lengthens the time for closing the estate. 5. A taxable estate. If the estate has to pay federal estate tax, this can delay closing the estate. This is not a problem for decedents who passed away in 2010, however in 2011, if the Legislature does not act, the federal estate tax threshold will revert to $1 million making many more estates subject to estate taxes. 6. A complicated estate with unusual assets. Typical estates consist of real property, bank accounts, investment accounts, etc. If one of the assets is a business, however, it can take time to appraise such an asset. The same is true of oil or mineral rights or other unusual assets. If there are many assets, it can also take additional time to appraise all the assets and liquidate them if they need to be.

Roy M. Doppelt

You’re Young; Do You Need an Estate Plan?

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While the trend these days is for people to live well into their 80s and 90s, I’m hearing more and more about the unexpected deaths of people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. During my 15 years of practice I’ve met with my fair share of young widows or widowers or the parents of a child who died unexpectedly, and in all cases but one there wasn’t any estate planning done. And even in the one estate where the deceased husband did have a will, it had been written while he was still single and lived in New Jersey and it hadn’t been updated after the birth of his child, his second marriage, or even after the couple moved to Florida. What a mess that was to deal with and I hate to say this, but in the big picture the young family probably would have been better off without any will at all instead of an extremely old and out of date will. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for everyone, young and old alike, to have an estate plan. But as my example of the young husband who failed to update his will after major changes in his life demonstrates, that’s really not enough. You also need to make sure that all of the important documents that are included in your estate plan – wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance medical directives – are kept up to date and change as your family, finances, and the law change. This will require a yearly meeting with your estate planning attorney, but that’s OK because you need to understand that estate planning is not a one shot deal but an ongoing process. And the time to start the process or continue the process is now.

In a 2004 survey conducted by Lawyers.com, the two most frequent reasons adult Americans cited for not having an estate plan were insufficient assets and not being old enough to need a plan. Sadly, those who hold these beliefs are greatly mistaken. With life’s ups and downs comes the need for basic estate planning for both the young and old alike. Here are six estate planning tips for young singles and couples that can nonetheless be used by singles and couples of all ages.

1. Don’t Rule Out a Prenuptial Agreement If you are young and do not think that you need a prenuptial agreement before getting married, think again. Many circumstances warrant at least considering a prenuptial agreement, including being involved in a family-owned business or owning your own business; having part of your paycheck stashed away in a 401(k) or other retirement plan; the possibility of inheriting assets from your family; owning a residence that will be used as the marital home; or marrying someone who has already accumulated a large amount of debt. A prenuptial agreement can protect what assets you currently have or significant assets that you expect to inherit, and can also protect you from your spouse-to-be’s debts acquired before the marriage.

2. Make an Estate Plan for Medical Emergencies Twenty-six year old Terri Schiavo of Florida certainly did not anticipate slipping into a coma in 1990 and then having her husband and parents fight over her medical care and ultimate wishes for the next 15 years. Planning for medical emergencies is a must for everyone and should include the signing of two important legal documents called a Living Will and an Advance Medical Directive.

3. Make an Estate Plan for Financial Emergencies If you are out of the country on business and your spouse is at home trying to sell the house, or if you are in an accident and expected to fully recover but will be in the hospital for a while, then you will need a Durable Power of Attorney to allow your spouse or other person of your choice to manage your finances and sign legal documents on your behalf.

4. Make an Estate Plan for an Untimely Death Planning for an untimely death is important, particularly if you are in a committed relationship and/or have young children. If you fail to make an estate plan, then the state where you live at the time of your death will make one for you and in most situations the plan will not be what you would have wanted had you taken the time to make your own plan. Aside from this, assets titled in your individual name will need to be probated to transfer them into your beneficiaries’ names after you die. Having at least a basic Last Will and Testament in place that puts someone in charge of settling your estate and names your preferred beneficiaries and a guardian for your minor children will give your loved ones peace of mind during a difficult time.

5. Make an Estate Plan for Your Minor Children Even if you do not think that you have enough money or property to need an estate plan, you will need to make a plan if you have minor children. If you do not, then control of the minor’s inheritance will be taken over by a court-supervised guardian or conservator. Then, depending on the laws of the state where the minor lives, when the minor reaches the age of 18 or 21 all of the remaining guardianship funds will be turned over to the young adult, free and clear of any guidance or strings attached. Aside from this, if you and the other parent of your children both die while the children are still minors, then the children will become wards of the court until a judge can decide who the children should live with until they become adults.

6. Buy Term Life Insurance When you are young, term life insurance is really cheap and can offer your family financial security if you were to die prematurely. The insurance proceeds can be used for things such as paying off your outstanding medical and credit card bills; paying off your mortgage; replacing your lost income; paying for your children’s care and education; and/or paying for a live in nanny, day care or after school care. Term life insurance is also easy to buy these days with services like Intelliquote, Quickquote and Reliaquote. Or, if you are offered term life insurance at work, buy it.

Everyone Needs an Estate Plan

Estate planning is not just for older or wealthy people. Younger people, especially those with minor children, need to have a will and estate plan in place in order to give instructions to their loved ones to follow in the event of a debilitating accident or untimely death. Celebrities like Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole Smith (also known as Vickie Lynn Marshall), Princess Diana, John F. Kennedy, Jr., Janis Joplin, Michael Jackson, and, most recently, Brittany Murphy, all died unexpectedly, and yet each and every one of them had a will and estate plan. It’s just common sense.

Julie’s Wills & Estate Planning Blog