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Non Cash Contributions to Charity – A True Win-Win

April 7, 2012 / Michael

One of the great things about this country, and the West Michigan area in particular, is that we like to help others. In many cases this is shown by giving to one or more charities. It could be giving of our time through volunteering, or giving of our financial resources. Our government supports this by providing various tax benefits for giving to charity. In this previous post we gave a general overview of the many different ways each family can contribute some of their financial resources to charity. You’ll notice that the first item on the list is cash (or cash equivalents). Yet, that tends to be the most inefficient financial resource you can give.

Surprised? Many people are . . . including me before I learned more about it. You see, many of us give to charities for one of two reasons (or for both reasons): (1) we support the charity’s cause(s) or mission, and/or (2) we want the tax deduction for the contribution. And although it may not be a driving factor, why not try to maximize the tax benefits. And while we’re at it, why not try to use the tax benefits to give even more to charity with no change in effect on our “pocket book.” And that’s where “cash” contributions fall short. With a cash contribution, you may get the charitable deduction (depending on your income level), but that’s it. You may be asking, “so what if that’s it . . . I gave, got the deduction, and it’s done.” Well, what if you found out that you could get give more to your favorite charity, get an even bigger tax benefit, and not feel it any more in your “pocket book.” Impossible? Nope.

That’s where non cash charitable contributions come in. What do I mean by “non cash?” I’m talking about many of those other items on the list in the previous post. Items such as public stock, private company stock, real estate, retirement assets, life insurance, valuables and collectibles, and the list goes on. How do you get this “double benefit” with non cash assets that I mentioned earlier? Well, it varies based on the type of asset, but in many cases you receive a combination of transferring an appreciated value to the charity (e.g. more than you would have if you contributed cash), getting a tax deduction on your personal tax return (depending on your annual income), and you no longer have to pay the “gain tax” you would have otherwise had to pay on the non cash assets had you sold them and contributed the money to the charity. Wait a second . . . that’s a triple benefit! You bet!

In a future post we’ll take a look at one of the most “painless” non cash contributions you can make . . . appreciated stock. Until then, if you, someone you know, or a charity you work with has any questions, call us at 616-827-7596.

Michael Lichterman is an estate planning and charitable planning attorney who helps families and business owners create a lasting legacy by planning for their Whole Family Wealth™. This goes beyond merely planning for “stuff” – it’s about who your are and what’s important to you. He focuses on estate, charitable, and asset protection planning for all generations (“young” and “experienced”), the “sandwich generation” (caring for parents and children), doctors/physicians, nurses, lawyers, dentists, professionals with minor children, family owned businesses, and pet planning. He enjoys creating life long relationships with his clients centered on their families values, insights, stories and experiences.

Wills vs. Trusts – The Battle Continues

March 24, 2012 / Michael

In a previous post we discussed many of the differences between wills and trusts. That discussion was from more of a “technical” standpoint, which can still leave a lot of questions. And those questions are typically the practical questions, such as “I have a couple of retirement accounts . . . would a will or trust be better for me?”

Generally speaking, here is a brief comparison of wills vs trusts relating to some practical considerations:

Wills tend to be sufficient in situations such as: simple and outright distribution of assets when privacy is not important.

Trusts tend to be better for handling the following: life insurance policies, qualified retirement plans (IRA, Roth IRA, 401k, 403b, etc.), somewhat more involved distribution of assets, maintaining privacy, possible or probably mental disability, desire to make it as easy as possible for family and loved ones, out-of-state real estate, out-of-state trustees (and beneficiaries), tax planning, protection of inheritance for spouse, children and grandchildren (or other loved ones), second marriages, and loved ones with special needs.

Keep in mind that there is no “one size fits all” answer to estate planning questions because each individual and each family is unique. Each estate plan should be too! Beware of the standard form document and a “telling you” versus “listening, learning and sharing with you” approach.

Call us at 616-827-7596, if you have questions or want to make sure your family’s plan is specific to who you are and what’s important to you.

Michael Lichterman is an estate planning and business planning attorney who helps families and business owners create a lasting legacy by planning for their Whole Family Wealth™. This goes beyond merely planning for finances – it’s about who your are and what’s important to you. He focuses on estate and asset protection planning for the “experienced” generation, the “sandwich generation” (caring for parents and children), doctors/physicians, nurses, lawyers, dentists, professionals with minor children, family owned businesses and pet planning. He takes the “counselor” part of attorney and counselor at law very seriously, and enjoys creating life long relationships with his clients – many of which have become great friends.

Learn From Whitney Houston’s Estate Plan Mistakes

March 18, 2012 / Michael

We’ve seen it before, and we’ll see it again. A “rich and famous” person passes away and their Last Will and Testament ends up on the internet. Well, the most recent one is Whitney Houston. As reported in this Forbes.com article, her Will was recently filed with the Atlanta probate court and is now available to everyone via the internet.

I recommend reading the article in its entirety to get a good feel for what Ms. Houston did that was good and what was bad, from an estate planning perspective. I’m not going to reproduce the article or Will here (although I do have a copy of it), but I want to comment on a few key items:

She had only a Will, not a living trust. You can be the judge, but I think this is a BIG mistake because now we can see everything about who will be doing what and receiving what regarding her estate plan. Privacy is a difficult thing to come by even if you’re not “rich and famous.” Ms. Houston certainly did her daughter and other family no favors by not avoiding probate. On a side note, remember that just having a trust isn’t enough . . . you need a fully funded trust.
Her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, will eventually receive everything when she is 30 years old. Each family is different, but I don’t know many families who would want a child or other family member receiving millions of dollars at 30 years old. Besides having a living trust, Ms. Houston could have structured the trust in such a way that it would benefit Bobbi Kristina for her entire life, but was not susceptible to the attacks of creditors, predators (scammers), lawsuits, and divorce. She could have created a real treasure chest for her daughter.
There is no mention of any “intangible wealth.” These would be things like letters to her daughter, recorded conversations of her feelings, hopes, wishes and dream, or stories about cherished items she owned. Of course that doesn’t mean she didn’t do it . . . but the lack of it in the conversation helps serve as a reminder that your values, insights, stories and experiences are your most valuable treasure. Capturing them for your family is truly leaving a lasting legacy.

What do you think about the article or my comments? Please share your thoughts by way of comment on this post.

Wills vs Trusts – Which Is Better For Your Family?

March 11, 2012 / Michael

Is seems like the most common question I receive as a Grand Rapids, Mi estate planning attorney – what is the difference between wills and trusts? Does my family need a will or a trust?

Well, as you might expect, the answer to the second question is different for every family. Why? Because no two families (or individuals) are the same. Oh, sure, there are plenty of attorneys out there who will look at your family’s assets and tell you what you should have. That approach doesn’t sit well with me. I think it’s best to share with you some of the advantages and disadvantages of wills and trusts, and let you determine what is best for your family based on who you are and what’s important to you.

So, here are some examples of how wills and trusts differ on a few key considerations:

Privacy:Wills – with a Will there is no privacy. Documents and proceedings after death are public record. Trusts – totally private, unless court intervention is required, which is usually a result of poor drafting, lack of funding, or loss of Trustee.
Disability Planning:Wills – no provisions for physical or mental disability. The disabled person is subject to the court process for guardianship. Need a power of attorney, updated over the years. A power of attorney can provide that disability be determined privately by family members and friends. Trusts – Handles assets upon disability without court intervention. Need a power of attorney for non-trust assets. A trust can provide that disability be determined privately by family members and friends.
Creditor/Predator Protection:Wills – None while alive. Testamentary trusts can give protection. Trusts – None while alive. Creditors have only a specified amount of time to present claims after death or they are forever barred. Trusts which become irrevocable at death can give protection.
Effort Required:Wills – Less effort now unless you require tax planning and asset protection for your heirs, but more work for your heirs after disability or death. Trusts – More effort now to properly design the trust to accomplish all of your goals upon disability and after death, but far less work for your heirs after disability or death if done correctly.
Cost Now:Wills – less. Trusts – more.
Costs to Amend:Wills and Trusts – similar.
Cost Later:Wills – average all-inclusive cost of a probate in Michigan is 3-5% of the value of the estate. Trusts – No probate fees if the trust has been fully funded and properly maintained and trust administration fees less than estate administration fees.

In a future post we’ll look at how wills and trusts compare on common family goals. Make sure to contact us at 616-827-7596 if you have any questions and to schedule a Peace of Mind Planning Session to see how wills and trusts compare in your family’s specific situation.

Estate Planning for Single People is Critically Important

March 4, 2012 / Michael

If someone asked me “what are the two biggest misconceptions about estate planning,” I know exactly what I would say: that estate planning is only for the “rich,” and that estate planning is only important for families (rather than single people). I discussed how far off the first misconception is in an earlier blog post. And based on recent conversations, I think it’s time to address the second misconception – that estate planning is only important for families and that it is not important for “single” folks.

Interestingly enough, the idea for this blog post came about as a result of a couple of great conversations with individuals who decided that, although they were not in a relationship and had no children, it would be good for them to have an estate plan. As a Grand Rapids, Mi wills and trusts attorney I say great, not just good. As we talked about what estate planning actually is they realized what a great decision they were making and that it truly is critically important.

Why? Well, if you haven’t invested your time and money to put a caring plan in place for yourself, then the State of Michigan has a default, one-size-fits-all plan for you. In my experience, that “default” plan is not even close to what my single clients have wanted. Many of them have certain family members, causes and charities they want to benefit if something happened to them, yet the “default” plan is the same for everyone and it certainly does not include those personal preferences. So, the #1 reason for a single person to have an estate plan is to make sure you leave the legacy YOU want by providing for the family, causes or charities dear to you.

The second reason is to make sure you are cared for if you become incapacitated. That could be as a result of a tragedy such as a car accident, or a scheduled period of incapacity such as surgery. A financial durable power of attorney and a healthcare durable power of attorney are the key estate planning components that help ensure your wishes are carried out during periods of incapacity. Without them, you would need to have a guardian and/or conservator appointed by the probate court. That is an unnecessary and unneeded cost of both time and money . . . and it can be avoided with proper estate planning.

The probate judge would chose the person who would handle your finances and make your healthcare decisions. Maybe it would be who you want, maybe not. And beyond that, without guidance, how would they know what your wishes are?

Taking a chance on the State’s default plan for you could be disastrous! Yet, that’s what would happen if you don’t have an estate plan.

Why take the chance? Give us a call at 616-827-7596 to have the added peace of mind of knowing your wishes will be followed and your legacy will what you want, not what the State wants for you.

Estate Planning Is For Everyone . . . Including You!

February 19, 2012 / Michael

Many Grand Rapids families and families throughout Michigan have the misperception that estate planning is simply preparing for one’s death and is only necessary for the “wealthy.” The truth is that estate planning is as much about passing values to loved ones as it is about passing material possessions.

So, it should come as no surprise that a February 16, 2012 Forbes article describes estate planning as “the most important love letters you’ll ever write,” encouraging readers to “find inspiration in knowing that you’re caring for the people and causes you love, even if you’re not here anymore.”

The Forbes article correctly concludes that estate planning is for every adult American (including us right here in Grand Rapids, Mi), and that everyone should successfully complete “thoughtfully prepared estate planning documents.” The complexity of those documents may change for more affluent people, but the need to care for loved ones and causes exists for everyone. And working with a qualified Grand Rapids, Mi wills and trusts attorney helps enlighten people as to all they can accomplish through the estate planning process.

I recommend you read the full article, titled The Most Important Love Letters You’ll Ever Write, by clicking here.

And you can read some of my blog posts on similar topics by clicking the links below:

Beware the Double Tragedy in Estate Planning

Family Stories as a Priceless Treasure

Non-Tax Reasons for Estate Planning

Michigan Legacy Planning . . . Not Your Regular Estate Plan

Life Is More Than Money: Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Michigan Celebrity Dies Without An Estate Plan

February 12, 2012 / Michael

If you are a sportsman who lived in Michigan over the past 30 years or so, the name Fred Trost may sound familiar to you. Fred Trost was a celebrity among Michigan outdoorsmen, hosting “Michigan Outdoors” and “Practical Sportsman” on PBS. I remember growing up watching his show, having an affinity to it over the others because he was from right here in Michigan. Sadly, Mr. Trost passed away unexpectedly in 2007.

And to add to the shock, he died without an estate plan. This caused no small problem in his family, with the in-fighting recently coming to an end with his wife winning a $195,000 lawsuit against his son (not her son). You can read about it by clicking here. Although we’ll never know, it is quite possible that much of the conflict and hurt could have been avoided with a caring and comprehensive estate plan.

You may say, “c’mon Mike, how could an estate plan have helped in this situation? This was a matter of contract between his wife and his son.” Well, you may be right. But as a Grand Rapids, Mi wills and trusts attorney I’ve seen situations that were not too far off from this one that did not come to this level of conflict directly as a result of a caring and comprehensive estate plan. Why? Because the estate plan covered all the contingencies. For example, in this case, Mr. Trost could have used an estate plan to say what would happen if he passed away before he received his anticipated inheritance and what would happen if his son received it as a result of Mr. Trost’s premature death (read the article to see how that caused a problem). Or, he could have provided a way to “equalize his estate,” by using life insurance to make the monetary amounts more “fair.”

One interesting item that was not mentioned in the article is what intrinsic value the show tapes had. Sure, maybe they are financially valuable if they can be replayed, but I believe their bigger value to Trost’s wife is a way to remember the husband that she loved. Remember, his “stuff” is still here, but he is gone. When we lose someone for whom we care deeply, we usually look for something that reminds us of them. It could be that the show tapes are that physical way for his wife to remember him. Something of a family legacy.

Ultimately, we’ll never know what could have happened and how Mr. Trost’s family could have got along, because the fact is, he didn’t invest the time or money to do the planning that may have avoided it. I encourage you to not make the same mistake. Call us at 616-827-7596 to schedule a Peace of Mind Planning Session to help make sure your family is cared for and kept together in the most loving way possible.

Watch Those Beneficiary Designations

February 4, 2012 / Michael

Many families have retirement accounts and life insurance as a way to plan for the future. As common as they may be, a lot of confusion remains about what happens with those accounts if something happens to you (the account owner and insured). Many married folks believe they go to their surviving spouse and then maybe their kids. Maybe yes, maybe no.

You see, retirement accounts and life insurance are what we call beneficiary designated assets. This means that you instruct the retirement account custodian (the financial institution) and the life insurance company to distribute those asset to the person (or people) you name on a beneficiary designation form. You may or may not remember filling one out, but you did. As a Grand Rapids, Mi estate planning lawyer, I’ve seen many cases where beneficiary designations caused serious problems when the account owner passed away because they weren’t updated for changed life circumstances.

For instance, just this past week I had a family share just such a story with me. They had a relative who got divorced 20+ years ago and who had a decent sized retirement account. When he divorced his ex-wife, he decided to name his sister-in-law as the beneficiary on his retirement accounts because he did not want his minor children to receive the funds through the probate process. By the way . . . that is NOT estate planning and is almost always a very bad idea from a planning standpoint.

So, time went on, his kids grew up into fine adults, and life kept rolling . . . until it stopped. He died. Guess what? He never changed the beneficiary designation on his retirement account and it all went to his sister-in-law . . . his kids received NOTHING! As you might expect, the kids challenged this by taking the sister-in-law to court. The judge sided with the sister-in-law. That may seem unfair, but the judge was correct. The beneficiary designation is a contract you have with the financial institution that they are to pay the assets to the person (or people) you named – if they don’t, they are in serious trouble.

This is just one example of why it is SO important to review your financial planning and estate planning on a regular basis. There are many more stories – some with more disastrous outcomes. This is a large part of why we include ongoing 3-year reviews at NO CHARGE for all of our estate planning clients and why we are developing a ClientCare Plan Monitoring system for our clients. Your life will change, the law will change, and what you have will change . . . your plan needs to change with it so it doesn’t fail.

If you don’t have a plan in place for your family, call us right away to schedule a Peace of Mind Planning Session. And if you have a plan but your planning experience was dry, transactional, not explained well, and form driven, give us a call for a plan review meeting. In both situations we will share with you how planning works and make sure you have an active role in designing your family’s estate plan – it is not one size fits all. Call us at 616-827-7596.

Using Trust Protectors to Maximize Estate Plan Flexibility

January 29, 2012 / Michael

I’m the type of person who genuinely believes anything can be done. And as a Grand Rapids, MI estate planning attorney I bring that same attitude to helping craft caring estate plans for wonderful West Michigan families. How? Flexibility. That’s right – not the standard form document that seems to try and wedge your family into whatever box is the “standard,” but rather a plan that let’s you share your goals, aspirations, hopes, values, experiences and stories, and makes it a reality. One of the biggest “wishes” is that a plan will be flexible enough to handle changed circumstances throughout life. One incredibly powerful tool used to accomplish this is a trust protector.

Trust protectors (aka Trust Advisors) have long been used in British Commonwealth countries, originating with offshore asset protection trusts. With these trusts, their role was limited mostly to overseeing the foreign trustee and to make sure the trust maker’s intent was fulfilled.

Today, trust protectors are increasingly being used with trusts that are located here in Michigan. And, while their main job is still to oversee the trustee and make sure your intentions are followed after unforeseen changes in the law and other matters, they can be given additional duties that will provide you and your beneficiaries with added flexibility, security and peace of mind.

What is a Trust Protector?
A trust protector is someone you name in your trust agreement to oversee your trustee and make sure your trust carries on in the way you intended. This should be a trusted friend or advisor, someone who knows and understands your motives, family values and desires when you created your trust. In the case of a trust that will last many years, like a multi-generational trust, a trust protector is often an institution rather than a specific person.

A trust protector can begin to act immediately (for example, if your trust is irrevocable), or can take an active role only under certain circumstances (for example, at your incapacity or death). Think of your trust protector as your substitute, someone who can speak for you if there is uncertainty in interpreting your trust’s instructions, or the law changes and that change affects your trust. Your trust protector also can provide guidance for the trustee and protect your beneficiaries from a trustee that is not meeting its responsibilities, is overreaching, or is unresponsive.

How Much Power Should You Give Your Trust Protector?
The trust protector’s duties and powers are defined in the trust document, and can range from extremely limited to extremely broad. How much power you give your trust protector is completely up to you. Traditionally, the trust protector’s role has been a defensive one: to ensure that the trustee carries out the trustmaker’s wishes and to protect the beneficiaries from an under-performing or over-reaching trustee. But if you give your trust protector more power, the role can become a proactive one, allowing your trust protector to act before wrongs occur.

Some of the duties and powers you can give your trust protector include:

Oversee, Remove and Replace the Trustee
Your trust protector can oversee your trustee, providing guidance in interpreting your trust’s instructions and holding the trustee accountable. You can also give your trust protector the power to remove and replace the trustee. This authority can be restrictive, limited to specific bad behavior by the trustee that can include being unresponsive to the beneficiaries, not providing acceptable record-keeping, reporting and tax filings, or charging too much for services. The authority can also be extensive, allowing the trust protector to remove and replace the trustee for no specific reason (without cause). Usually potential replacements (successor trustees) are named in the trust agreement, but it may also be possible for the trust protector to select a successor trustee.

Just having these oversight provisions in place is often enough to keep a trustee in line. And if it does become necessary to remove a trustee, it is much easier for the trust protector to do this (because he or she already has the authority) than for the beneficiaries to reach an agreement and ask for court removal, which is a time-consuming, expensive and unpleasant procedure.

You can also allow your trust protector to control spending by the trustee, and even limit the trustee’s compensation, which can go a long way toward preventing disputes.

Resolve Disputes
You can also make your trust protector the mediator if disputes should arise between co-trustees, between the trustee and a beneficiary, or even among beneficiaries. Having the trust protector as the final arbiter in disputes over interpreting the provisions of the trust document can sometimes avoid costly and unpleasant trust litigation.

You could even give your trust protector the ability to sue or defend lawsuits involving the trust assets.

Modify Your Estate Plan
You may also want to allow your trust protector to actually make some changes to your trust. For example, you could allow your trust protector to change the situs (location in which the trust is regulated) to a state that has more favorable asset protection or income tax laws, should the need arise.

You could also give your trust protector the power to amend or revoke the trust agreement, in its entirety or in part; to add or delete specific beneficiaries or classes of beneficiaries; or to change the terms of distributions to beneficiaries. These powers may be extremely beneficial to the trust’s ability to follow your intentions as tax laws change, as well as to protect the assets from potential predators and creditors.

Delegate Responsibilities among Advisors
Traditionally, and still with many trusts, the trustee handles everything – recordkeeping, tax returns, distributions, investing, etc. But over time, people have discovered that it is beneficial to allocate some of this responsibility to different parties that have different strengths.

Consider giving your trust protector the ability to appoint, oversee and substitute other professionals. For example, the management of your trust could be divided like this:

An Administrative Trustee maintains trust records, accounts, and tax returns. If the trust is governed by laws in a different state (often for tax or asset protection reasons), the administrator will usually be a local institution or professional.
A Distribution Trustee or Adviser that has discretion and can make or withhold distributions from the trust to the beneficiaries. Typically this will be an objective third party, which insulates the trustee from pressure and liability associated with the power to distribute trust assets. This is especially important if a beneficiary’s creditor tries to force distributions from the trust.
An Investment Trustee or Adviser oversees or directs trust investments, and may be granted specific powers, including: to hold, maintain or cancel life insurance; to direct the sale or exchange of property; and to open, manage and close accounts. A general trustee is held to the prudent investment standard because of its fiduciary duty and, as a result, has restrictions on the investments it can make. Having an investment advisor that is not bound by the prudent investor rule or held to the same standard will provide more flexibility in investments.
The “General” Trustee handles everything that is not delegated.

Who Should Serve as Trust Protector?
Ideally, your trust protector should be someone who knows you, your motives, desires, and intentions when you established your trust. It cannot be you or a family member who is a beneficiary of your trust because of possible tax complications. An unrelated third party – a family friend, an advisor, the attorney who drafted your trust, or your family CPA – is often the best choice. They obviously must be willing to serve in this capacity, and your trust agreement should specify if they are to be paid for their services.

Who Should Have the Power to Remove or Replace the Trust Protector?
This probably should not be you, unless the replacement is explicitly limited in the document to someone who is not related or subordinate to you. You could possibly give this power to the beneficiaries or an unrelated third party. Leaving this decision to the courts would be time-consuming and costly.

If your plan has asset protection elements, no beneficiary should have the power to remove or replace the trust protector. Doing so could cause your trust to be under the control of a beneficiary and that could put the entire asset protection part of your plan in jeopardy.

Conclusion
The use of trust protectors is an excellent way to provide added flexibility, security and peace of mind in trust planning, especially since you can control how much power the trust protector is given. If you would like to discuss adding a trust protector to your estate planning, please call our office. We are ready to help.

Understanding How Trusts Work

January 14, 2012 / Michael

In this week’s post, I thought we would cover something that is important to many Americans yet is sometimes misunderstood – trusts. In the right circumstances, trusts can provide significant advantages to those who utilize them, particularly in protecting trust assets from the creditors of beneficiaries.

Admittedly this can be a complex topic, but you see its implications in the headlines every day. So, let’s try to simplify the subject and explain the general protection trusts provide for their creator (the “trust maker”) as well as the trust beneficiaries. Given the numerous types of trusts, only look at the most common varieties. I encourage you to seek the counsel of a Michigan attorney who focuses on estate planning to help you apply these concepts to your specific situation, or if you have questions about specific types of trusts.

Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts
There are two basic types of trusts: revocable trusts and irrevocable trusts. Perhaps the most common type of trust is revocable trusts (aka revocable living trusts, inter vivos trusts or living trusts). As their name implies, revocable trusts are fully revocable at the request of the trust maker. Thus, assets transferred (or “funded”) to a revocable trust remain within the control of the trust maker; the trust maker (or trust makers if it is a joint revocable trust) can simply revoke the trust and have the assets returned. Alternatively, irrevocable trusts, as their name implies, are not revocable by the trust maker(s).

Revocable Living Trusts
As is discussed more below, revocable trusts do not provide asset protection for the trust maker(s). However, revocable trusts can be advantageous to the extent the trust maker(s) transfer property to the trust during lifetime. Revocable trusts can be excellent vehicles for disability planning, privacy, and probate avoidance. However, a revocable trust controls only that property affirmatively transferred to the trust. Absent such transfer, a revocable trust may not control disposition of property as the trust maker intends. Also, with revocable trusts and wills, it is important to coordinate property passing according to contract (for example, by beneficiary designation for retirement plans and life insurance).

Asset Protection for the Trust Maker
The goal of asset protection planning is to insulate assets that would otherwise be subject to the claims of creditors. Typically, a creditor can reach any assets owned by a debtor. Conversely, a creditor cannot reach assets not owned by the debtor. This is where trusts come into play. The right types of trusts can insulate assets from creditors because the trust owns the assets, not the debtor.

As a general rule, if a trust maker creates an irrevocable trust and is a beneficiary of the trust, assets transferred to the trust are not protected from the trust maker’s creditors. This general rule applies whether or not the transfer was done to defraud an existing creditor or creditors.

Until fairly recently, the only way to remain a beneficiary of a trust and get protection against creditors for the trust assets was to establish the trust outside the United States in a favorable jurisdiction. As you might imagine, this can be an expensive proposition.

However, the laws of a handful of states (including Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Utah) now permit what are commonly known as domestic asset protection trusts. Under the laws of these few states, a trust maker can transfer assets to an irrevocable trust and the trust maker can be a trust beneficiary, yet trust assets can be protected from the trust maker’s creditors to the extent distributions can only be made within the discretion of an independent trustee. Note that this will not work when the transfer was done to defraud or hinder a creditor or creditors. In that case, the trust will not protect the assets from those creditors. Although Michigan does not currently have a domestic asset protection trust law, I am hopeful that we will in the near future (I happen to be on a committee working on drafting such a law).

Given this insulation, asset protection planning often involves transferring assets to one or more types of irrevocable trusts. As long as the transfer is not done to defraud creditors, the courts will typically respect the transfers and the trust assets can be protected from creditors.

Asset Protection for Trust Beneficiaries
A revocable trust provides no asset protection for the trust maker during his or her life. Upon the death of the trust maker, however, or upon the death of the first spouse to die if it is a joint trust, the trust becomes irrevocable as to the deceased trust maker’s property and can provide asset protection for the beneficiaries, with two important caveats.

First, the assets must remain in the trust to provide ongoing asset protection. In other words, once the trustee distributes the assets to a beneficiary, those assets are no longer protected and can be attached by that beneficiary’s creditors. If the beneficiary is married, the distributed assets may also be subject to the spouse’s creditor(s), or they may be available to the former spouse upon divorce. Trusts for the lifetime of the beneficiaries provide prolonged asset protection for the trust assets. Lifetime trusts also permit your financial advisor to continue to invest the trust assets as you instruct, which can help ensure that trust returns are sufficient to meet your planning objectives.

The second caveat follows logically from the first: the more rights the beneficiary has with respect to compelling trust distributions, the less asset protection the trust provides. Generally, a creditor “steps into the shoes” of the debtor and can exercise any rights of the debtor. Thus, if a beneficiary has the right to demand a distribution from a trust, so too can a creditor compel a distribution from that trust. The more rights a beneficiary has to compel distributions from a trust, the less protection that trust provides for that beneficiary.

So, where asset protection is a significant concern, it is important that the trust maker not give the beneficiary the right to automatic distributions. A creditor will simply salivate in anticipation of each distribution. Instead, consider discretionary distributions by an independent trustee. Consider a professional fiduciary to make distributions from an asset protection trust. Trusts that give beneficiaries no rights to compel a distribution, but rather give complete discretion to an independent trustee, provide the highest degree of asset protection.

Lastly, with divorce rates at or exceeding 50% nationally, the likelihood of divorce is quite high. By keeping assets in trust, the trust maker can ensure that the trust assets do not go to a former son-in-law or daughter-in-law, or their bloodline.

Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
With the exception of domestic asset protection trusts discussed above, a transfer to an irrevocable trust can protect the assets from creditors only if the trust maker is not a beneficiary of the trust. One of the most common types of irrevocable trust is the irrevocable life insurance trust, also known as a wealth replacement trust, and often referred to as an ILIT.

Under the laws of many states, creditors can access the cash value of life insurance. Reasonable minds differ on whether that is the case in Michigan (read about it here). But even if state law protects the cash value from creditors, at death, the death proceeds of life insurance owned by you are includible in your gross estate for estate tax purposes. Insureds can avoid both of these adverse results by having an irrevocable life insurance trust own the insurance policy and also be its beneficiary. The dispositive provisions of this trust typically mirror the provisions of the trust maker’s revocable living trust or will. And while this trust is irrevocable, as with any irrevocable trust, the trust terms can grant an independent trust protector significant flexibility to modify the terms of the trust to account for unanticipated future developments.

If the trust maker is concerned about accessing the cash value of the insurance during lifetime, the trust can give the trustee the power to make loans to the trust maker during lifetime or the power to make distributions to the trust maker’s spouse during the spouse’s lifetime. Even with these provisions, the life insurance proceeds will not be included in the trust maker’s estate for estate tax purposes.

Irrevocable life insurance trusts can be individual trusts (which typically own an individual policy on the trust maker’s life) or they can be joint trusts created by a husband and wife (which typically own a survivorship policy on both lives).

Conclusion
You can protect your assets from creditors by placing them in a well-drafted trust, and you can protect your beneficiaries from claims of creditors and predators by keeping those assets in trust over the beneficiary’s lifetime. By working a caring attorney who focuses on estate planning, you can help ensure that your planning meets your unique goals and objectives. Why not get started now? Call us at 616-827-7596 to schedule your Peace of Mind Planning Session and put a caring plan in place for you family today!

Forbes Puts Estate Planning As a “Must Do” in 2012

January 8, 2012 / Michael

I recently ran across this article on Forbes.com entitled “12 Financial Resolutions for 2012.” The article has a good list of financial-based goals that every family should focus on for 2012. And I’m very happy to see that they list estate planning right near the top (#2 to be exact)!

As a Grand Rapids, MI wills and trusts attorney I’m pleasantly surprised to see estate planning on the list . . . especially near the top where it belongs. Why am I surprised (even if it’s pleasantly)? Well, the article alludes to it when it says that it is “notoriously easy to procrastinate” on an estate plan. Most folks don’t think about it or put it off, sometimes until it is too late! I believe that is, in part, because estate planning doesn’t receive much press . . . or at least not much positive press.

The article also makes a point that folks close to me have heard over and over and over: “you never know when [you] might need [an estate plan, including] an advance healthcare directive, durable powers of attorney, and a will and/or trust.” Fortunately or unfortunately, estate planning is really the only area of law that we can’t get away from – one day we will pass on from this life. Like the article says, we don’t know when that will be, so it’s best to put a plan in pace now. It will give you some serious added peace of mind . . . trust me.

Head on over and read the article, as there are many other great suggestions. Make sure to share your thoughts here on the blog by way of comment below. And give us a call at 616-827-7596 to schedule your Peace of Mind Planning Session and have added peace of mind knowing you have a caring plan in place for your family.

What is a Michigan Gun Trust?

January 2, 2012 / Michael

As a Grand Rapids, MI estate and legacy planning attorney, I am always researching ways to better protect, preserve, and pass on my clients’ legacies in the way they want. In some cases, this may mean protecting and preserving a prized firearm or a firearm collection.

Think about it for a moment . . . there are four million members of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and an estimated 270+ million firearms in this country. Many families also have guns and other weapons as heirlooms that they would like to keep in the family and pass down from generation to generation. Although some may think their estate plan (or lack thereof) will “take care of” their firearms, sadly, many will find out that is not the case . . . and they will find out too late to do anything about it.

You see, firearms present some unique challenges. The National Firearms Act (NFA) as well as state and local laws strictly regulate possession of certain weapons and may affect the transfer of permissible weapons. For example, convicted felons, those with a history of mental illness, persons convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence offenses, convicted users of illegal drugs, dishonorably discharged veterans, and persons who have renounced their U.S. citizenship are not allowed to own or possess certain weapons.

When an estate includes firearms or other weapons, the executor must be careful to avoid violating these laws. Transferring a weapon to an heir to fulfill a bequest could subject the executor and/or the heir to criminal penalties. Just having a weapon appraised could result in its seizure. An out-of-state heir creates even more problems.

A revocable living trust designed specifically for the ownership, transfer and possession of weapons (commonly known as a gun, NFA or firearm trust) can avoid some of the problems or at least make them manageable. A corporation or LLC can also be used to own weapons, but trusts do not require annual filing fees, public disclosure or a separate tax return. Here are some of the main points:

The trust is the owner of the weapons.
The trust document must be carefully written to account for the different types of weapons held and comply with the applicable laws.
The name of the trust, once established, should not be changed. Because the regulated weapon is registered in the trust’s name, a change in the name of the trust would require that it be re-registered and a transfer tax paid.
The trust can name several trustees, each of whom may lawfully possess the weapon without triggering transfer requirements. (Persons not allowed by law to own or have access to the weapons in the trust are not eligible to be a trustee.)
Weapons can be purchased by a trustee to avoid having to pay a transfer tax.
Once a weapon becomes a trust asset, any beneficiary (including a minor child) may use it. However, the trustee is still responsible to determine the capacity of the beneficiary to use it.
Unlike a traditional revocable living trust which can be revoked at any time by the creator of the trust, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) must approve the termination of a gun trust and the distribution of its assets to the beneficiaries.
No regulated weapons held in the trust may be transported across state lines without prior BATFE approval.
Also, since weapon laws vary from state to state, gun trusts may not be valid from one state to another as a traditional revocable living trust would be.

As you can see, one mis-step in a Michigan gun trust can have disastrous results for those involved (and possibly others). Give us a call at 616-827-7596 to help make sure you are protecting, preserving, and passing on the legacy you want and that you don’t “mis-fire” with your firearms in your planning.

Michael Lichterman, Esq.

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