The Risks of Poorman’s Estate Planning: How to Pass on Property & Avoid Probate the Right Way
They call it the “poor man’s estate planning.” Put your child on the title to your deed and avoid probate. Yet this “poor man’s” planning often ends up, well, poorly; and costing a lot more for the people you love. Here’s why and what you can do about it:
In the process of becoming new parents, many couples become experts at planning – scheduling the birthing classes, planning the new nursery, even picking out a preschool. There is so much to think about before you welcome your new child.
Unfortunately, one of the most important things you can do to protect your child is often overlooked: an estate plan. Here are five important considerations you need to discuss with your Personal Family Lawyer® when setting up an estate plan once your new baby is born:
What We Can Learn From Downton Abbey About Estate Planning
Downton Abbey – the PBS drama about the fortunes and misfortunes of an aristocratic British family in the early 20th century that has taken American audiences by storm – gets most of its gripping plot twists as the result of a number of bad estate planning moves. For example (Spoiler Alert: these include references to Season 3 that recently concluded):
Protect your inheritance. The Earl of Grantham inherits Downton Abbey and marries a rich American to keep the estate solvent. However, he squanders the family fortune on an unwise overseas investment that goes belly up. The family turns to Lady Grantham’s rich American mother, but she is unable to help since her fortune is tied up in a trust.
There have been a number of new rules and services implemented by the Social Security Administration for 2013 that affect a majority of American workers as well as retirees:
Expiration of the payroll tax cut. Workers may have already noticed the hit their paychecks took this year due to the expiration of the payroll tax cut, which went from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent on earnings of less than $113,700 (increased from $110,100 in 2012).
Paper checks to stop. On March 1, paper Social Security checks will no longer be sent to benefits recipients. Instead, you will need to choose between two options: direct deposit to a bank or credit union account or a prepaid Direct Express Debit MasterCard.
What is the Difference Between a Will-based plan and a Trust-based plan?
In this article I will explain the difference between a Will-based plan and a Trust-based plan so you can make an educated decision for your family about what is best for you and, ultimately, for them.
A Will-based plan is an estate plan that does not include a Living Trust to hold title to your assets. If you work with us and choose our Family Plan, which is a will-based plan, your legal documents will include a Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, a Will and, if you have minor children, a Kids Protection Plan®.