5 Common Misconceptions about Estate Planning

Whenever you work long enough in a selected profession, you often find that there are common questions that arise and many times common misconceptions as well. Estate planning is no different. Here are five of the common misconceptions about this area of law:

 

1. "If I have a will, I will avoid the probate process, right?" Wrong! A Last Will and Testament will not help you avoid the probate process. A Last Will and Testament only informs the Probate Court how you wish to have your assets distributed upon your death.

2. "I can handle a decedent's Estate because I am the Power of Attorney." False. A Power of Attorney is a document that applies only during a person's lifetime. As soon as that person passes away, your authority ceases to exist. If you continue taking actions after a person passes away, you could become legally liable for actions taken. 

3. "I heard a revocable trust protects my assets from the nursing home. Is that true?" Unfortunately, no. A revocable trust will not give you protection from the costs of nursing home care. A slightly different trust, called an irrevocable trust, can offer such protections, but it comes with a number of factors worth considering to see if such a tool is right for you. There are certainly other reasons to consider a revocable trust, but nursing home care protection is not one of them.

4. "Should I be worried about estate taxes?" While there may be taxes due at your passing, the estate tax (also called the death tax) is unlikely to be one of them. Under the 2017 Estate Tax rules, each individual can pass up to $5,490,000.00 at their death without having to pay any estate taxes. This high exemption level means that a very small percentage of the population will have to pay estate taxes.

5. "I do not need to have a trust because I am not wealthy." Wealth oftentimes has little to do with whether you would like a trust or not. More important, is evaluating whether the efficiencies of avoiding the probate process and avoiding potential conflict and time for your heirs, justifies the creation of a trust.

 

Unfortunately, these misconceptions have been repeated and shared so often that they are now viewed as true. To get started on your own estate plan, contact our office today!  We offer an initial complimentary Life & Legacy Planning Session, where your goals and objectives determine what plan is right for you.

How much does a will cost? How much does a trust cost?

By far, one, if not the, most common question asked, is "How much does this cost?" Rightly so, attorneys carry the dubious distinction of being attentive to the time (see this article for an example), oftentimes, going as far to bill in 6 minute increments (or in 1/10 of an hour allotments). So, how much can you expect to pay for a will, a trust, or powers of attorney documents for your family?

 

While each attorney varies how they bill for legal work, there are three general approaches:

Hourly Billing. Just as it sounds, you are billed for the amount of time an attorney works on your particular legal matter. At the end of the day, the legal bill will depend on how long and complex the legal matter is and the time the attorney spent on the legal issue(s).

 

Contingency Billing. Here, the billing amount is based on the total amount recovered from the other party. For example, if you agree to a 15% contingency fee arrangement, and the total recovery is $10,000, the attorney would be entitled to receive $1,500. This type of billing approach is often utilized in personal injury cases and how attorneys (oftentimes the ones you see in commercials) can claim that you will not owe them anything in legal fees unless you win your case.

 

Flat-fee Billing. Flat-fee billing is often used when the legal work is for a particular legal transaction and not necessarily for an unpredictable, personal injury-type situation. This type of approach can have the added benefit of being more transparent on the front end, as you will know the total cost for the particular matter, without incurring additional and unexpected costs.

 

At The Estate Planning Group, we do things a little differently – we prefer to develop trusting relationships with families for life, so we can ensure you and your family are protected no matter what happens, and we let you decide on the appropriate plan and costs.  All our estate planning services are billed on a flat fee basis, so you know the total costs before you make a decision.

The best way to determine exactly what planning will best suit you and your family’s needs and concerns is to meet with one of our attorneys for a Life & Legacy Planning Session, where we can help answer all of your questions, address your concerns, and meet your goals.

At your initial complimentary Life & Legacy Planning Sessions, we walk you through what would happen if something were to happen to you, how your family would handle things, and design a plan to make it easier for the people you love. By knowing what would happen, you can identify those things you want to address in your planning.

 

You, then get to choose the right planning tools from a point of understanding, not just have a lawyer whose motives may not be the same as yours tell you that you need this or that plan.  We can then assist in designing the plan that will take care of your family.  To get started, contact us today!

Why are Powers of Attorney so Important?

We often receive phone calls inquiring about updating their will or trust.  While undoubtedly important, these documents generally only address one event, namely what happens to your assets when you pass away.

Equally important, but often overlooked, is protecting yourself and your family from financial and health care emergencies during your lifetime.  Properly drafted, Powers of Attorney can safeguard you from emergencies that may strike when you least expect it.

 

Everyone over 18 should complete both a Health Care and Financial Power of Attorney (P.O.A.).  While surprising to most people, the Wisconsin Statutes do not make a parent, a spouse, a relative or family member the default decision maker for anyone over 18.  The only alternative is oftentimes a costly and stressful legal proceeding involving the courts.

Each Power of Attorney document, in effect, nominates another person (your "agent") to legally make decisions for you.

 

A Health Care Power of Attorney allows you to designate an agent to discuss your condition with your doctor and make medical decisions according to your wishes when you are unable to communicate those desires.

A Financial Power of Attorney names an agent who can make financial and other non-medical decisions.  An agent’s authority can be immediate at the time of signing the document or it can take effect only in the event of "incapacity"–that is, when you are unable to act for yourself.

Undoubtedly, the role of agent is an important responsibility that should not be lightly considered.  So, who should you choose as your agent?

Naming an individual who shares your same values and beliefs can help ensure your wishes are followed.  We also suggest discussing with your agent any specific health or financial priorities and wishes you may have.  This conversation helps to avoid future questions about your goals and objectives when your agent is called upon to act.

Both a Health Care P.O.A. and a Financial P.O.A. can eliminate future conflict by laying out your wishes and designating someone to make decisions when you cannot.  These should be a key part of your estate plan.

Estate Planning through the Ages

When you hear the words “estate planning” what is your first thought? Oftentimes, images of the very wealthy along with complex trust and tax planning spring to mind. In actuality, estate planning includes important documents that should be considered by people of all ages, regardless of one’s current stage in life. Whether a person just turned 18 or is enjoying retirement, estate planning includes different legal documents that deserve discussion. Below are some of the important periods and ages where estate planning should be thought about:

• Turning 18: Every person should have, at the very least, a valid Health Care Power of Attorney and Financial Power of Attorney in place upon turning 18. Wisconsin Statutes do not provide for any “default” person to make decisions for an individual after they turn 18, even if they are a parent or spouse. In the absence of a valid Health Care Power of Attorney, a guardianship proceeding may be required, which can become very expensive.
• Parents of young children: Estate Planning is also critical for parents of young children. By executing a will, young parents can nominate a guardian to provide personal security for their minor children. From the financial side, a testamentary trust can be incorporated into the will to ensure minor children do not receive all assets left to them by their parents at age 18 in one lump sum distribution. Instead, parents can nominate a trustee to manage any assets for the benefit of minor children and make distributions to the children upon reaching a pre-determined age, set by the parents.
• People looking to avoid Probate: Estate Planning also includes more detailed plans for individuals or couples who desire to bypass the probate process. With a revocable trust, the probate process can likely be largely avoided, which in turn, leads to a quicker estate administration and a faster distribution of assets to beneficiaries. The revocable trust is also a private document that is not publically available and can give added protections for beneficiaries from creditors.
• Individuals concerned with protecting assets from Nursing Home Care: For individuals who are worried about the possible costs of nursing home or long-term care, estate planning can provide asset protection. An irrevocable trust, unlike a revocable trust, can be used to shelter certain assets from being liquidated to satisfy nursing home expenses. However, assets are only safe if they are in the irrevocable trust for the 5 years prior to applying for a needs-based program, such as Medicaid. Additionally, control of any assets in an irrevocable trust must be ceded from the initial owners. Even with these trade-offs, for some clients the benefit of protecting certain assets from any nursing home care is well worth the protections an irrevocable trust provides.

The Estate Planning process addresses a wide range of issues for individuals of all different ages. From the young couple who just had their first child to the couple who has been together for over 60 years who are concerned about the impeding cost of nursing home care, estate planning can provide ease of mind ensuring the maximum protections are in place to preserve and protect each person’s assets.