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Insulating Your Assets Against Lawsuits: Getting Started

Lance Armstrong has done it- insulated his assets from being totally exposed to creditors. But there are reasons that other people outside of public figures should considering doing the same. While it’s very difficult to imagine all of your money being entirely protected from creditors, there are steps you can take to protect yourself with business planning and estate planning. shutterstock_258583025

One of the approaches to doing this is setting up “hurdles” for creditors. While technically this allows the creditors to still gain access to your assets, the structure of the hurdle is such that they will be unable to do so without having to “pay to play.” For some creditors, it’s simply too expensive to tear through your careful planning. Many opt to settle instead.

Anyone at risk of being sued should consider asset protection planning, because all it takes is one lawsuit to expose your home and a few cars to major risk. Step one in this process is ensuring that the proper insurance policies are in place, particularly those that limit liability. This kind of critical umbrella coverage is essential for safeguarding against the high costs of even just one lawsuit from a car accident or similar incident.

A second layer can be done using trusts that help to shield assets. Money for heirs is placed inside the trusts to protect those assets, but trusts can also be good tools for protecting children from the fallout of a divorce settlement or a lawsuit. Make sure you’ve taken an all-encompassing approach to your asset protection planning. Contact us today to get started or review your existing plan at info@lawesq.net.

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Separating Personal Creditors From Business Creditors: Business Asset Protection Tips

As a business owner, you should recognize that it’s essential to separate personal creditors from business creditors. While a personal creditor refers to a debt that you personally are responsible for, a business debt refers to creditors trying to come after your “business entity”. Assets put inside the business entity may be vulnerable to business creditors, but they should be protected from personal creditors. boardroom

Many small business owners make the assumption that assets inside a business entity are safe from liability issues. This is a mistake, and that’s why it’s so important to separate business from personal creditors. Avoid commingling of any funds and stay in line with all business entity formalities to ensure that you have protected yourself as much as possible. Reducing the pool of assets available to creditors is the most important goal of separating your personal from your business debts.

To do this, you need to select the proper business entity from the outset. Many business owners select the LLC or the corporation in order to achieve the superior protection afforded by these kinds of entities as compared with a partnership or sole proprietorship. Limited liability protection for owners is provided under both of these structures, but it’s important that you work with an experienced business asset protection attorney to make sure you’re meeting your goals appropriately. Asset protection planning for the business owner is a long-term process.

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Living Trusts: The Importance of Proper Funding

If you have decided to use a trust to pass on your assets, this can be an exciting decision that gives you peace of mind about the firmness of your plans. If you don’t ensure that the trust is properly funded, however, it’s unlikely that your trust is going to carry out the plans that you intended.

If you already have assets inside the trust, make sure that you set up reminders to continuously review your materials and always have unfunded or new assets titled into the trust’s name. Don’t ever assume that these changes have been made, since the ownership of verification falls squarely on your shoulders. Keep copies of documents that confirm your changes so that you are always clear on what’s been taken care of already. If values have also changed, ensure that is updated as well.2014-10-20_1448

If an asset that you used to own has now passed onto someone else through a sale or closure, make sure it’s removed from your funding portfolio. This makes it easier on your family members in the future and the trust executor so that they are not searching for assets that are no longer present. To review your funding in your living trusts, get in touch with us through email at info@lawesq.net or over the phone 732-521-9455

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Could the Court Ruling on Art Save You Money?

Art collectors are celebrating a recent decision handed down from a US Appeals Court which could help to minimize taxes. The court agree that shared ownership in a highly-valued blue chip art collection, which can also be noted as a “fractional interest” enabled one family a critical tax break in the settling of an estate.

The Texas family involved had collected Picassos, Jackson Pollock pieces, and art by Paul Cezanne. The family used a grantor-retained income trust where partial ownership of the art was handed down to each one of their three children. The idea is that shared ownership interest limits the opportunity to sell or transfer the works since this would also require agreement from each child.

The court ruling determined that the deficiency lay with the IRS commissioner’s failure to properly use the discount for restricted ownership in this case, although an earlier tax court had argued that the family was only entitled to a 10 percent discount.

If you have a substantial art collection and are concerned about how it will be passed down to beneficiaries, talking to an estate planning expert could be in your best interest. Contact our offices today to learn about trusts or other vehicles that might work best for you. Request an appointment via email at info@lawesq.net or over the phone 732-521-945twert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What’s the Downside of DIY?

There are positive aspects to attempting your estate planning on your own, but there are just as many downsides. Those downsides can cost you big time, whether you have many different kinds of assets and business interests or whether you believe that your estate is simpler.

More complex situations should always be addressed with an experienced estate and tax planning attorney. Appreciated property, families with children who have special needs, family-owned businesses, and blended families are but a few examples of where DIY estate planning can go so wrong.

What’s the Downside of DIY?
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More sophisticated planning strategies, like the use of trusts, are outside the realm of possibility for someone completing their estate planning documents. Furthermore, new legislation (and sometimes, increasingly complicated legislation) means it’s vital to contact a professional to ensure you understand the opportunities and liabilities correctly. Laws are always changing, but template forms and DIY strategies are not as up to date on these strategies as an “in the know” estate planning firm will be.

Going DIY could mean that what you set up for plans after your death doesn’t actually hold because the wording, structure, or legal applicability is incorrect. Trust the experience and training of an estate planning firm that has helped individuals and families address needs across the spectrum. Call us at 732-521-9455 or through email at info@lawesq.net to begin.

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Should I Worry About Protecting My IRA?

This past June, an important ruling from the Supreme Court found that an inherited IRA is not protected as retirement funds. If a beneficiary of inherited IRA funds files for bankruptcy, the funds they inherited could be subject to creditor claims.

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This new finding highlights the value of a trust. If the inherited IRA funds were received by a beneficiary though a trust, this would help to protect those funds so that they could be used in the manner desired by the person setting up

the beneficiaries. One such example is the use of a Standalone Retirement Trust, where inherited funds flow to a third-party trust after the retirement plan owner passes away. While the beneficiary still retains access to the funds, the fact that he or she didn’t create the trust allows quite a bit of protection for the beneficiary.

There are some states where laws on the books do protect inherited retirement accounts from creditors, but it’s always wise to consult with an estate planning attorney to discuss best structures for passing down assets. To learn more about your options, send us an email at info@lawesq.net or contact us via phone at 732-521-9455 to get started.

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What Qualifies as a Digital Asset?

One of the biggest buzzword phrases in estate planning today is “digital asset”. But what does that mean, and how should you plan for it? Does everyone have digital assets? What happens if you fail to plan? These are all great questions, and this brief article will provide you with some details about how to approach this new concern.

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You’ll want to identify your digital assets before you set up plans for them. These might include:

  • Domain names/hosting rights
  • Credit card accounts
  • Debts
  • Email
  • Storage
  • Financial and banking account
  • Stocks
  • Bonds
  • Securities
  • Utility accounts
  • Social media
  • Online loyalty accounts
  • Retirement accounts
  • Tax accounts
  • Insurance accounts

As you can see, you very well could have quite a few digital assets. When outlining your list, include the account number, usernames, and passwords. You can store this on a hard media source or through the use of an online program. There will be numerous passwords, especially when it comes to accessing a device, the operating system, opening documents, etc. This way your account information is kept secure.

To manage these accounts, you need a digital fiduciary. It’s easiest if this is the same person who is serving as your will executor, trustee, or agent through a power of attorney. That individual would manage identifying the digital assets, copying or deleting information, and distributing the asset to the intended person.

Without a digital asset plan, your digital information could be forever lost. Even family photos that you have saved on a hard drive could be difficult to access without specific instructions. To learn more about comprehensive planning for all your assets, contact us at 732-521-9455 or through email at info@lawesq.net to begin.

 

 

 

 

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Distinguishing Non-probate and Probate Assets

Ensuring that your will is properly written and structured is critical for the will’s terms to be carried out in the manner you wish. Failing to properly distinguish probate from non-probate assets is a big mistake that could lead to your dispositive provisions being named ineffective.

Distinguishing Non-probate and Probate Assets

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Probate property can be defined as items that are directly owned by you without a legally recognized designated beneficiary. Jewelry, family heirlooms, artwork, or bank accounts without a designated beneficiary to be paid on death are examples of probate property.

On the other hand, non-probate property is those assets which include a legally recognized beneficiary to be paid on your death. Property held in joint tenancy or bank accounts with a designated beneficiary are examples.

Why does this matter? Non-probate assets will not pass through the terms of the will. This means that if you outline wishes in your will for one person to receive all the assets, but your non-probate assets state another beneficiary, the terms of your will “surrender” to those beneficiary designations. This could have the unintended consequence of your planning falling through.

To learn more about the differences with assets, and how you can properly outline your wishes or create trusts to detail how these items are passed on, contact our offices today for a consultation. Call us at 732-521-9455 or through email at info@lawesq.net to begin.

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Summer Wrap Up: Estate Planning For Your Vacation Homes

The close of another summer is a great time to think about your future plans for any family-owned vacation homes. It can be really hard to sell a property where it requires approval from all children, and it’s often difficult to make these “equally split” arrangements work.

Summer Wrap Up Estate Planning For Your Vacation Homes

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Start by thinking about your goal for the home: do you want it sustained for future generations, do you want it to become the property of just one or two children, or do you not have anyone to establish as the asset recipient at all? These are important questions that will help guide the future of your vacation home.

Trusts can be a great way to manage the future of vacation homes. They can be used to help pay for expenses or create a usage schedule, which is especially helpful when there could be multiple owners. To figure out the proper amount to put aside for expenses, you can create a list of what’s needed on an annual basis, including property taxes, insurance, routine maintenance, and repairs. This can help to eliminate arguments later on.

In the trust, it’s also important to outline the rules under which the house can be sold. This should be done even if there are no immediate plans to sell the house. Talk with an estate planning attorney to determine the best way to structure your vacation home future plans and possible trust. Reach out to us at info@lawesq.net or over the phone at 732-521-9455.

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When to Use a Family LLC

Most people have heard about LLCS, but you might not be aware of the best situations to use them when it comes to your family. Essentially, a family LLC is an estate planning tool for holding assets or transferring them to succeeding generations.

The people most likely to use a family LLC are those individuals who want to keep family assets together and intact, managed only by a limited number of people. As an LLC manager, you’re in control while you’re alive, but you can also exercise control in selecting who will manage the LLC after you pass away.

If your family has rental real estate, it’s a good option to use a family LLC. You can manage it during your lifetime, and then at your death a portion of the LLC managing that real estate goes to your children. This limits the opportunity for children to argue after you have passed away about who is entitled to what.

Another benefit of a family LLC is that you can gift it during your lifetime. Without having to worry about other members signing off on your decisions, you can sell, lease, or buy assets while you are still alive. This gives you control while you are still present with opportunities for your heirs to manage the LLC after you are gone.

Interested in learning more about Family LLCs or other family entities? Send us an email at info@lawesq.net or contact us via phone at 732-521-9455.

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Supreme Court Decision: Inherited IRA NOT Protected

A recent decision from the Supreme Court means there’s no better time than now to review your estate plans and ensure that you have identified the best possible solution for passing down assets to another generation. This new ruling states that inherited IRA funds DO NOT QUALIFY under the category of “retirement funds” under bankruptcy exemption guidelines. Previously, these kinds of funds might have been considered “bulletproof” from creditors, but this new ruling means it could be time to re-evaluate how you’re transferring your assets down to children and other beneficiaries. Is a Standalone Retirement Trust or IRA Trust right for me?

Supreme Court Decision Inherited IRA NOT Protected
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According to the Supreme Court, the members of which conducted reviews of the Bankruptcy Code to get more specifics on the situation, inherited IRAs should not count as retirement funds because the individual inheriting the assets cannot contribute to the funds or invest more money into them. Since the IRA also requires that the accountholder draw money from the account, the Supreme Court argued that this would “undermine the purpose of the Bankruptcy Code”.

Each client wishing to establish plans for the future transfer of assets to beneficiaries has their own concerns and situations, which is why it’s so critical that you work with a team of experienced planning attorneys to meet your goals and increase the chances that those assets will be protected and meaningful for the beneficiary. To review trusts and other options for asset transfer, email info@lawesq.net or contact us via phone at 732-521-9455

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How Did Shelly Sterling Control the Clippers Sale Decision?

The Los Angeles Clippers sale recently seemed to go ahead just the way that most players, fans, and the NBA commission wanted it, leading to an agreement that sold the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. The control behind the sale, however, went to Donald Sterling’s wife, Shelly, causing many to wonder just how she managed it.

How Did Shelly Sterling Control the Clippers Sale Decision
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Shelly made her move with a boilerplate provision included in the Sterling family trust, which maintained ownership over the Sterling’s interest in the Clippers. Since both Shelly and Donald were co-trustees holding equal authority over that trust, she was eligible to make the decision based on another standard trust provision regarding mental competency.

Shelly had already had Donald evaluated for mental competency. Under the trust’s guidelines, if either Shelly or Donald were found by two qualified physicians to have “an inability to conduct business affairs in a reasonable and normal manner”, that individual could be removed as co-trustee. As a result, Shelly would have become the sole trustee with the decision making power and authority to sell or manage the business how she saw fit and that is her strategy.

Whether planning for your family’s assets or for those of an NBA team owner, when in generating trusts’ planning attorneys may recommend that provisions like the one above are put into the language for the protection of both individuals. If not included, the co-trustee (or business partner, as it may be) could be exposed to serious risk in the event of some form of incapacity. If not planned at all, it could all be left up to a court to decide. Get more details about trust planning today by contacting us at info@lawesq.net or at 732-521-9455.

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Hoteliers & Moteliers: What Security Challenges Do Today’s Hotel Owners Face?

Hotel owners face a broad array of challenges when it comes to mitigating risks. Whether you’re a single motel or part of a chain, you need to be concerned with protecting and maintaining assets. You’ll need to be concerned with physical, human, and intangible assets.

Hoteliers & Moteliers What Security Challenges Do Todays Hotel Owners Face
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Some of the major concerns that hotel owners are faced with include sabotage, natural disaster, injury, criminal activities, terrorism, and fire. On a more common basis, you might be concerned with injuries and claims or injuries on hotel property, or the theft of services or merchandise.

There’s no doubt that as a hotel owner, you frequently feel pulled in many different directions to deal with immediate problems and trying to prepare for the future. One of the best ways to reduce your risks is to consider whether a captive insurance company can help you with some of your concerns in the long run. Policies for a captive insurance company contain many of the same provisions as typical commercial insurance contracts but they go above and beyond by reinsuring your particular risk needs.

As an added benefit, maintaining control over that captive company may even give you investment control over assets for that company. If you’ve got risks that cannot be covered under the typical umbrella of a commercial insurance contract, you’ve got to look elsewhere. A captive insurance company may alleviate your concerns, protect your assets, and allow you to build a long-term plan. Email us at info@lawesq.net or call 732-521-9455 to begin.

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Is a Roth IRA the “Cadillac” of Assets to Leave for Heirs?

If you’re looking down the road to retirement, you may be wondering which of your accounts you should tap into first, and which you should leave possibly set aside to pass on to beneficiaries. Those individuals with traditional retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, Roth IRAs, and a 401k may feel overwhelmed by the options, but it all depends on your estate planning goals.

Is a Roth IRA the Cadillac of Assets to Leave for Heirs
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For the most part, Roth IRAs seem to be good accounts to leave behind for others. Since the distributions can be taken out tax-free and can be stretched over the course of a lifetime, the majority of the original investment can continue growing tax free during that same period. Since the federal estate tax exemption for a married couple is more than $10 million, Roth IRAs may be more likely to be free of estate taxes and income taxes. For that reason, it could be worth your time to convert other traditional retirement accounts into a Roth for the ultimate benefit or heirs.

Doing so, however, requires understanding that you’re probably going to have to leave that money alone for at least ten years, so don’t make a decision without careful consideration of your own cash flow situation. If you convert and begin taking income out, the potential growth for that IRA is halted. To learn more about estate planning strategies that leave a legacy behind for family, call us at 732-521-9455.

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Will your good deed go unpunished?: Limiting nonprofit individual liability

A common question from trustees, officers, directors and volunteers at nonprofit organizations is to what extent these individuals face liability as representatives of the organization. Failure to adhere to tax formalities or mismanagement can, in some situations, make an individual person liable. In this instance, asset protection for the officer and direct is vital in addition to insurance.

Will your good deed go unpunished Limiting nonprofit individual liability
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Typically, lawsuits of this kind happen in one of a handful of ways:

  • An error or omission resulting from a trustee, officer, or manager’s decision (or lack thereof)
  • An allegation regarding corporation activities I which the director, officer, or trustee was not involved
  • An allegation of corporation activities in which the trustee, director, or officer was involved

There is a lot at stake in a lawsuit of this type, especially when the other party is alleging serious professional negligence that leaves an individual officer or director exposed to a high level of personal risk. Errors and omissions claims, which happen most often when a nonprofit organization has very little resources compared with what the claimant hopes to receive in damages, can devastate a nonprofit. These claims result from situations in which a nonprofit officer or director is held responsible for a decision or lack of decision in a particular situation. For example, a nonprofit event where an individual person is injured could lead to a lawsuit about the nonprofit’s decision to hold the event in the first place.

Thankfully, there are approaches you can take to mitigate this risk. This includes carrying errors and omissions insurance, carrying liability insurance, managing the affairs of the nonprofit as a corporation, and providing for partial or complete indemnification of officers and directors through specific agreements and don’t forget your asset protection planning. Some careful planning in advance can go a long way towards limiting lawsuit exposure. Contact us today through email at info@lawesq.net or via phone at 732-521-9455 to begin your asset protection plan.

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Side Business? Silent Partner? What’s the Risk? Duties of non-manager members of LLCs

If you are interested in creating a managed multi-member LLC, one of the most popular questions for individuals in this position is whether non-manager members are held to the same standards (or have the same liability) with regards to fiduciary duties like care and loyalty. The answer is “it depends”.

Side Business Silent Partner Whats the Risk Duties of nonmanager members of LLCs
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In the non-manager members are involved in some significant aspect of the business, the operating agreement should generally include an expression of such duties for these individuals. Looking at the landscape of typical non-manager member involvement in the business of these LLCs, significant duties are typically rare with smaller businesses that are closely held.

There are some cases where the operating agreement might not address this question specifically. In this scenario, the LLC act governs and can provide some important insight. A lot of these acts, however, are quiet when it comes to this particular question. Some agreements, however, do have specific information about these duties included. An example is the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, which actually negatives any duties for the non-manager members unless an express clause in the LLC agreement states anything to the contrary.

LLC formation and agreement construction can be aided significantly with the watchful eye of an attorney. Call us at 732-521-9455 or send us an email to info@lawesq.net to discuss your needs.

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Side Business? Silent Partner? What’s the Risk? Duties of non-manager members of LLCs

If you are interested in creating a managed multi-member LLC, one of the most popular questions for individuals in this position is whether non-manager members are held to the same standards with regards to fiduciary duties like care and loyalty. The answer is “it depends”, but with a few stipulations.

LLC practice - fiduciary duties of non-manager members of multi-member LLCs
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In the non-manager members are involved in some significant aspect of the business, the operating agreement should generally include an expression of such duties for these individuals. Looking at the landscape of typical non-manager member involvement in the business of these LLCs, significant duties are typically rare with smaller businesses that are closely held.

There are some cases where the operating agreement might not address this question specifically. In this scenario, the LLC act governs and can provide some important insight. A lot of these acts, however, are quiet when it comes to this particular question. Some agreements, however, do have specific information about these duties included. An example is the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, which actually negatives any duties for the non-manager members unless an express clause in the LLC agreement states anything to the contrary.

LLC formation and agreement construction can be aided significantly with the watchful eye of an attorney. Call us at 732-521-9455 or send us an email to info@lawesq.net to discuss your needs.

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For Student Loans – Read the Fine Print: Risks for Student Loan Borrowers and Co-Signers

The details matter when it comes to getting a signature on your student loan agreement: it turns out that some private student loans have a caveat for what happens if the co-signer passes away. In some private loans, the student or recent graduate has to pay up if their relative passes away- immediately and in full. If the borrower can’t make that payment, he or she faces a big hit on their credit rating.

For Student Loans Read the Fine Print Risks for Student Loan Borrowers and Co-Signers
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Many students who have to use private loans to finance their education might not even notice the provision, but it’s legal. Receiving a notice for demanded payment in full often terrifies a recent graduate, who may ignore the notice and suddenly feel buried financially. Borrowers can have their loans released after a few years of earnings and positive credit history, but they also have an option to transfer to another co-signer. Unfortunately, not many students are aware of these options right away.

When it comes to student loans, it’s important to read all of the stipulations in the loan agreement, especially when it’s a private lender. Make sure you walk through all of your options if a parent does pass away, too. No one plans for the situation where a parent or relative passes away in this manner, but it’s worth factoring into your general estate plan if you are a co-signer on someone else’s loan. Ensure that the borrower knows and has a plan for how they would handle such a situation. To learn more about a comprehensive estate plan, contact us through email at info@lawesq.net or contact us via phone at 732-521-9455 to get started.

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Some Strategies To Shield Your Money

If you wish to protect your money or assets or are about to receive a sudden windfall such as an inheritance, you may want to consider a number of strategies to protect yourself from lawsuits. Simple reason: “The Deep Pockets Theory”; the people with the money are the people who are sued.

judge hand with gavel
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Here are a few strategies, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune:

    1)  Increase your liability insurance. If you are about to inherit $3 million, call your broker and increase your liability policy to protect that additional $3 million. Do it before you get the money. Rates are inexpensive.

    2)  Consider separating assets. You may not want your spouse to have access to your new windfall. If you put the money in a joint account, that is what will happen.

    3)  Protect yourself from renters. If you have rental property or are going to get rental  property, put the property into a business entity such as an LLC to shield your assets from a disgruntled tenant. That way, they can sue the entity for what it has, but cannot go after you and what you have.

    4)  Create a trust and/or business entity to shield your assets. If you do part-time work you probably are operating as a sole proprietorship. But all of your assets are at risk if you are sued.

    5)  Be careful with partnerships. If you have an informal partnership, you are responsible for the actions of your partner. Form an LLC or other entity to provide legal protection.

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Florida Court Ruling Provides Guidance For Those Using Trust For Asset Protection

A recent appellate court ruling in Florida gives former spouses the legal grounds to take funds from a type of trust that was thought to be unavailable to them.

State flag of Florida
State flag of Florida (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Discretionary trusts are set up by the wealthy to give a trustee the authority to make or not make distributions from the trust. But the ruling late last year in Florida gives ex-spouses and the children of beneficiaries more leeway to gain access to those funds in certain circumstances.

However, estate planning experts are divided over whether this ruling establishes a precedent for other states, according to an article on fa-mag.com.

In this case, Bruce Berlinger challenged a lower court ruling that allowed his ex-wife, Roberta Casselberry, to obtain funds from a discretionary trust fund after he stopped paying her $16,000 a month alimony. The trust had been paying the money directly to her and not to him.

Usually, a creditor may not garnish funds in a discretionary trust if the trustee does not make the distributions to the beneficiary. In this case, the court ruling the ex-spouse was deemed to be an “exception creditor “and could seek distributions from the trust to satisfy her alimony requirements.

About 30 states have some form of “exception creditor” provision in their trust codes.

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