Book 6 Pages 1 - 61 Flashcards
the process of accumulation, management, conservation, and transfer of wealth, considering legal, tax, and personal objectives
estate planning
emotional issues such as ____ and ____ make estate planning difficult
control and affection
what are the costs associated with estate planning?
professional guidance
probate
transfer taxes
opportunity costs
cost of documents
estate planning objectives should include the ____ and ____ transfer of assets
efficient and effective
the efficient transfer of assets refers to ____
minimizing costs
the effective transfer of assets refers to ____
assets go to the desired beneficiary
efficiency would deal more with taxes / low cost
when someone dies without a valid will
intestate
true or false? when intestate occurs, the assets may not transfer to the desired beneficiary
true
a legal document that enables the testator (maker) to transfer property at the testator’s death in the manner the testator desires
will
what are some advantages of a will?
- can name an executor
- can transfer property to anyone desired
- can specify how estate taxes are apportioned
- can designate guardians for minors
- can name charitable beneficiaries
when a person dies without a will (intestate), who directs how the decedent’s property will be distributed?
the probate court based off state laws
true or false? in some states, a spouse’s share of the decedent’s estate will be equal to a child’s share. Example if 9 kids then each kid would get 1/10 and the spouse would get 1/10
true
true or false? if intestacy occurs, assets will still be left to charity
false
the person making a will must be ___ years old or older
18
the person making the will must be of sound mind, also known as_____
testamentary capacity
the person making the will must have absence of ______
undue influence
_____ is present when someone, such as a trusted advisor, friend, or family member, influences the testator to include provisions in the will the testator would not have included otherwise
undue influence
true or false? the absence of fraud is required for a will to be valid
true
the person making the will must: understand the ____ of the act of making a will understand the general nature of the will-maker’s ____ have the ____ to remember and ____ the nature of the ____ to the persons affected
nature ; property ; ability ; understand; relationship
a handwritten will
holographic will
true or false? holographic wills are recognized in all states
false
do holographic wills need to be witnessed?
false
a dying declaration before sufficient witnesses
nuncupative will
- A nuncupative will, also known as an oral will or a verbal will, is instructions for distribution of personal property given by a person who is too sick to execute a written will. Nuncupative wills are not legal in most jurisdictions, but in jurisdictions in which they are legal, they require a set number of witnesses and must be written down by the witnesses as soon as possible.
true or false? noncupative wills are recognized in all states
false
an oral will
nuncupative will
a formal will
statutory will
true or false? an attorney should draw up a statutory will
true
true or false? a statutory will does not have to comply with the laws of the domiciliary state
false
any real property outside the state of domicile will be subject to ____ probate
ancillary
true or false? a valid will must include a revocation of all prior wills and codicils
true
true or false? a valid will must name an executor and successor executor
true
- The appointed executor must contact the beneficiaries and creditors, make an inventory of the estate’s assets, pay any bills that are due and distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries as ordered in the will. If there is no will, the appointed executor distributes the assets according to the state’s law for intestate persons (persons who died without a will).
- When no executor is named, the executor cannot be determined or the executor is unable or unwilling to serve, the probate court will appoint someone to be the executor. Usually, the court will allow any interested person to offer to serve as executor and will choose from those who volunteer. An interested person is someone who has something to lose or gain if the will is probated. Usually, a family member or beneficiary will be chosen to serve as executor, but a creditor may also be chosen, according to the Hampshire County, Massachusetts Probate Court.
states a beneficiary must survive a specific period beyond the testator’s death to receive the bequest
survivorship clause
to qualify for the estate tax marital deduction, the will cannot require the spouse to survive for more than ____ months to receive the bequest
6
bars transfer of beneficiary’s interest to a third party and stipulates that the interest is not subject to claims of the beneficiary’s creditors
spendthrift clause
For example, if you left $5,000,000 to your favorite nephew, and the trust account generated $250,000 per annum in income that was paid out to him, he couldn’t pledge the trust assets as collateral. If he did spend more than he was able to support–say he bought a $3,000,000 house–the creditors would be out of luck should he find himself unable to perform on the loan. The only cash they can collect from your nephew would be his $250,000 distribution. The principal of the spendthrift trust is still in place, generating dividends, interest, and rents safely and securely for decades to come.
if both spouses die simultaneously it creates a presumption as to the the order of death (the other spouse dies first)
simultaneous death clause
discourages heirs from contesting the will by substantially decreasing or eliminating their bequest if the file a will contest
no contest clause
a separate document that amends a will
codicil
what is the default method a court will use to determine where inherited property will go if there is not a valid will in place?
per stirpes
Give an example of per stirpes
Stephen had 3 children 1 of his children had two kids the other two children had no kids the child who has 2 children of their own passes away Stephen then passes away with $300k of assets the $300k would get distributed as 1/3 to each of Stephen’s own kids ($100k and $100k) and then 1/3 to the 2 grandkids ($50k and $50k)
- Whatever bequest a parent would have been entitled to receive from your estate moves to her children if she predeceases you.
- If you have two children, each of them might receive a one-half share of your estate. Your grandchildren will receive nothing – at least while their parents are living. But if one of your children should predecease you, her one-half share would pass in its entirety to her children.
- If she is the parent of three of your grandchildren, each of those grandchildren would receive 1/3 of her 1/2 share of your estate, or 1/6.
- Your other child would still receive his one-half share and your deceased child’s one-half share would be divided equally among her three children. One-half divided by three equals 1/6 of your overall estate, so that’s what each these three grandchildren would receive.
give an example of per capita
Stephen had 3 children 1 of his children had two kids 1 of his children had one kid 1 of his children had no kids the child who has 2 children of their own passes away Stephen then passes away with $300k of assets the $300k would be split up into 5 equal parts 1/5 to each remaining living person
- Contrast this to “per capita,” which translates loosely to “by headcount.” You might see this presented in your will or trust as something like, “I leave XYZ to my then living descendants, per capita.”
- If you have two children and five grandchildren who survive you, all would receive a 1/7 share of your estate in a per capita distribution because there are seven of them.
- If one of your children predeceases you, each of the others would receive a 1/6 share because now there are only six of them.
- Her share effectively returns to your estate; it doesn’t pass to her descendants. The right of representation becomes moot because your grandchildren are already receiving a share.
per capita provides for an ____ share to each beneficiary
equal
a will that leaves everything to the surviving spouse
sweetheart or I love you wills
This type of Will may have the actual effect you want regarding the disposition of your assets, but did you know there may even be a better way to accomplish your goals? Instead of having your Will leave your assets “outright” to your spouse, you can alternatively leave your assets “in trust” for the sole benefit of your surviving spouse. So long as your surviving spouse does not need long term care, the assets left “in trust” may be used to pay for pretty much any need your surviving spouse requires . . . house payment, vacation, etc. However, should your surviving spouse need long term care, then s/he can apply for government benefits to assist in payment of such and the assets left “in trust” are not countable for eligibility purposes.
true or false? a sweetheart or I love you will may cause over-qualification of an estate
true
synonyms for prenuptial agreement
antenuptial married property agreement
___ avoids cluttering the will with small details or assets such as photos and other items of only sentimental value
letter of personal instruction (side letter)
states the writer’s wishes regarding tangible possessions of nominal pecuniary value and other matters such as funeral arrangements
letter of personal instruction (side letter)
true or false? a letter of personal instruction is a legally binding document
false
establishes the medical situations in which the maker no longer wants life-sustaining treatment
living will/medical directives
Nailing down the differences between advance directives and living wills can be tricky for a few reasons. For one, they overlap: A living will is a type of advance directive. Second, laws governing these legal orders vary quite a bit from state to state. This means that it’s difficult to give a definition of either one that is valid in every state. (For instance, some states allow for verbal advance directives, while some do not.) Finally, even within a given state there’s no set template for what must be included in a living will or advance directive. Either one may be wide-ranging and comprehensive, or limited to a few select circumstances.
With that all said, here’s how these two legal orders generally differ.
What Is an Advance Directive?
An advance directive encompasses all legal orders which concern your wishes surrounding future medical care. The document will come into play in the case of severe medical situations in which you’re not able to communicate your wishes or make decisions. These may include such conditions as a coma, stroke or dementia. It will explain your preferences regarding specific medical treatments, resuscitation efforts and life-sustaining efforts. This may include directions regarding the use of mechanical ventilation or feeding tubes, as well as certain surgeries and medications.
An advance directive could also include a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order or even instructions surrounding organ donation. The bottom line is that advance directives encompass a whole range of instructions pertaining to medical care. It may not even be a formal document; in some cases, verbal instructions to a healthcare provider could have the legal force of an advance directive.
An advance directive, also known as a “living will,” expresses your wishes as to how your designated agent should proceed in certain specific circumstances such as how and when you wish to receive medical treatment in the event of a terminal illness. For example, you can choose if you want or do not want feeding tubes, CPR, or antibiotics.
An advance directive works in conjunction with a health care proxy. If the advance directive does not address a treatment or procedure that a doctor is considering, the proxy could make the decision based on what he believes the patient would want.
true or false? a medical directive gives permission to another person to make health care decisions on behalf of the incapacitated
false, it just lays out the incapacitated persons wishes that were made prior to becoming incapacitated
true or false? durable and nondurable powers apply to medical directives
false
appoints a person to make health care decisions for the principal
durable power of attorney for health care
____ means the power remains effective even if the principal becomes incapacitated
durable
a durable power of attorney for health care may be ____ which means it becomes effective on incapacity
springing
a written document in which one individual designates another person or persons to act as attorney in fact
durable power of attorney
true or false? you must be 18 years old to be a durable power of attorney
true
a durable power of attorney survives the principal’s ____ but not ____
incapacity ; death
a nondurable power of attorney does not survive the principal’s ____
incapacity
what types of people is having a durable power of attorney important for?
nontraditional couples such as cohabitating couples who haven’t married or same sex couples. It is important to have a durable power of attorney in place for them because if they didn’t the powers to make crucial decisions may fall to unintended family members
includes rights and interest associated with ownership in things other than real property
personal property
personal property can be ____ or ____
tangible or intangible
give examples of tangible property
cars, jewelry, furniture
give examples of intangible property
stocks, patents, copyrights, bonds
what are the two property rights?
right to possession and enjoyment right to make disposition by sale, gift, other conveyance
personal property that is affixed to real property
fixtures
true or false? even if the contract of sale specifically states that fixtures are not to be included in the sale of real property, they will still be sold
false, if they are specifically excluded by contract then they won’t be sold
a property interest where the is complete ownership with all rights
fee simple
true or false? under fee simple interest, the property will pass through probate
true
fee simple property is also referred to as _____ ownership property
sole
the holder of the ______ has an exclusive right to the use and enjoyment of the property for the remainder of her life or for the life of another person
life estate
has the right to possess and use the property during the specified life
life tenant
the life tenant has an obligation to ______, ________, and _____
pay taxes make repairs not commit waste
similar to life estate except the interest is for a specific amount of time/specific period
interest for term
a right to ownership or enjoyment of property at some point in the future or upon the occurrence of a specified event
future interest
if the future interest goes to someone other than the grantor it is called ____
a remainder
if the future interest goes back to the original grantor, it is called _____
a reversion
the interest retained by a grantor who transfers a life estate to another without making a disposition of the interest remaining after the life estate terminates
reversion
a reversion is a ____ future interest
vested
interest that exists at the termination of a prior interest, such as a life estate
remainder
a remainder may be ___ and ____
conveyed and inherited
two or more persons holding an undivided interest in the whole property
tenancy in common
true or false? under tenancy in common, each tenant’s interest can be sold, donated, willed, or pass through intestate
true
true or false? when one tenant in common dies, the others automatically receive the dead tenant’s interest
false
two or more persons owning the same fractional interest
joint tenancy with right of survivorship (JTWROS)