Estate planning is an essential component of financial planning that ensures a smooth transfer of assets to heirs and beneficiaries and helps minimize tax obligations. The bypass trust, sometimes referred to as an AB trust or credit shelter trust, is an effective tool in estate planning.
Usually, the deceased spouse's portion of the couple's property, at least up to the applicable exclusion amount ($11.7 million), is put into trust B (the bypass trust). This trust is irrevocable and will pass to the beneficiaries other than the surviving spouse (usually their children).
An irrevocable trust offers your assets the most protection from creditors and lawsuits. Assets in an irrevocable trust aren't considered personal property. This means they're not included when the IRS values your estate to determine if taxes are owed.
Throughout the surviving spouse's life, they may be able to generate income from the assets in the Bypass Trust, but that's about it. When the surviving spouse dies, however, the assets in the Bypass Trust won't be subject to probate or estate taxes, which can help reduce their overall estate tax liability.
Duration - A bypass trust can extend beyond the surviving spouse's lifetime. A survivor's trust ends when the surviving spouse dies. Funding - A bypass trust is funded at the first death.
Trusts could call for distributions to be made to beneficiaries as a lump sum or over time. It is important that you, as the trustee, understand the terms of the trust so that you are making distributions in the manner that's instructed. Trustees should be mindful of making distributions in a timely fashion.
Parents and other family members who want to pass on assets during their lifetimes may be tempted to gift the assets. Although setting up an irrevocable trust lacks the simplicity of giving a gift, it may be a better way to preserve assets for the future.
One of the biggest mistakes parents make when setting up a trust fund is choosing the wrong trustee to oversee and manage the trust. This crucial decision can open the door to potential theft, mismanagement of assets, and family conflict that derails your child's financial future.
Once your home is in the trust, it's no longer considered part of your personal assets, thereby protecting it from being used to pay for nursing home care. However, this must be done in compliance with Medicaid's look-back period, typically 5 years before applying for Medicaid benefits.
If you fail to fund the Bypass trust or do so late, the IRS may assess penalties, taxes, and interest.
There are a variety of assets that you cannot or should not place in a living trust. These include: Retirement accounts. Accounts such as a 401(k), IRA, 403(b) and certain qualified annuities should not be transferred into your living trust.
Individuals or couples with significant assets that might be subject to estate taxes should consider a Bypass Trust. It's particularly beneficial for those who want to preserve wealth for their children while still providing for a surviving spouse.
Lump sums paid to a bypass trust in excess of the LSDBA are taxed as income. The trustees will need to pay tax at 45% on this excess.
The two most effective alternatives are (i) to title assets as “Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship” and (ii) designating beneficiaries on financial accounts. In many cases, particularly between spouses, an entire estate can be transferred to the other just by utilizing these two methods.
With a trust, there is no automatic judicial review. While this speeds up the process for beneficiaries, it also increases the risk of mismanagement. Trustees may not always act in the best interests of beneficiaries, and without court oversight, beneficiaries must take legal action if they suspect wrongdoing.
Trusts offer amazing benefits, but they also come with potential downsides like loss of control, limited access to assets, costs, and recordkeeping difficulties.
An irrevocable trust could be a good option for people 65 and older who are Medicaid-eligible because it protects the elderly individual from having to dispose of their assets in order to qualify for Medicaid or nursing home care.
A Trust is preferred over a Will because it is quick. Example: When your parents were to pass away, If they have a trust, all the Trustee needs to do is review the terms of the Trust. It will give you instructions on how they distribute the assets that are in the Trust. Then they can make the distribution.
Parents often make the mistake of choosing a trustee based solely on personal relationships without considering their financial acumen, integrity, and willingness to serve. Choosing one of the children is not always the best choice as other beneficiaries may see their role with suspicion.
In California a minor cannot legally hold title to real property. You have to be at least 18 years old to hold title in Ca. You should look at putting the property title in the name of a trust . Then upon the minors 18 birthday , the successor trustee could become the now adult .
Assets in the trust are subject to federal estate and gift taxes (though no tax may be due if you have a sufficient amount of exemption remaining) only once - when they are transferred to the trust.
If the trustee is not paying beneficiaries accurately or on time, legal action can be taken against them.
The surviving spouse has full control over their survivor's trust, but may have limited control over the deceased spouse's accounts and property that make up the decedent's trust.
Under California law, embezzling trust funds or property valued at $950 or less is a misdemeanor offense and is punishable by up to 6 months in county jail. If a trustee embezzles more than $950 from the trust, they can be charged with felony embezzlement, which carries a sentence of up to 3 years in jail.