Avoiding Probate in Florida

Avoiding Probate Without a Revocable Living Trust

There is an easier, less complicated way to avoid probate Avoid Probate without a Revocable Living Trust

Avoid Probate without a Revocable Living Trust

Most people can achieve their goals by properly titling their assets and using an

“Enhance Life Estate Deed.”

for real estate. Florida recognizes the enhanced life estate as a valid probate avoiding substitute.

Revocable Living Trust – Liability to Creditors for 2 Years

Assets in a revocable living trust do not avoid the decedent’s creditors claims. In fact most jurisdictions. Including Florida allow creditors of a decedent’s estate to reach assets placed in a revocable living trust. For most people that is a shock to learn this. A person’s transfer of his/her home into a revocable living trust turns it into a counted assets for purposes of applying for Medicaid.

Applying the following methods can help achieve all the “alleged protections” a Revocable Living Trust provides and more. Some of the most common uses of trusts (but by no means exclusive) are to Set an age or ages at which time the beneficiary can inherit or provide for scattered/deferred distribution of income and/or principal Provide specific items on which the money can be spent (such as education, health, housing, business, etc. Provide orderly distribution of assets Provide for a second spouse and protect children from first marriage Provide how the assets should be invested during the term of the trust Provide a trust for a family member with disabilities or “special needs” in order not to interfere with their government benefits Plan estate taxes for estates over $675,000 Transfer assets to minors Prepare to qualify for Medicaid Provide for the care of the grantor during his/her lifetime Avoid intangible taxes.

Use a “Enhanced Life Estate Deed” (Ladybird Deed) on property to Avoid Probate

The most popular method for older clients who want to avoid probate and ensure their property passes to their children was to use a quitclaim deed conveying a life estate to the parent, with the remainder to the child. This is referred to as a traditional life estate deed. The goal was to ensure that on the death of the parents, the children would own the home and not have to open a probate. With that type of deed, for IRS, gift tax purposes there is an outright gift of the remainder to the children at the time of conveyance. An IRS gift tax return would also have to be filed if the remainder interested was valued over $13,000 (in 2012). The parents also give up control of the remainder interest in their home upon transfer. This type of life estate deed results in an immediate conveyance of the remainder and constitutes a disqualifying transfer for purposes of Medicaid nursing home eligibility. In addition, if the parent wants to convey or mortgage the property in the future, all remaindermen must sign the paperwork. If there is an outstanding mortgage on the home at the time of conveyance of the remainder, that conveyance is subject to State of Florida Document stamps. Finally, if the child has creditor problems problem or gets a divorce, the remainder interest could be attached. A positive attribute of the traditional life estate deed is the parent’s preserve the step-up in basis for the children,

The “Enhance Life Estate Deed”. The probate avoiding method of the new millineum! With this type deed there are technical legal “terms of art” used whereby the person conveying the interest retains an interest for life in the property, and also retains the powers to sell, convey. lease, mortgage, or do anything he/she desires with the property.

With the enhanced life estate deed, the need for probate is avoided.

With the enhanced life estate deed, probate is avoided because the parent/person who did the original conveyance to the child retains all of the rights to do whatever they want with the property while they are alive. This in legal jargon is called a “life estate”. The children, or other loved ones would be named as being entitled to a future “remainder interest” when the person holding the life estate dies. Upon the death of the parents the homestead passes free and clear of the decedent’s creditors claims so long it is given to surviving lineal descendants (blood relatives).

One must be careful when creating an Enhanced Life Estate deed, or any other deed. Using the wrong language, conveying to the wrong persons, or including or deleting legal terms could result in unintended consequences. For instance, a person cannot convey their homestead during lifetime if they have a spouse or minor children. Such an attempt to convey would be voidable. Wording of the deed is important. It is not something an office supply store or internet form will properly achieve.

Caution – Joint Tenancy accounts – Adding people to your deed. Unintended results

Many people will add a family member to an account as a “joint owner” or just add their family member to an account (i.e John “OR” Sue). With the joint account scenario, the IRS could very well consider the adding of a person to the account as a “gift” of the portion transferred.

There are additional legal issues that can arise with using the “OR’ designation. Creditors of the added person could try to attach the assets in the account if there are judgments against the added person. In addition, the person being added to the account inherits the original person’s basis in the property. The result is that when the originating person on the account dies, the added person will lose a step-up in the basis of the assets for income tax purposes, thereby being subject to higher capital gains taxes upon the added person’s sale/liquidation of the asset.

Titling of Other Assets – can avoid probate as well.

So the next excellent tool a person can use to avoid probate without the need for a revocable living trust is to properly title bank accounts and investment accounts.

For bank accounts use of the Transfer on Death designation (TOD) or sometimes referred to as Paid on Death designation (POD) allows a person to name a beneficiary who will own the asset upon the passing of the primary account holder. Upon the death of the original account holder, probate is avoided, the step-up in basis for income tax purposes is preserved, and the claims of the designated beneficiary creditors cannot reach the assets as long as the original account holder is alive and retains title. Most importantly, the account title holder does not need the approval or signature of the designated beneficiaries to do anything with the account and can change beneficiaries as desired.

So Can You do this myself?”

Many things can be accomplished without the guidance or direction of an attorney. The above are legal transaction you really need the help and guidance of an attorney who is trained in dealing with the use of these titling techniques and use of the enhanced life estate deed.