Approximately nine percent (9%) of all existing wills are invalid for one reason or another. If you die without a valid will, you die intestate, and lose control over what happens to your property. This usually also results in your estate paying a lot more to settle your affairs, which leaves less assets for your heirs. Generally estates settle much faster when you have a valid will that names people, charities, or other institutions that you want to inherit your property.
What kind of wills are there and how do I know if it is valid? Most commonly, to have a valid will, people have a formal will drawn up and executed. This consists of a typed will that specifies where your property goes, who will settle your estate, who will care for your children if they are minors, and who will administer any trusts the will may establish. Wills may also be handwritten (holographic wills) or oral. Handwritten and oral wills are not always valid and may only be considered valid in certain circumstances. If you are married and die intestate, your property will go to your spouse and any children that you have. Each state, including North Carolina, has a specific formula to determine what percentage your spouse and children receive. If you have children from different relationships, they may be entitled to inherit as well, which may lead to an outcome you would not necessarily favor. If you are not married, your relatives will inherit your property. In these cases, what you may have intended to go to close friends, charities, or an educational institution, may end up going to a distant relative that you may have never had a relationship with. If you die without a will and have no relatives, your estate will likely escheat to the state where you live. Thus only unmarried people without children and without property can justify not making a will; otherwise, you need to have a will in place. About half of Americans die intestate. Many of these people leave large estates and have minor children. To have a valid will in North Carolina, you need to execute the will with two witnesses and a notary. If you need to have a will drafted, or have an estate planning attorney review your will to ensure that it is valid, contact Adkins Law to schedule a free estate planning consultation.
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Control distribution of assets – You wouldn’t hand over your car keys to a child who has not had proper preparation driving, and chances are you would not want to hand over all your assets to a teenager either. But if both parents die at the same time, or while their children are still minors, the children would inherit all the assets upon their 18th birthdays. A trust allows you to specify how and when you want your children to inherit.
Protect assets from creditors – Placing an inheritance in a trust ensures that those assets are protected from your heir’s, or their spouse’s, creditors. A properly drafted trust can protect all your assets throughout your beneficiary’s lifetime from divorce, liability, lawsuits, and other judgments. Protect inheritance from spendthrift heirs – Not everyone is good with money. If your heirs fall into that category, you can use a trust to ensure the assets are not frittered away due to spendthrift behavior. Provide for children of prior marriage or relationship – You can use a trust to both provide for your current spouse and any children from a previous relationship. By doing so, you can prevent pain, confusion, and arguing, which may exist in blended family situations. Provide for a special needs heir – Leaving assets outright to an heir with special needs could disqualify them from receiving important government benefits. Leaving those assets in trust bypasses this potential risk. Avoid probate – Assets can pass to heirs without going through probate by using a trust, saving beneficiaries the time and expense of the probate process. Probate is an expensive, public, and unnecessary court process you can keep your family from having to deal with. Protect privacy – Once a will is entered into probate, it becomes public record, and anyone may access information on what someone inherited. A trust, on the other hand, is a private document that protects your family’s privacy. If you need to arrange a consultation with an estate planning attorney,contact Adkins Law or call (704) 274-5677. A special needs trust supplements any benefits the person with special needs may receive from the government without risking their eligibility for government assistance.
People who have special needs often receive assistance from the government in the form of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. These forms of government assistance are typically only available to individuals that have $2,000 or less to their name, which may not be the case if they come into money through an inheritance. People who are disabled and qualify for SSI have physical and/or mental conditions that result in “marked and severe functional limitations”. The purpose of a special needs trust is to assist beyond what government programs can handle. Some examples of how the trust can be used include home health aids, rehabilitation, education, transportation and medical or dental care that is not covered by government benefits. What are the benefits of a Special Needs Trust? A trust creates a third party entity to assist your loved one after your death by creating a buffer of sorts between the inheritance and the beneficiary. This has the effect of allowing you to leave money to your disabled loved one without risking their right to collect SSI benefits, or risking the money in the trust being taken by the government to cover medical expenses. There are several different types of trusts that range from one person taking responsibility for distributing funds, to a pooled trust that is run by a non- profit. To discuss your options and whether a Special Needs Trust is right for your family, contact Adkins Law today to set up a consult. Misconception #1:
Trusts are only for people with a high net worth! Trusts can be set up to serve a variety of purposes and aren't only for "rich people". The most common type of trust is a living or revocable trust. A revocable trust is set up so that it can be modified during ones lifetime. Misconception #2: Trusts are Expensive to Setup! Each state and attorney has its own prices when it comes to trusts. Contact attorneys in your area to get an idea of the cost. Generally attorneys have packages that include more than just a trust. Adkins Law specializes in Estate Planning and would be happy to help you! Misconception #3: You no longer in control of assets held in a trust! With a revocable or living trust, you maintain complete control over all assets in the trust during your lifetime. Keep in mind, like most estate planning issues, credit protections vary and you should always work with an estate planning attorney to understand all your options. Misconception #4: Trusts are only for cash or financial securities! Trusts can be set up to hold a variety of assets: -Real estate -Art -Privately held interests in a business Just to name a few! The primary benefit of putting an asset in a revocable trust is to ensure the assets are distributed according to your wishes. Misconception #5: After I set up a trust, my assets will automatically flow as planned! This may be true in some instances, however, this is not automatic and you must be careful not to contradict the terms of the trust. Once the trust is set up, retitle assets in the name of the trust. Misconception #6: I don't need a trust if I have a will! Having a will in place is a great first step into estate planning. But, having a will does not mean your assets are completely secure. Wills can be contested, there is no guarantee that what you want to happen actually will happen if it is just outlined in your will. Misconception #7: It is generally a good idea to name a family member or friend as a trustee! People often name relatives or family members as their executor of their estate and trustees on a trust. Sometimes this can create a strain on your family dynamics. Acting as trustee and/or executor or a trust and estate can be a large amount of work. You can always consider appointing an third party or corporate trustee to manage the assets and execute the wishes of your trust. My doing this it may alleviate the burden of appointing a family member and instead help in assigning a "neutral" party to act as trustee. Misconception #8: Trusts can be set up to benefit a charity, business organization, or even a pet. Sometimes it is possible to assign percentages of your trust assets to a organization or charity of your choice. It is recommended you work with an attorney who may be able to assist in establishing the kind of trust that best fits to your needs for your family, maybe even your pets. Trusts can be powerful and can accomplish a wide range of goals. They can be very difficult and sometimes hard to understand, That is why Adkins Law is here for you! We specialize in Estate Planning and we can work with your family in creating and drafting the Trust Document or Estate Package that best fits your needs for your family. Give our office a call to set up your FREE consultation. Adkins Law is prepared to plan and
help your family with an Estate Plan! Having a basic estate plan is essential to ensure that your family is cared for after you are no longer here, and your finances are distributed in the way that you desire. This plays a significant role in reducing stress and frustration for your loved ones in the event of your incapacitation or death. Contact us today to schedule your FREE consultation! Adkins Law is committed to being there for you no matter what stage of life you are going through. If you are in need of assistance with Family Law Issues, Estate Planning for your family or even a Traffic Law issue. We are here to help you! Call us today to set up a consultation.
If you have gotten a traffic ticket we can help. Call us today to speak to Lake Norman and Huntersville attorney's that specialize in Traffic, Family and Estate Planning. Adkins Law looks forward to helping you!
Estate Planning is one of the most important yet neglected aspects of personal finance. When dealing with our own mortality, people tend to procrastinate. It isn't very pleasant to think about death and what will happen to our family and our finances after we pass away. Having a basic estate plan, at the minimum, is essential to ensuring that your family is cared for after you are no longer here and your finances are distributed in the way that you desire. This plays a significant role in reducing stress and frustration for your loved ones in the event of your incapacitation or death.
Below are 4 reasons Estate Planning is so important: 1) Prevents your assets from going to Unintended Beneficiaries A main component in estate planning is designating places for your assets. This can be your home or your stocks. Without an estate plan, the courts will decide who gets your assets. This is a process that can take years and can get ugly without a clear plan. 2) Protects your Family and Your Children In order to ensure that your children are taken care of, after your passing. You will want to name their guardians in the event that both parents die before the children turn 18. Without this the courts can step in and make the decision for you. This could potentially determine who raises your child up until they turn 18 years old. 3) Stops your Family from having to Overpay in taxes Estate planning can reduce all of the federal and state estate taxes or the state inheritance tax. Without a plan this can be very costly to your loved ones if you were to pass. 4) Eliminates the mess when you pass By creating a plan this enables you and gives you the opportunity to make a plan for your finances and assets after your passing. By planning in advance it ensures that you have made the right financial decisions for you and your family. If you need to make a plan to protect your family. Adkins Law located in Huntersville, NC can help you. Call today to set up your FREE Estate Planning consultation. Business North Carolina magazine has honored lawyers since 2002 by publishing Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite. This is a listing of the state’s top lawyers in different categories. Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite has become the model for other awards and lists, but it remains unique as the only award that gives every active lawyer in the state the opportunity to participate. Each year, Business North Carolina magazine sends out ballot notices to every member of the N.C. State Bar living in North Carolina — asking each a simple question:
"Of the Tar Heel lawyers whose work you have observed firsthand, whom would you rate among the current best in these categories?" Voters are not allowed to vote for themselves. The top vote-getter in each category becomes a member of Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite Hall of Fame. Attorney Christopher Adkins and Attorney Sarah Bennett were awarded the 2018 Young Guns award from Legal Elite. Mr. Adkins and Ms.Bennett were among the top 3% of lawyers in North Carolina to be awarded into the Legal Elites Hall of Fame. Join us in congratulating them on this award. We are so excited for them and are so lucky to have them as our lawyers serving the Lake Norman and Huntersville area specializing in Estate Planning, Family Law, and Traffic. Happy New Years from your Friends at Adkins Law located in Huntersville, NC. We are attorneys in the Lake Norman area that specialize in Estate Planning, Family Law, and Traffic/ DWI. Call is today to schedule a consultation. Cheers to 2018!
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