Estate Administration

Dying Intestate–The Documents that Later Emerge

Published on: February 15, 2013 | by Ettinger Law Firm

If you pass away without a will designating how you’d like your affairs to be handled, you are deemed to have died “intestate.” Some of the most significant legal battles and family feuding occurs in those situation because it is essentially a free-for-all. Generic legal rules apply, but without any indication of how to handle property distribution and other matters, all interested parties may decide to pursue different legal avenues to maximize their own interests. Legal fights can still occur when a will exists (often referred to a “will contests”), but the possibility of one’s wishes being completely upended are far lower when at least some documentation exists.

Interestingly, it is not uncommon for various documents purporting to explain one’s wishes to pop up later on–in the midst of a legal dispute. For obvious reasons, these documents should be examined with much scrutiny, but they still may influence a legal case.

New Document in Lottery Winner’s Estate Feud

Estate Battles More Common Than Ever

Published on: February 13, 2013 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Feuding after a death has been common for centuries. However, observers point out that in recent years estate battles have actually grown and more frequent. The trend is noted for all families, both those with sizeable wealth and those of much smaller estates. It is a crucial reminder for residents to take action now to eliminate uncertainty and confusion and ensure in-fighting doesn’t tear a family apart following a passing.

Last week the Telegraph published a story on the topic, pointing to data showing an uptick in legal battles over inheritance disputes. The most common explanation for the change is the recession which devastated many families over the past seven to eight years. One observer explained that in tough economic times, “more people are hoping to receive an inheritance and there can be a great deal of trouble if their hopes are disappointed. People are more litigious in general and more willing to assert their rights.”

Undoubtedly, the recession acted as a spur, influencing some to start a legal fight in order to secure funds that they desperately needed and might assume are owed to them. However, money troubles aren’t the only cause in the change. After all, financial incentives exist even in relatively prosperous times.

Passing on Digital Passwords After Death

Published on: February 1, 2013 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Over the past few years more and more attention has been paid to the value of “digital” assets and the need to account for them in estate planning. Yet, for all the increased awareness, there is still a long way to go before all families properly plan for handing online access and property issues. A Private Wealth story recently highlighted one of the main problems: failing to provide others with access to crucial username and password details.

Extra Burden on the Family

Many of us have a myriad of usernames and passwords that we use to control our online lives. These include social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, blogs), email addresses, online banking data, and more. Many families are plagued with administrative nightmares when a loved one dies without providing a way to access these accounts.

“Portability” for Married Couples

Published on: January 18, 2013 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Estate planning is a personalized affair. While there are general rules and principles that apply in all cases, at the end of the day each plan is tailored for an individual’s exact situation. A one-size-fits-all approach to this work is misguided and often leads to problems down the road. For one thing, there is a world of difference between planning for married couples and singles. Failing to take those differences into account may be problematic. A recent article provides a helpful background on which to discuss those issues.

Portability Now Permanent

For example, married couples are able to take advantage of an option known as “portability.” Seemingly made permanent in the law thanks to the fiscal cliff compromise bill, portability refers to one spouse’s ability to use to use the other’s unused estate and gift tax exemption. Essentially, this allows a spouse to transfer up to $10.5 million tax free. In the past, bypass trusts were use in order to preserve exemptions. However, with this new law, those trusts may not be necessary for that exact tax-saving feature–though they still could prove useful for other purposes.

Lottery Winnings, Murder, & Estate Planning

Published on: January 15, 2013 | by Ettinger Law Firm

The Daily Jeffersonian published a story recently on the bizarre details of a case involving a lottery winner’s apparent murder and the subsequent estate battle. Like the plot of a Hollywood crime drama, the tale includes a mysterious death, a series of hidden family feuds, and considerable money on the line. While quite dramatic, it is a vivid example of the difference that common sense estate planning can make in the aftermath of a death.

Money & Murder

The case centers of the estate of Urooj Khan who immigrated from India in 1989 and established several successful businesses. In 2010 he hit a jackpot and won a state lottery; his actual take-home from the winnings were about $425,000. According to reports, he planned on using the windfall to pay off his mortgage, expand his business, and donate a sizeable sum to a local children’s hospital.

More Rumblings That Estate Tax Still Not Finalized?

Published on: January 8, 2013 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Like the monster from a horror movie that will not stay still no matter what is thrown at it, there are already suggestions that the apparent “final” decisions related to the estate tax may not actually be all that final.

As we previously explained, as part of the fiscal cliff compromise bill certain estate tax issues were seemingly made permanent. The exemption level was kept at $5.12 million and indexed to inflation. The top rate was set at 40%. Both of these figures were less intrusive than that original proposals from the White House and far less severe than those mandated by the fiscal cliff itself. Many observers were happy with the outcome, no matter what their personal preferences, for the fact that it at least offered some stability. Having an uncertain tax rate is never a welcome prospect when planning for the future.

Also, as pointed out in a recent article discussed the estate tax components of the bill, the tax will continue to be “portable.” This means that one spouse may use their deceased spouse’s “unused” portion of the exemption level. This is a very helpful tool which allows more assets to pass tax-free without the need for more complex estate planning techniques.

Benefits for Children Conceived After Father’s Death to Be Decided By Court

Published on: November 28, 2012 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Medical and technological breakthroughs in recent decades have impacted virtually every facet of life–estate planning is no exception. For example, many rules in the field hinge on definitions of legal heirs. In the past, it was pretty clear who those heirs were, typically biological or legally adopted children. When an indiviual dies intestate (without a will), then each state has specific default rules regarding what to do with the individual’s assets. Often the biological or legally adopted children receive part or all of those assets.

But it doesn’t end with inheritance rules. Many state and federal programs also use these definitions to make decisions about who qualifies for certain benefits. This includes the federal Social Security program. In many cases, when a parent dies, a family eligible for Social Security assistance for the minor children that remain following their parent’s passing. In the past there as little confusion over when a child did or did not qualify for those survivor benefits.

No longer. As recent of improvements in medical research have changed reproductive technology, the line between when a child is considered an heir and when they are not is blurred. That is perhaps best evidenced by a new case that is slated to go before one state court.

Is “Prepaid” Life Insurance Becoming Popular?

Published on: October 19, 2012 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Life insurance is an important piece of long-term financial security for local families. It is entirely reasonable for parents and family breadwinners to wish to provide some security to their loved ones in case the unthinkable happens. However, with money tight and uncertainty about financial security remaining, some are unsure about the benefits of life insurance. Those in the life insurance industry have argued recently that their market is shrinking and returns are dropping. To jump-start the industry, some are now turning to a new product to sell to more community members.

A recent story in “The Motley Fool” provides some context for the product that may or may not be a good fit for some local families. This unique insurance option is actually a prepaid life insurance policy. It has been called the “marvel of simplicity.” The product, spearheaded by a unique collaboration between MetLife and retail giant WalMart, is essentially a short-term one year life insurance policy that provides up to $25,000 in coverage. These are not huge sums, but the idea is to open the insurance up to a much larger market. MetLife likely sought out the arrangment so that they could tap into Walmart’s large consumer base while saving costs of middlemen broker fees.

Interstingly, this approach is not the first of its kind. In the past Canadian insurer Manulife offered life insurance products through the U.S.-based big retailer Costco. In addition, in the past Walmart has sold customer various financial products, even including things like mortgages.

Court Rules Woman Must Give Up Kafka Papers She Inherited

Published on: October 18, 2012 | by Ettinger Law Firm

The New York Times published an fascinating story this week on a foreign court ruling that is a testament to the way that estate wishes sometimes have ripples effects for decades and generations into the future. Of course, it is critical to note that the legal rules underlying this case are far different than what a New York court might determine. However, the principles of needing to think about estate plans and personal property distribution for many years into the future still holds.

The Kakfa Papers Inheritance

Franz Kakfka, the well-known and incrediby influential author of the early 20th century, wrote a number of books, short stories, and letters in his shortened life. One of Kakfa’s closest friends (and the executor of his estate) was the journalist Max Brod. Kafka died in 1924. When Mr. Brod fled from Europe in 1939 ( to avoid the Nazi invasion) he took with him a suitcase full of Kakfa papers. Mr. Brod died in 1968, leaving behind his own and Mr. Kafka’s papers as an inheritance to his secretary, Esther Hoffe. Ms. Hoffe lived in Tel Aviv where she kept the incredibly valuable documents. In 1988 Ms. Hoffe sold the manuscript for a Kafka story, “The Trial” for $2 million. However, scholars have not been able to view the rest of the materials since the 1980s.

Deal Reached in Museum vs. Estate Feud

Published on: October 17, 2012 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Unfortunately, there is a tendancy to assume that so long as end-of-life affairs are reasonably spelled out, then everything will go as planned. The reality is that when making estate plans it is usually best to reiterate Murphy’s Law: “Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” It is only with that comprehensive planning, taking into account all possible scenarios, that true peace of mind is afforded. This need to be clear about taking into account all contingencies is even more prudent when larger estate are invovled. That is because money often brings out that most aggressive side of others. Even wishes that seem straight-forward might be complicated in the heat of a feud involving money or valuable proeprty.

The Kevorkian Example

Take, for example, a recent story on the estate of controversial doctor Jack Kevorkian. Shortly before the assisted-suicide proponent was to serve his stint in federal prison, he loaned at least 17 paintings to a museum. He ended up serving eight years before being paroled in 2007. He died about three years later at age 83. The executor of Kevorkian’s estate explained that it was his wish for the paintings to be returned to his estate and used to supplement the inheritance for his neice.