General Information | Begin the Begin

“You Better Think” – Aretha Franklin Dies Without a Will

August 23, 2018

Documentation filed earlier this week in Oakland County probate court in Michigan by Aretha Franklin’s children indicates that she died without a will or a trust. On the forms, a box was checked signaling that “the decedent died intestate”. What does this all mean?

Dying without a Last Will and Testament or a revocable living trust means that a person is intestate and the laws of the state in which they resided at death will spell out who is to receive the assets of the estate. Under Michigan law, Ms. Franklin’s estate will pass equally to her children as she was unmarried at the time of her death. Ms. Franklin’s niece has also requested that she be appointed as the personal representative or executor of the estate. Thus, it appears that the law of unintended consequences may now apply as Ms. Franklin may not have wanted her children to become the beneficiaries. She may have wanted to include charity or friends perhaps even other relatives in her estate plan. She may not have wanted to have her niece serve as the personal representative, a role that presumably will be compensated. But, without a Last Will and Testament or revocable living trust, we will never know what her true wishes were.

It will also be interesting to see how the administration of Ms. Franklin’s estate unfolds now that the process will be a public one. A number of questions will have to be asked and answered, including, but not limited to: What debts does the singer have? Michigan may not have a state level estate tax or inheritance tax, but how will the Federal estate tax be paid? Exemptions from Federal estate tax are high ($11.18 million per person in 2018), and valuations of Ms. Franklin’s will have to be done to determine the total value of her estate. What assets will each beneficiary ultimately receive? Presumably some of the assets are not standard such as royalties from Ms. Franklin’s records. Will an agreement be reached amongst the beneficiaries regarding the management and distribution of the assets? Unfortunately, the process that has begun will be lengthy, likely expensive and could result in the dismantling of a legacy if the process devolves into an ugly court battle similar to what has happened with Prince’s estate when he died without a will. And in the end, all of this uncertainty could have been avoided or at least minimized had Ms. Franklin simply planned, which means “you better think” before you decide you do not need a plan. #QueenofSoulDiesWithoutWill #QueenofSoul #estateplanning #intestacy

Learn More About the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (VAELA)

August 3, 2018

Check out the brief interview I did regarding my new role as President of the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

The Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, or VAELA, is a non-profit professional organization. Its mission is to educate and empower legal representation of elderly and/or disabled clients and their families. OFP Shareholder Catherine F. Schott Murray currently serves as VAELA’s President.

How does VAELA help protect/advocate the interests of seniors or the disabled?

Catherine F. Schott Murray: VAELA Is leading the way in special needs and elder law in Virginia by educating, inspiring and empowering legal representation of elderly and disabled clients and their families, and by advocating their issues before courts and legislatures. In representing a diverse set of individuals and families with unique issues by providing practical and common-sense advice, VAELA members help their clients to protect family members with disabilities and to age with dignity.

What are the biggest challenges to protecting the legal interests of older Virginians and those with special needs, and how can VAELA help to drive change?

CSM: Each year members of VAELA tackle changes to the rules and regulations relating to guardianship, financial exploitation, Medicaid, estate planning, and estate and trust administration. Given that VAELA members are very often the first responders to incidents involving these issues, these same members are among the most knowledgeable in providing advice and guidance to navigate those changes. Furthermore, members of VAELA can provide invaluable input into proposed legislation that may impact an individual’s life.

What are your key priorities this year as you take the helm of VAELA?

CSM: One of the key priorities this year is for VAELA to help cultivate the next generation of elder law attorneys through its mentorship program and annual conferences such as its Fall Conference and annual UnProgram. Through these programs, VAELA can ensure that the elderly and people with disabilities receive the specialized service and advice they need by educating this next generation.

How can elder law attorneys learn more and get involved with VAELA?

CSM: Anyone interested in learning more about VAELA should visit our website: www.vaela.org.

A New Year Means New Exemption Levels

January 14, 2018

Welcome to the New Year! As with any new year, there are usually changes to a variety of important numbers for estate planning and elder law purposes. This year the applicable exclusion amount from Federal estate tax is set at $11.18 million per person thanks to tax reform. The lifetime exclusion from gift tax is also $11.18 million per person and the exemption from generation skipping transfer tax is $11.18 million. The annual exclusion from gift tax will be at least $14,000.

For local jurisdictions that have estate tax, the District of Columbia increased its estate tax exemption from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 last year and this year has increased the threshold further to match the Federal exemption. Maryland’s exemption from estate tax has increased to $4,000,000. Virginia continues to have no state level estate or inheritance tax.

In the elder law field, the Medicaid spousal impoverishment numbers were released increasing the minimum community spouse resource allowance (CSRA) to $24,720 and the maximum CSRA to $123,600. The maximum monthly maintenance needs allowance is now $3,090.00 while the minimum remains at $2,030.00. The minimum home equity limit is now $572,000 and the maximum is $858,000, but be aware that local jurisdictions may apply these limits differently.

If you have questions regarding the new limits and how they may impact your estate planning, your should consult your professional advisor. #estateplanning #taxplanning #elderlaw #taxreform #HappyNewYear @bgnthebgn

Tax Update – 2018 Estate and Gift Tax Exemptions and More…

October 27, 2017

The IRS recently announced the estate and gift exemption levels for 2018 and they continue to increase as per legislation passed in January 2013. The applicable exclusion amount from Federal estate tax will increase to $5.6 million per person allowing a married couple to shelter $11.2 million from Federal estate tax, the rate for which is currently set at 40%. The lifetime exemption from gift tax remains coupled with the exemption from Federal estate tax, and therefore, this exemption will also increase to $5.6 million per person. The annual gift exclusion amount will also increase for the first time since 2013 and will be $15,000 per person. Virginia continues to not impose a state level estate tax. Maryland’s exemption from estate tax will increase to $4 million while the District of Columbia’s now $2 million exemption will rise to meet the Federal exemption beginning in 2018 so long as there is a revenue surplus.

Additionally, in the last article, the fate of the proposed valuation discounting regulations was still up in the air. However, Treasury issued a second report to the President in which those regulations were withdrawn. Therefore, the availability of valuation discounting on certain transfers of interests held in closely held or family owned businesses remains available and is currently no longer under threat.

For seniors and those with disabilities, a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security and Social Security Income (“SSI”) will increase monthly benefits by 2.0%. In addition, the cap on the amount of earnings subject to payroll tax will increase to $128,700. Finally, the tax brackets, standard deductions, Pease and PEP limitations, kiddie tax and other credit and deduction levels for 2018 were announced. Many are watching the tax reform debate to see if any of these numbers will change, so stay tuned… #taxreform #estateplanning #estatetax #taxplanning #taxtime #COLA2018 @bgnthebgn

Revision to Proposed Rule Banning Arbitration Clauses in Nursing Home Admissions Agreements

June 18, 2017

Last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a rule banning the use of binding pre-dispute arbitration agreements by nursing homes that accept Medicare and Medicaid patients. The result of the new rule would have been that families who have an issue with a nursing home regarding care, abuse, and the like, would have been able to sue in court to have their case heard versus having to go through a binding arbitration process. However, the American Health Care Association along with four long-term care providers filed suit against the Health and Human Services Secretary and CMS arguing that the agencies overstepped their authority in issuing the rule. Injunctive relief was granted preventing the rule from going into effect.

In May of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court in Kindred Nursing Centers L.P. vs. Clark, overturned a ruling by the Kentucky Supreme Court in which the Kentucky Supreme Court stated that durable powers of attorney must explicitly permit an agent to enter into an arbitration agreement or otherwise risk violating the Kentucky Constitution where access to the courts and a trial by jury is ‘sacred’ and inviolate’. Instead the U.S. Supreme Court held that Kentucky’s ruling violated the Federal Arbitration Act by treating arbitration agreements differently.

As a result, earlier this month CMS issued proposed revisions to its arbitration agreement requirements for nursing homes and long-term care facilities. CMS is no longer proposing a ban on arbitration agreements in admissions agreements, but it is requiring greater transparency as to the meaning and understanding of such provisions in admissions agreements. Thus, it appears at this juncture that CMS is trying to find some middle ground between a complete ban on arbitration agreements and the decision in the Kindred case, but only time will tell if that middle ground has been found between the rights of the families of patients and the long-term care facilities. #elderlaw #elderabuse #nursinghome #arbitration #CMS #SCOTUS @bgnthebgn

Aging in Three Simple Questions

May 6, 2017

At a recent Moms at Work event hosted by Claire M. S. Meade, discussion was held about those who are part of the “sandwich generation”, that is those who have young children, but also older parents. In particular, the conversation centered on questions to ask retired or retiring parents to help facilitate a discussion about aging. Many earlier articles have addressed estate planning, including planning for incapacity and planning for death. But this discussion highlighted three basic questions that MIT AgeLab identified as key when considering what it means to be retired. The simple questions are: (1) Who will change my light bulbs? (2) How will I get an ice cream cone? (3) With whom will I have lunch? These seem like very basic questions, but when you start to think beyond the initial concept to the considerations that each question raises, you realize that there are a lot of details to address in each question as it relates to retirement and aging. Check out the MIT AgeLab article for more details and think about beginning the conversation with your retired or retiring family member to avoid finding yourself in a situation where it is too late to plan. @bgnthebgn @josephcoughlin #incapacityplanning #estateplanning #aginginplace #retirementplanning #sandwichgeneration

National Healthcare Decisions Day – Week Long Event for 2017

April 13, 2017

Earlier articles have talked about how you can control your final moments and also how you want to be remembered. This year National Healthcare Decisions Day is a week long event beginning April 16 and ending on April 22. Such recognition provides a reminder that having an advance medical directive and a living will in which you express your wishes regarding medical care, if you cannot decide, and whether you want life-prolonging procedures, are crucial components in every estate plan. Several states and the District of Columbia have addressed end of life decision-making through death with dignity statutes. But, regardless of your position on death with dignity statutes, end of life decision-making and advance healthcare planning is a necessary conversation to have and to share with your loved ones and National Healthcare Decisions Day (or for this year week) helps remind us of the need to begin the dialog on the subject. @deathwdignity @NHDD #livingwill #estateplanning #endoflife #advancedirective #NHDD

New Virginia Legislation Addresses Thorsen Case

March 14, 2017

The Virginia General Assembly has passed SB 1140 and HB 1617 both of which address the issues raised in Thorsen v. Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (786 S.E.2d 453 (Va. 2016). As may be recalled, the Thorsen case involved an error in the drafting of a Last Will and Testament that resulted in the intended beneficiaries receiving a smaller amount than was originally expected. In connection with a lawsuit for legal malpractice, the Virginia Supreme Court found that a third-party beneficiary may sue to enforce its rights even though those parties are not known for many years, which is very often the case in estate planning matters.

Now under the aforementioned legislation, the statute of limitations for legal malpractice relating to estate planning is five years if the representation was based on a written contract and three years if the representation was based on an unwritten contract. The statute of limitations begins to run on the date representation is complete. Furthermore, a third-party has standing to sue “only if there is a written agreement between the individual who is the subject of the estate and the defendant that expressly grants standing…” This legislation is effective July 1, 2017. Fortunately once in force, the potential chilling impact the Thorsen case had on the estate planning process will hopefully be overcome, and attorneys and clients will be able return to having an attorney-client relationship without having to watch out for disgruntled beneficiaries who may appear decades later. #estateplanning #estateadministration #Thorsen @bgnthebgn

IRS Issues Tips for Refunds

February 9, 2017

Earlier this month the IRS issued IR-2017-16 to provide taxpayers with information regarding refunds. In particular, the IRS was interested in debunking a few myths that may be circulating out on the internet about refunds. First, the IRS has indicated that the statement “all refunds are delayed” is false. More than 90% of refunds are issued within the normal timeframe, which is less than 21 days. However, some refunds may be delayed including for those taxpayers claiming the earned income tax credit (EITC) or the additional child tax credit (ACTC). Delays for refunds on those returns are until mid-February. Other refunds may be held because of increased security to reduce and prevent identity theft and refund fraud.

Second, the IRS has indicated that either calling the IRS or the individual’s tax advisor is not the best way to determine the status of a refund. Instead, taxpayers should go online to “Where’s My Refund?” or use the IRS2Go mobile app. The IRS will update the status of refunds once a day, which is typically done overnight.

Next, the IRS stated that ordering a tax transcript will not help taxpayers determine the statue of a refund. The tax transcript may not contain any relevant information as to the amount or timing of a refund. Additionally, the IRS reminded taxpayers who have claimed either EITC or ACTC that the projected deposit dates will not be available under after February 15th. So, even if a taxpayer claiming those credits checks online for the status of his or her refund, no information will be available until later in February. The IRS published “What to Expect for Refunds in 2017” for additional information.

Finally, for those claiming either EITC or ACTC, the entire refund, not just the portion associated with the credits, will be delayed until after February 15th as dictated by law. Again, the IRS directs taxpayers online to “Where’s My Refund?” or the IRS2Go mobile app for status updates on a refund. #taxseasonishere #taxplanning #whereismyrefund @bgnthebgn

Five New Year’s Resolutions for Your Estate Plan

January 12, 2017

Happy New Year! Very often the New Year brings all sorts of ‘changes’ for individuals, particularly after having spent any time with family members and friends over the holiday season. Here is a quick list of five resolutions to consider for your estate plan.

Is it time to update your plan? If a plan is in place, when was the last time you reviewed it? Is it simply a binder of documents you received several year ago when you finished the estate planning process and you haven’t looked at since? Have circumstances changed that are not captured in the documents? Who are the fiduciaries (i.e., executor, trustee, healthcare power of attorney, financial power of attorney, guardian, etc.) listed? Are the fiduciaries still capable of serving? Does the plan do what you want it to do? There have been a lot of changes to estate tax laws in recent years, is your plan from before 2013? In some cases, does ‘updating’ your plan, actually mean finishing the process? Or does it mean starting the process so that your theoretical plan is memorialized?
Are there beneficiary designations? When was the last time you checked beneficiary designations on life insurance, retirement accounts (i.e., 401(k), IRAs, 403(b), 457, etc.) and annuities? What about any payable on death (POD) or transfer on death (TOD) designations you have on bank accounts or brokerage accounts…do those designations reflect your wishes? For government employees, are beneficiary designations up-to-date on your Federal, state or local benefits?
Families come in all shapes and sizes -Family Fiduciaries. Are you named as a fiduciary in any family member’s or friend’s plan? Have you touched base with that person recently to see how they are doing both health-wise and financially? Do you understand what your role is as the fiduciary? Do you know the family member’s or friend’s goals and objectives? Are you able to still serve, that is, are you distracted by a health event or financial crisis and perhaps you should not take the role? Have you considered options for a care manager if you are caring for an elderly family member or friend? How about looking at assisted living or skilled nursing or home health aides, if the circumstances warrant such considerations?
Are you charitably inclined? Do you have a charitable giving plan for this year? For future years? For at your death? Have you researched your options including direct giving, donor advised funds, private foundations and/or charitable trusts? Is there a planned gift that you would like to consider? Is now the time to investigate annual giving?
Succession planning occurs at many levels. Who will be in charge of any business whether it is a limited liability company, partnership or corporation? Are shareholders’ agreements and operating agreements up-to-date? And beyond a business interest, who will be in charge of your pets? Are there monies set aside for their care? What about digital assets? Have you ensured a smooth transition of online accounts to a successor? What about your tangible personal property? Is there an inventory? Appraisals? Designated recipients?

True, there are a lot of questions and not a lot of answers here, but that is the planning process. One has to begin with the questions to reach the answers. Working with a professional advisor can both provide you with the guidance needed to navigate these questions and ensure that you complete the process. #planyourjourney #lifeplanning #legacyplanning #estateplanning @bgnthebgn