It’s Time To Revisit Your Estate Plan

The physical and financial health challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic gave us time to rethink our priorities and expectations. Now we know: it’s time to revisit your estate plan.

Estate planning is one area that has received a lot of attention, and for good reason. Before you contact us on any new revisions to your estate plan, here are three basic areas to review as you reassess your estate plan:

Document review: Are the papers in place?
The COVID-19 crisis has caused many people to recognize that things can happen unexpectedly that turn your life upside down. Review your estate plan — or create one if you don’t have one in place. The documents that should be reassessed include the following:

• Your health care directive. This document, which is sometimes called by different names, memorializes your wishes concerning your medical treatment should you become ill or incapacitated. It includes directives about your end-of-life wishes as well as other decisions about your care and treatment. It also names the individuals you want to act on your behalf if you are incapacitated and gives them the right to access your medical records. The latter point is especially important because without a legal document in place, privacy laws may prevent a hospital or doctor from releasing your records to them.
• Your durable power of attorney. This document allows you to designate an agent to access your assets and act on your behalf regarding financial decisions if you are incapacitated.
• Your will and trusts. Reviewing these documents is especially important if there have been changes in your family or financial situation since the documents were originally executed.

Financial review: Make sure You’re on Track
Historically low interest rates make this a good time to review the financial aspects of your estate plan. Some tax planning strategies have become more advantageous because of the current financial and economic environment. These include:

• Considering intrafamily loans to children or certain trusts. The interest rate for these loans uses the applicable federal rate, which is the lowest interest rate that can be charged on a loan. The proceeds of the loan can be used for purposes ranging from purchasing company shares to funding a mortgage. There are pros and cons to these loans that need to be considered, but overall they can be very attractive at current interest rates.
• Creating one or more grantor-retained annuity trusts allows the grantor to transfer assets to a trust for a term of years in exchange for an annual annuity. This annuity is taxed at the IRC § 7520 rate, which is based on the AFR.
• Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is another consideration, since the income tax on the conversion is based on the IRA’s value at the time of conversion. Doing the conversion when the assets’ value is lower can substantially reduce the income tax cost. 

All these aspects are complicated. Before making any decisions, be sure to discuss your specific situation with your financial and legal advisors. Your specific goals and circumstances will guide the decisions that are best for you, your family and your beneficiaries. But one thing is certain — when the times change, your circumstances do too. It’s time to revisit your estate plan. Let’s do this right.

This website is not intended to be a source of solicitation or legal advice. General information is made available for educational purposes only. The information on this blog is not an invitation for an attorney-client relationship, and website should not be used to substitute for obtaining legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state. Please call us at (626) 403-2292 if you wish to schedule an appointment for a legal consultation.

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William Hayes

As an attorney in private practice in Los Angeles County, California William Hayes provides extensive estate and tax planning services to individuals and businesses in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank and surrounding communities. Attorney Hayes’ primary focus is to help clients avoid probate, protect their assets, and provide for the security of their loved ones with a well-crafted estate plan. He believes in giving each client the time needed to explain his or her needs and wishes and then dedicates his efforts toward making the client’s desires clear in their final estate plan.

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