estate plan - Trust and Estate Planning Law Office

Why is it important for Black families to write a will?

Writing a will is not just an administrative task—it is a critical step that ensures your loved ones are provided for even after you are gone. Surprisingly, many individuals, including celebrities, neglect this essential aspect of estate planning. A-listers such as Chadwick Boseman, John Singleton, and PnB Rock tragically passed away without a will in place, leaving their hard-earned legacies to be tangled in lengthy and costly probate battles. However, it is Singleton and PnB Rock’s estate that draws our attention, serving as recent and instructive case studies from which we can learn valuable lessons.

Estate Planning Within the Black Community

Startling statistics from a recent 2021 survey on wills and estate planning reveal a stark reality: while 33% of Americans have taken the crucial step of creating a will, only 27.5% of Black Americans have done the same. It is estimated that over the next 25 years, $68 trillion will be transferred from American households to inheritors and charity. However, due to the underrepresentation in estate planning, the Black community stands at risk of missing out on a substantial portion of this transformative wealth transfer.

The confusing reality of wealthy individuals, including Black celebrities, who fail to establish a will after their passing raises a fundamental question: How could individuals with significant wealth find themselves in such a vulnerable position? The answer lies in a larger issue: the lack of emphasis or education surrounding the importance of wills and estate planning, not only for these individuals but also within the broader Black community.

This can be attributed to various complex reasons such as redlining, a discriminatory practice that emerged in the 1930s and refused financial services to individuals on the basis of race and ethnicity. Through this practice, segregation was reinforced as limited housing opportunities forced Black individuals into concentrated pockets for poverty thus limiting the ability to move into more prosperous neighborhoods. Concentrated pockets of poverty translates to restricted access to quality education, healthcare, and job opportunities. All of these factors have an impact on knowledge of wealth building opportunities such as estate planning to this day.

The Case of John Singleton

John Singleton is a Black film director, screenwriter, and producer who passed away in April 2019. He’s best known for his film debut “Boyz n the Hood”, and most recently his work as co-writer for the Hulu Original “Snowfall”. At the time of his death, his estate was valued at $6.8 million. The contents of his estate include a Los Angeles home, a 1999 Lexus, a 2003 Mercedes Benz, a 2012 sailboat, ownership of 70% interest in Crunk Pictures, LLC, and was the owner of the New Deal Productions that was valued at $3.2 million.

However, at the time of his death, Singleton had no trust and an outdated will that was created in 1993. He was a father to several children, but only his eldest daughter was included in the outdated will. As one can imagine, when it came time to settle the distribution of his estate, his children were in a battle to acquire their portion of the foregone estate. This battle began after the Singleton’s passing in 2019 and recently ended in February 2023. This is a testament to the extensive process of probating. Aside from the tragic passing of Singleton, another tragedy is the effect probating has had on his family. For the past 4 years, the Singleton family have slandered each other on social media amid discourse about various subjects, but specifically about the distribution of the estate. This not only tarnishes the household name, but also the grieving process. This could have been avoided had the will been updated.

PnB Rock and the Importance of a Will When You’re Young

The rapper and singer PnB Rock is another example of a celebrity who made the mistake of not writing a will. PnB Rock passed away in September of 2022, and left behind Stephanie Sibounheuang, his girlfriend and the mother of his daughter. On Instagram LIVE, she shared that her boyfriend had no life insurance or a will. “We didn’t have nothing set up. We’re so young, we didn’t plan on death. I don’t get no death benefits. I don’t get nothing.” Furthermore, the mother of his child, due to the absence of a will, has been faced with the task of providing for herself as well as her child on her own.

Writing a will is essential to making sure your loved ones are taken care of. No matter how young or old you are, having a will should be a priority. Life is unexpected and as Sibounheuang stated, they were so young that they didn’t plan on death. Death is not something that can be planned but an estate is. Writing a will seems intimidating to many, but with help from a credible attorney, the process will be made simpler.

The trust and estate planning office specializes in wills and trusts while also understanding the unique challenges faced by Black Americans when it comes to estate planning. In addition to Inna's impressive credentials, our clients have consistently praised her compassionate approach to addressing their concerns during what can be a stressful process. One client expressed, “First she made you feel at ease with [the] entire process and spoke to my family very frankly and openly giving them episodes from her experience [of] how something could go wrong so they had a good idea of what type of trust they need to set up.” When seeking will and trust services, Inna Fershteyn is the professional to trust. To begin drafting your will today, please contact our dedicated Trust and Estate Planning Office at 718-333-2395.

Why You Should Review Your Estate Plan Before A Second Marriage

It is becoming increasingly common for people to remarry and create blended families. When blended families are created, estate planning becomes a little more complicated. Estate planning for a blended family can be complicated because each spouse may want to provide for each other, their biological children, and maybe even their step-children/adopted children after their death. If this sounds like your family, you should proceed cautiously and read ahead for some guidance on estate planning.

Estate Planning Considerations Before a Second Marriage

A remarriage may create a unique set of legal questions. People assume that their adult children will automatically inherit their assets when they pass away. People make this assumption because most of their property and assets have been spent with their previous spouse, who was possibly a co-parent to the children, and the one who may have helped to build or sustain the family assets.

However, a new marriage means that the family property is governed by the laws of the new marriage. If there is no prenuptial agreement with the new spouse and they survive you, then they would inherit at least one-third of the estate according to New York laws. This means that your adult children from a previous marriage might be in for a rude awakening. A large part of the children’s inheritance might be gone due to the new spouse’s right to inherit one-third of their spouse’s estate.

In order to avoid confusion and possible heartache in the future, have these discussions with your family now. Consulting an experienced estate planning attorney will help with deciding the best ways to make sure your wishes are carried out.

Elective Shares

As stated earlier, if a spouse dies, then the surviving spouse has a right to inherit a one-third share of the deceased’s estate. This is what’s known as an elective share. By law, a spouse cannot be disinherited unless they willingly choose to be. The only way that a surviving spouse can be disinherited completely is through a prenuptial agreement, where each spouse can agree to waive any claims to an elective share of one another’s estates.

Your elective estate includes not just property in your name alone, but also most assets with beneficiary designations such as bank accounts, securities, IRA accounts, the cash value of life insurance, etc. Essentially, you would not be able to easily ignore your spouse’s rights to their elective share. One may assume that if assets are left in a trust for a child then it would be difficult for the surviving to claim their shares. However, the surviving spouse can still file a probate proceeding and possibly force the child to return the assets to satisfy the elective share law.

Prenuptial Agreement Before The Next Marriage

It’s important to recognize that a prenuptial agreement does not mean that a couple will be planning to get a divorce, or that spouses do not trust one another. Rather, couples are recognizing the importance of their upcoming legal commitment to marriage. Older clients who remarry often have important financial obligations from previous relationships such as alimony or child support payments. They may also have hard-earned estates they wish to leave to children from previous relations. In order to provide a solid foundation for their future marriage, people should consider sorting through their finances. By signing a prenup, couples are communicating their concerns for the future financial security of their other relatives and are expressing their respect for the hard-earned assets and accomplishments of their future spouse.

Review Your Estate Plan Before Remarrying

Before getting remarried it is important to focus on redoing your estate plan. During your first marriage, you may have created an estate plan, however this time it might be more complicated, especially if you have children from your first marriage and/or you have since then acquired more valuable assets. Here are some of the best methods we recommend to ensure that your interests are met when you remarry:

Take Stock. You and your soon to be spouse should take an inventory of your individual and/or shared assets and debts. Make sure to include life insurance policies and retirement plans in your stockpile. And be sure to disclose to each other all of this. It is best to be open and honest about money with your spouse.

Financial Management Decision. Once you know what both of you are worth financially, then you two need to decide if you want to combine (or not combine) assets when you are married. For example, if one spouse has significant debt (ie. student debts) you may not want to combine finances or make any joint purchases. These decisions need to be made upfront so everyone is clear on what to expect.

Discuss Who Will Receive What. You and your future spouse need to figure out who will receive your estate when you die. This can be complicated discussion if you have children from a previous marriage. By law, if you leave all your assets to your new spouse, there are no guarantees that your new spouse will be required to provide for your children. If you would like to ensure your children are provided for, there are numerous options available. Some of these options include: creating a trust for your children, naming your children as beneficiaries on life insurance policies, or explicitly giving your children joint ownership of a property. If any of these options sound appealing for your case, consult an estate planning attorney for which option is best.

Double Check Beneficiaries. If you have a previous estate plan created, you should double check who you named as the beneficiaries on your life insurance policy, and/or retirement plan. Upon reviewing, you may want to change who you previously named. However, if you are divorced, you may not be able to change some of the beneficiaries. When you return to your estate planning attorney, be sure to bring your divorce decree so they can make sure you do not violate the decree. If it is the case that you can not change your beneficiaries, you can buy additional life insurance or retirement plans where you can include your new spouse or future children.

Consult An Estate Planning Attorney. Before you remarry and if you have an existing estate plan, you should definitely consider updating your last will. You might also need to update or even create other estate planning documents like a durable power of attorney and a health care proxy.

Before or maybe after consulting an attorney, be sure to be open and honest to your family members and loved ones about your wishes so there are no surprises. If you would like to review and create a new estate plan before remarrying, please contact the Law Office of Inna Fershteyn at (718) 333-2395.

7 Tips On Caring For Elderly Parents Long-Distance

If you have an aging parent who needs additional assistance, it can be a challenge. If you are caring for your parents from a long distance then there may be additional considerations. Read ahead for seven tips on how to take care of your elderly parents long-distance.

1.) Plan Ahead

Planning ahead and establishing a good system to check-in and care for your elderly parents as early as possible is a great first step, especially when you don’t live near your parents. When your parents are in good health, both physically and mentally, it will be the best time to draw up legal documents, find important papers, and get their home prepared for the challenges of aging. By planning early on, your worries will decrease later on as you have plans and protocols in place.

2.) Meet Your Parents’ Neighbors

Because you live far away from your parents, visiting them is always a nice idea. While on your trip, assessing their health and support system is also a good idea. You can make a note of your parent’s environment and neighbors. Meeting your parent’s neighbors is a great start to creating a support system. Usually, neighbors are only steps away and would hopefully be okay with dropping in for a quick check or hello.

Establishing good relationships with your parent’s neighbors, and having their phone numbers on hand, will decrease your worries as you know that help is close by. Sometimes, neighbors may be the first to notice any unusual behaviors or a decrease in activity. Also, if you are unable to reach your parents, you can call their neighbors who can reassure you that your parents are okay and possibly just out of reach from the phone.

3.) Make and Keep Copies of Important Documents

Make sure to make copies of any important documents regarding your parents that you may need. Some of these documents include: insurance cards, medical history, names and numbers of your parent’s doctors and pharmacy. Your parents may have important legal documents that you should have copies of, including copies of any estate planning documents like a will, health care proxy, and power of attorney. By having your own copies, it could even help your parents if they one day can’t find papers you know are in the house.

4.) Evaluate the Home

While visiting your parents’ home, doing a safety check is another great idea. You can help clean up clutter and unused items. As your parents age, the risk of falling and injury increases, so ensuring that their home is hazard free is important in order to prevent injuries. If your parents need further safety features, you can consider installing grab bars or any other installations recommended by doctors. If your parents live in a suburban area, hiring services like snow removal or yard maintenance companies can also help as they keep the land clear from ice or branches.

5.) Managing Their Medication

If your parents are taking numerous medications, you might worry that they can either forget their daily medication or mix up their medication. Nowadays there are services available that can package daily medication and send it in the mail. If your parents receive medication from multiple pharmacies, consider consolidating them into one nearby location so they can have an easier time picking up medication.

6.) Transportation Services

A transportation service can be extremely helpful if your parents do not drive, or if driving may no longer be possible in the future. Senior transportation services can also ensure that your parents remain active and can go out for leisure and to fulfill obligations.

7.) Legal Issues

A widely neglected aspect of caring for aging parents revolves around legal issues and estate planning. If your parents have already established an estate plan, make sure to have copies of it in case they cannot find it. If your parents have not yet established an estate plan, and are still in relatively good health, it is important to sit down and talk to them about their estate plan. By having such discussions, they can let you know their wishes should anything happen to them. Once decisions are made, you and your parents should consult an estate planning attorney who will let you know the best legal courses to take to make sure their wishes can be carried out.

If your parents would like to create an estate plan, please contact the Law Office of Inna Fershteyn at (718) 333-2395.

How to Prepare for a Meeting With an Estate Planning Attorney

Estate planning can often be an overwhelming process. Aside from having to get your affairs in order, you are also forced to think about things you may have never thought of before. For example, what would you want to happen at the event of your death? What should be done with your home? Who would you like to give your assets to? Thus, there is a lot to consider and it can get very stressful. This is where an estate planning attorney comes in to guide you.

What is estate planning?

Estate planning is the process by which an individual arranges their assets and designates who will receive them at the event of their death or incapacitation. Its purpose is to ensure your wishes and goals are fulfilled in the best way.

When the time comes to meet with your estate planning attorney, there are a few things you can do to be prepared and make the process smoother:

Inventory

One of the first things you should do is review your assets, this can be both tangible and intangible.

Tangible assets may include:

Homes, land, real estate
Vehicles like cars, boats, motorcycles
Collectibles, antiques or other personal valuable possessions

Intangible assets may include:

Checking and savings account
Stocks, bonds, mutual funds
Retirement plans like 401K, 403B, IRA’s, etc.
Ownership in a business
Life insurance policies

Documentation

Once you have finished inventory of your assets, your next step should be preparing to provide documentation of financial statements, this may include but not limited to:

Bank and investment account statements
Business agreements
Grant deeds to real estate
Life insurance information
Mortgages
Trademark, patent and copyright registration certificates
Divorce agreements

Account for Family

One of the most important steps is to discuss your wishes with your family and consider what you want to leave for them in the event that you are no longer with them. Although it may be difficult, it's important to be clear and open about your decisions, as other family members may have different views than you. Some things you may want to consider:

Assigning a guardian for your children if need be
Having enough life insurance
Documenting your wishes for your family's care
Taking consideration for special care needs of family members with disabilities
Deciding what specific assets you want to leave for each member
It is also important to have information on all family members (names ,ages, contact information, etc.)

Establishing Roles

During estate planning, there are different important roles that come into play that you should think about. This includes deciding who you assign to be an:

Executor- someone who carries out directions in a will that deals with financial affairs and assets.
Beneficiaries- anyone you name in your estate plan to receive benefits.
Trustee- someone who takes legal ownership of your assets held in a trust and is responsible for managing them.
Successor trustee- someone who takes role of a trustee in the event the original trustee dies or becomes incapacitated.
Guardian- if a minor is involved, a Guardian needs to be appointed in the event both parents die before the minor becomes an adult
Agent (health care)- someone you give the power to make medical decisions for you if you are unable or incapacited. (a health care agent cannot override any preferences you have set in a living will)
Durable power of attorney- a person or people you authorize to make decisions on your behalf when you are not physically or mentally capable.

Be Prepared With Questions

Estate planning can be a tricky process, therefore you should never hesitate to ask an attorney any questions you may have. After all, they are there to help you and make this process as simple as possible !

For assistance on your estate planning needs, contact the Law Office of Inna Fershteyn at (718)-333-2395 for highly qualified advice.

5 Different Types of Trusts That Can Be Created in New York

There are many different ways a person can set up an estate plan to protect and prepare for the future of their assets after their death. One way that this is done is through the creation of a trust. A trust is a legal arrangement that allows a third party, a trustee, to hold and manage assets on behalf of the beneficiaries until they are able to inherit them. Its purpose is to ensure that a person's assets are protected and utilized in a way they deem fit. There are various types of trusts that serve for different purposes. Therefore, it's important to understand the different types of trusts in order to know which will suit you best.

What are the different types of trusts?

1.) Irrevocable Trust

An Irrevocable Trust is a type of trust that, once executed, cannot be changed or revoked without consent of all beneficiaries or a court approval. Essentially, this means once your assets are in the trust, you no longer have full control over them as well as the freedom to make any revisions you want. However, a benefit of this type of trust is that assets in the trust will not be subject to state or federal estate taxes. In addition, assets are also protected from creditors and legal judgment which avoids lawsuits and false claims.

2.) Revocable Trust

A Revocable Trust, also known as a living trust, is a type of trust that allows you to modify or change anything at any time you see fit, without needing the consent of any beneficiaries. With a revocable trust you have full and complete control over your assets, how you want them distributed and if you want to add or revoke any. It is also commonly used for those who want to avoid the probate process, which can take months to years. However, assets in this trust are subject to state and federal estate taxes. In addition, assets are not protected from lawsuits and creditors.

3.) Special Needs Trust

A Special Needs Trust, also known as a supplemental needs trust, can be established as a living trust and is generally designed for a loved one with a disability. It is commonly used for a dependent such as a child, sibling or parents that are unable to provide for their own financial needs. It is also made to continue caring for a person with special needs without disrupting government entitlement benefits such as SSI or medicaid.

4.) Charitable Trust

A Charity Trust is an irrevocable trust that is made to simultaneously benefit you, your beneficiaries and a Charity of your choosing that is qualified under IRS rules. There are 2 types of charitable trusts:

Charitable Lead Trust - The way a charitable lead trust works is, individuals are allowed to choose charities that will receive interest from the financial gift they have assigned to them for a specified period of time. Once the period has ended, the remaining assets may either go to their family or beneficiaries.

Charitable Remainder Trust - The way a charitable remainder trust works is that you, your family or your beneficiaries can receive interest from a financial gift assigned for a determined period of time. Then, once that period has ended, the remainder of the assets go to the charity of your choosing.

5.) Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust

An Irrevocable life insurance trust is designed to help those who have estates that might exceed federal or New York estate tax exemptions. With this, trustors are allowed to exclude life insurance proceeds from the taxable estate. This then allows beneficiaries to be free from any taxes that may be placed on the trustor's life insurance policy in the estate and to transfer death benefits immediately.

A trust is a very valuable tool when it comes to estate planning. With so many different types available, it can be tricky choosing which one is best for you. If you need an attorney to help determine which trust is best for you, contact the Law Office of Inna Fershteyn at (718) 333-2395.

Should I Create a Life Estate or an Irrevocable Trust?

As you are getting older, Asset protection and Elder Law planning becomes relevant. As you are researching an optimal estate plan to preserve assets from nursing home bills, a life estate deed transfer may initially sound appealing. After all, a life estate deed is a legal means for transferring home ownership rights. However, there are downsides you must fully understand before making this commitment. Prior to making the decision of adopting a life estate, it is crucial to fully understand the risks.

Life estates are characterized by two or more people having ownership over a property for non-overlapping periods of time. These parties are the life tenant and the remainderman. The life tenant owns the life estate and has full control during their life. The remainderman has ownership interest upon the death of the life tenant.

In many circumstances, executing a life estate makes the most sense. It is useful for those looking to simplify estate planning and avoiding the probate process. The transfer of the property to the remainderman is automatic, providing convenience without the need for a will. For example, parents can easily pass homeownership to their children while possessing their property for their entire lives. This provides transparency to the beneficiaries and affirms the life tenant exactly what will happen to their property when they pass away.

Additionally, a life estate deed protects the property from a Medicaid lien and increases the tax basis. If eligible for Medicaid, the government may try to recover the costs of care from their estate once they pass away. A life estate protects the home from being included in the Medicaid recovery process.

Although a life estate may seem appealing, some caveats come with them. There are three main unfavorable aspects. If you consider these reasons as dealbreakers, a life estate will not work for your personal estate goals.

Real Estate Related Challenges

Upon establishing a life estate, obstacles will arise if you plan to sell or mortgage property. The remainderman must agree if you decide to borrow or sell against the property. Nevertheless, this can be solved with a Testamentary Power of Appointment in the Deed. This allows life tenants to change who receives their property by directing its disposition in their will. While it won’t sell the property, it gives the life tenant more leverage in negotiation over the remainderman. An alternative to this is the Nominee Realty Trust, where one or more children act as Trustees for all so that decisions must be followed on a majority vote.

Another obstacle is that if the property is sold, the remainderman is entitled to a portion of the profits equal to what their interest is determined to be at that time. It is also difficult to remove or change a name once it is on a real estate deed.

Legal Responsibility of Remainderman

The problems of the remainderman become your problem as well. If this individual is in any legal predicament, such as being sued, getting a divorce, owing taxes, or filing for bankruptcy, the interest in the home is not protected. However, while claims can be made against the property, nobody can kick you out for the duration of your lifespan.

Medicaid and State Assistance Disqualification

Giving away an interest in the property could result in disqualification from Medicaid assistance, should you need long-term care within five years of the transfer. To add on, that state could file a claim against the income portion of the payments it has made on your behalf. In this case, at least the portion of the proceeds allocated to your child would be protected.

Irrevocable Trust

Irrevocable trust is a much better alternative to protect your property from creditors including Medicaid liens and nursing home costs. For more information on irrevocable trust, please contact the Law Office of Inna Fershteyn at (718) 333-2395.

3 Reasons to Create a NY Irrevocable Trust

Elder planning is an important and necessary step to take in order to make sure that your wishes for the future are carried out in the way you intended. In this process, a decision you will make is what type of trust is best for you. A trust allows a trustee to hold assets on behalf of beneficiaries.

One type of trust is an irrevocable trust, which cannot be changed or revoked after signing. Giving up control over your assets is a big commitment that must be carefully considered. Individuals who would benefit from an irrevocable trust typically fall into one of three categories.

3 Reasons to Create NY Irrevocable Trust

Minimize Estate Taxes

The primary benefit of an irrevocable trust is minimizing estate taxes. An irrevocable trust removes all incidents of ownership, meaning your assets are removed from your name. Assets in an irrevocable trust are no longer a part of your estate, which allows for tax efficiency.

Government Programs

Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover all costs that a senior citizen needs. Medicaid would pick up the tab for long-term care, but the program has strict need-based limitations. To qualify for the Medicaid income threshold, you could transfer your assets into an irrevocable trust. As long as you fund the trust at least five years before submitting your Medicaid application, the assets will not count in your qualification. After executing your irrevocable trust, a tax ID number is created which allows individuals qualifying for Medicaid to move their assets out of their name.

Protect Assets

To protect your assets from creditors, it usually requires your trust to be irrevocable. The Trustee and Beneficiary must be unrelated parties. For people who face lawsuits frequently, having “asset protection trusts” is important. An asset protection trust allows your hard earned money, property, etc. to be safe from creditors.

Living In a Property Transferred in an Irrevocable Trust

If you are living in a property transferred in an irrevocable trust, the creator of the trust will still play a role. For example, they are responsible for all household expenses but reserve the right to live in the house. This is known as a “life estate.” Your house becomes safe from creditors and estate taxes. However, if you change your mind about having an irrevocable trust, the grantor cannot make any changes without the permission of the beneficiary(ies). Moreover, having an irrevocable trust is a significant commitment that should not be taken lightly.

For more information on how to decide if an irrevocable trust is right for you, please contact the Law Office of Inna Fershteyn at (718) 333-2395.