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

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

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. 

Different Types of Trusts That Can Be Created in New York

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.

Passing Assets to Grandchildren Through a Generation–Skipping Trust

Passing Assets to Grandchildren Through a Generation–Skipping Trust

While there are numerous ways in which one can pass assets to family members or following generations, a generation-skipping trust allows a beneficiary—or otherwise called a trustor or grantor—the ability to pass all assets onto the next generation by "skipping" the consecutive generation tax–free. This form of trust is most often utilized for relatives who are at least 37.5 years younger than you. They often include a beneficiary such as a friend, grand–child, or niece/nephew (excluding a spouse or ex-spouse).

Generation-Skipping Trusts and Esates

What is a Generation-Skipping Trust?

A generation-skipping trust is an established trust that names a beneficiary who has to be at least 37.5 years younger than the settlor. A generation-skipping trust can be established by a settlor, as part of a complete estate plan to reduce tax obligation. 

A settlor, for example, might leave an inheritance to a grandchild without ever transferring ownership of the assets to the child's parents. The assets flow tax–free to the recipient upon an individual’s death from the consecutive generation.

How a Generation-Skipping Trust Works

Generation-skipping trust laws provide precise requirements for who can be designated as the "skip person," according to the United States Code. According to these laws, the skip person, or beneficiary, must be “a natural person allocated to a generation 2 or more generations below the transferor's generation assignment.”

Three Things to Consider when Creating a Generation-Skipping Trust

  1. First, the federal GST exemption level was raised to $11.4 million in 2019 and $11.58 million in 2020, after being adjusted for inflation. This implies that you are eligible for a lifelong generation-skipping tax exemption on property transfers up to that amount. There are twelve states who additionally have their own inheritance tax, which applies to smaller estates in some cases. When someone leaves an estate to their child, who then leaves the estate to their offspring, the estate taxes are levied twice. One of these transactions and estate tax assessments is avoided by using a generation-skipping trust.
  2. As long as the original assets stay in the trust for the deceased person, there is no restriction prohibiting the following generation from obtaining earnings on assets. The trust can also be set up for them to obtain a voice in future beneficiaries' rights and interests. When your children pass away, the assets will transfer to the beneficiaries.
  3. It is not necessary for the recipient to be blood related. A generation-skipping trust solely requires that the trust is created for a beneficiary who is at least 37 1/2 years younger than the deceased individual.

Generation-Skipping Trust and Taxes

“Congress created the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax and connected all three taxes [estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes] into a single estate and gift tax,” according to the Tax Policy Center, with the objective of eliminating the estate tax loophole.

Accordingly, by moving assets to the trust that falls under the exemption amount, the trust can be established to take advantage of the GST tax exemption. If the assets appreciate in value, the proceeds can be distributed to the trust's beneficiaries. Furthermore, because the trust is unchangeable, your estate will be free from paying GST even if the value of the assets exceeds the exemption limit. This is also true for any asset appreciation because all profits are transferred directly to beneficiaries. This means you will not have to pay the generation-skipping transfer tax if the value of the trust's assets totals to an amount exceeding the exemption maximum.

The estate tax exemption was increased through 2026 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was passed into law in 2017. Because of the large barrier, most people will not be subject to the generation-skipping transfer tax. However, beneficiaries who receive assets in excess of the $11.58 million inflation-indexed exemption would be subject to a 40% top tax rate on the taxable amount.

Gift Tax

The individual gift tax for 2019 was $11.4 million. As a result, you and your spouse will be able to exchange $11.4 million over the course of your lives. Through 2025, the yearly lifetime gift tax exemption has been raised by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The gift tax increased  to $11.58 million per person in 2020.

Determining Whether a Generation-Skipping Trust is Right For You

Since a generation-skipping trust is a complex legal structure, it is a good idea to think about it as soon as possible—preferably when you are starting to plan your retirement.

A generation-skipping trust is an excellent concept for capital preservation if you have a significant estate that is likely to be affected by the federal estate tax, and where, barring any catastrophic circumstances, your children will also have to pay the estate tax. It can also prove to be a sufficient resource in preserving your personal assets to those you wish to desire. Nonetheless, you must keep in mind that trusts are irreversible.

If you are in need of a highly qualified and experienced attorney for advice on how to build a trust, please contact the Law Office of Inna Fershteyn at (718) 333-2395 to have all of your authorization questions answered.