REMEMBER, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING YOUR TRUST FUNDED DURING YOUR LIFETIME.

A. REAL PROPERTY

Most real estate should be held in the name of the Trust. To transfer real property into your Trust, a new deed reflecting the name of the Trust must be executed, notarized and recorded with the County Recorder in the County where the property is located. Care must be taken that the exact legal description in the existing deed appears on the new deed. If the deed is not executed properly and title of your real estate is not in the name of your Trust on your death, a probate proceeding may be needed to confirm that property to your beneficiaries.

If you have not already provided this office with the necessary documents relating to your real estate holdings, please forward copies of the original deeds and copies of the tax bills which you receive from the Assessor’s office to us as soon as possible so that we may assist you in a proper transfer. Please do not send the original deed, a copy is sufficient. Our office does not make an independent determination regarding the copy of the deed you provide; therefore, it is imperative that you supply our office only with copies of recorded deeds on property you currently own or in which you currently have an interest.

There will be no reassessment of your property under Proposition 13 as a result of this transfer. At the time of recording the Transfer Deed, a “Preliminary Change of Ownership Report” must also be filed to prevent reassessment.

Federal law prohibits acceleration of any indebtedness by any lending institution or private individual on a transfer of residential real estate into a revocable trust. However, where there is an existing indebtedness on real estate other than residential (e.g., commercial and/or multi-unit), it will be necessary to contact the financial institution holding either the mortgage or deed of trust before placing it in the name of the Trust. The failure to obtain the lender’s consent to the transfer of non-residential property could potentially lead to the lender attempting to accelerate the loan based on a “due-on-sale” clause contained in the note or deed of trust. Typically, such consent will be granted by the lender after it has reviewed the Certificate of Trust and the appropriate assignment documents have been executed.

There can be special problems with the transfer of property held under a land lease; therefore, you should obtain the appropriate advice prior to any such transfer. If you purchased a home under the Cal-Vet program, you should contact the Department of Veterans Affairs for the proper method of transferring your purchase contract to your Trust.

When your insured property (e.g., your residence) has been re-titled in the name of your Trust, you should notify the insurance company (or agent) of the transfer and ask whether any change in the policy is required. This should apply to both casualty and liability insurance. It may be desirable for the policy to indicate that the Trust is an additional insured.

Please note that if you should refinance or borrow against your property, the lender or the title company may require that the property be transferred out of your Trust and into your name as an individual (this saves the lender and the title company the task of reading the trust in order to verify that it does not contain any terms or conditions which could interfere with the lender’s security interest). Be sure that you ask the title company to prepare and record a deed transferring the property back into the Trust as soon as the refinancing is complete. If this does not occur, probate of the property may be necessary. In the event the title company will not cooperate, be sure to contact me (or another attorney) so that I can prepare and record the appropriate deed to return the property to your Trust.

As you acquire new property, simply instruct the escrow officer handling the transaction that you wish to have the title recorded in the name of your Trust. You may need to provide the escrow officer or title company with a copy of the Certificate of Trust.

B. SECURITY INTERESTS

Most real estate security interests (e.g., sales contracts or deeds of trust) should be held in the name of the Trust. To transfer security interests into your Trust, an assignment of the contract/deed of trust reflecting the name of the Trust must be executed, notarized and recorded with the County Recorder in the County where the property is located.
C. OIL, GAS, AND MINERAL RIGHTS

Oil, gas and mineral rights are often the most troublesome of assets to transfer to a Revocable Living Trust. The reason for this is that, depending on the location or depending on how the assets came into existence, they may be treated either as an interest in real estate or an interest in personal property. Only through an examination of the title documents is it possible to determine the exact method by which such right should be transferred to the Trust.
D. BANK/SAVINGS ACCOUNTS/SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES

The transfer of Money Market Accounts, Savings Accounts and Timed Deposits (CD’s) into your Living Trust can be accomplished quite easily. All you need do is provide your bank with a copy of the Certificate of Trust which has been prepared for you. You will then sign new signature cards as Trustee of your Trust. Generally you will not have to open new accounts to replace existing accounts; the only change is on the bank signature cards. For a checking account, you generally do not need new checks

When you open up new accounts, simply instruct the bank that you wish to have the title of the account in the name of your Trust. You may need to provide the bank with a copy of the Certificate of Trust.

Safety deposit boxes should be placed in the name of your Trust so your successor Trustee will have no difficulty in gaining access to the box..
E. STOCKS AND BONDS

To transfer stocks or bonds into the name of your Trust, a different procedure is used for privately held stock compared to that which is used for stock publicly traded on an exchange.

1. Privately Held Stock

The transfer of privately held security instruments, such as stocks in a privately held corporation, can be accomplished simply by surrendering the existing stock certificates and having new stock certificates prepared in the name of the Trust. This normally does not require a permit from a state agency, nor does it usually have any type of adverse tax consequence. However, the transfer of stock in a privately held corporation normally requires the approval of the corporation. Typically, such consent will be granted by the corporation after it has reviewed the Certificate of Trust and the appropriate assignment documents have been executed. Shares of individual professional corporations are usually not transferred to trusts because of statutory restrictions. You should obtain legal and tax advice prior to assigning any privately held stock or other security interest to your Trust.

2. Publicly Held Stock

In the case of publicly held stocks or bonds, it will be necessary to work through a stockbroker or through the institution from which the assets were purchased (such as a Dividend Reinvestment Plan or an Electronic Registration Plan). If you currently possess the certificate(s), the broker will require you to surrender the certificate(s) and sign certain transfer documents. We suggest that certificates always be sent certified mail. For a standard brokerage (and/or a mutual fund) account, all that is generally required is a request to the broker or account manager. They may also request a copy of the Trust Agreement, but frequently all that is required is a copy of the Certificate of Trust.
F. PARTNERSHIPS

Partnerships generally are either public or non-public.

1. Public

If a partnership was bought through a public offering, the institution making the sale should be contacted and given a copy of this instructional letter with a request that ownership name be changed to the name of the Trust. The institution may also require a copy of the Certificate of Trust Agreement.

2. Non-Public

The transfer to Trust of a non-public Partnership Interest (whether General or Limited) is generally accomplished by an Assignment which may or may not need the approval of the general partners or the approval of all the partners. The best way to proceed is to contact the general partners for guidance. Typically, such consent will be granted by the partnership after it has reviewed the Certificate of Trust and the appropriate assignment documents have been executed.

Further acquisition of partnership interests creates no problems. The purchase of the partnership interest is simply titled in the name of the Trust at the time of acquisition.
G. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES

A trust can be a member of a limited liability company (“LLC”). The transfer of a LLC interest to a Trust may require the approval of the LLC. Typically, such consent will be granted by the LLC after it has reviewed the Certificate of Trust and the appropriate assignment documents have been executed.

If you acquire any future LLC interest, simply instruct the LLC that you wish to hold title in the name of your Trust. You will probably need to provide the LLC with a copy of the Certificate of Trust.
H. BUSINESS INTERESTS

Any other business interest or sole proprietorship can generally be transferred to the Trust by an “Assignment of Business Interest”. This document assigns all property/assets owned in the name of the business, for the purpose of determining title, into your Trust so that these interests will avoid probate. However, there may be specific issues with the transfer of interests in businesses (such as permits and licenses) and thus it is necessary that they be reviewed in detail before making the transfer. Accordingly, it is recommended that you obtain legal and tax advice prior to transferring any business interest to your Trust.

If you have a business interest in a franchise, any transfer of such interest to your Trust will probably require the consent of the franchisor. Typically, such consent will be granted by the franchisor after it has reviewed the Certificate of Trust and the appropriate assignment documents have been executed.
I. INSURANCES AND ANNUITIES

Life Insurances and Annuities are assets that may or may not need to be placed in Trust because the proceeds transfer contractually to the named beneficiary and, therefore, already avoid probate. However, if you wish the proceeds to be distributed in the same manner as the other trust assets (which is usually the case), the Trust should be the beneficiary. You must instruct each insurance company or your insurance agent to designate your Trust as the beneficiary.
J. IRA’s/KEOGH’s/401(k)’s/ETC.

An IRA, 401(k) plan or Keogh plan, wherever invested, must remain in the owner’s name and Social Security number; this is not a major problem in estate planning since the account is paid, at your death, to a named beneficiary and, thus, does not have to go through probate. However, it may be desirable to have the account paid to your trust instead of to a named beneficiary (e.g., the beneficiary is a minor or the trust has more details for all contingencies); For a husband and wife, the non-owner spouse is usually named the primary beneficiary and the Trust may be named the contingent beneficiary. Please realize that any change of a beneficiary designation of a retirement plan could have important income tax consequences; therefore, you should consult with your tax advisor prior to making any change.
K. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Intellectual property assets such as copyrights, patents, trademarks and royalties that have significant value should be assigned to your Trust. This is normally accomplished by a specific assignment which should be acknowledged by a Notary. You may need to consult with an attorney who specializes in patents or copyrights prior to any transfer.
L. MOTOR VEHICLES/RV’s/BOATS

Automobiles, RVs, boats, etc. are items which are placed in your Trust by means of your “Assignment of Personal Property.” No Department of Motor Vehicle transfer is required.
M. MOBILE HOMES

Mobile homes may be placed into your Trust by contacting the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development. You may call toll-free (800) 952-8356 for the appropriate form(s) to effectuate this transfer. Please note that mobile homes less than eight and one-half (8 1/2) feet in width and forty feet in length are handled by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
N. PERSONAL PROPERTY

Personal property such as furniture, household effects, art work, jewelry, etc. should be transferred to the Trust. The “Assignment of Personal Property” document located in your Portfolio assigns all of the above-mentioned personal property into your Trust. This Assignment covers not only the property you currently own but any additional personal property acquired up to the date of death.
O. JOINT TENANCY

You should not hold any assets in joint tenancy, except for small checking accounts and automobiles. A joint tenancy asset will not be subject to the terms of the Trust, may frustrate your intentions and could have adverse income and estate tax consequences.
P. SEPARATE PROPERTY

In the event you should ever fund your Trust with any separate property, it must be specifically designated as the separate property of such spouse in order for such property to retain its character as separate property. For example, if a spouse receives an inheritance or gift in such spouse’s name, this property will be considered separate rather than community property. Unless the inheriting or gift recipient spouse wishes to change the character of the property from separate to community, the property must be specifically designated as such spouse’s separate property at the time it is transferred to the Trust. Changing the character of any property from separate to community may have significant income and estate tax consequences and could affect the division of property in the event you should dissolve the marriage. Therefore, you should obtain legal and tax advice prior to changing the character of any property from separate to community.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING TITLE TO A PARTICULAR ASSET WHICH IS NOT ANSWERED HERE, PLEASE CALL ME TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE.

The first option is to create living trusts. All assets that have been transferred to a living trust will avoid probate. Essentially a living trust is a document created that names the creator of the trust as the trustor. Usually a person, bank or trust company is named as the trustee in the event of the death of the trustor. A trust can provide similar provisions as those found in a will for guidelines to distribute an estate after death. Provisions can also be made in the trust that can reduce or eliminate federal estate taxes. After the trust is signed, all assets should be transferred to the trust so that they are no longer considered part of the individual’s estate.

Creating joint tenancy of important or expensive assets is another way to avoid entering into probate. Joint tenancy is simply a legal term that means an asset is owned by two or more people. When one of the joint tenants passes away, the asset will be transferred to full ownership of the other joint tenant or tenants. This overrides any provisions in the will or trust of the deceased tenant, which is something to take note of when creating a will. A properly trained estate lawyer can help to eliminate any confusion when creating such a plan.

As we already discussed if an estate is under $1,000,000 in the state of California it will most likely avoid probate, which is simple if the estate is small to start with. And if the estate is larger, it is still fairly easy to keep out of probate court with a proper estate plan that utilizes legal means to create trusts and joint tenancy accounts.

The final way to keep an estate out of probate is if there is a surviving spouse. In that case and estate can almost be assured to stay out of probate court by filing a spousal property petition. A spousal property petition changes the title on the assets to be in the name of the surviving spouse. In essence this is a simplified, less costly, quicker version of probate.

Going to probate court does not have to be a part of the death process, no matter how large the estate. By working with a proper estate lawyer and utilizing the legal system any estate can avoid the lengthy and expensive process of probate. A little time and money spent now can save large amounts for you loved ones later. Simply put the benefits of planning ahead are many and you loved ones will thank you.

Now let’s take a look at the process of administering the estate of a deceased person under the formal supervision of a probate court. Generally, the first step the probate court will take is to appoint a representative. If there is a valid will, the court will appoint the person named in the will (called an Executor) to carry out the distributions described in the will. If no will exists or the court determines a will invalid, the court will appoint the closest relative to serve as “Administrator” and then the court will apply state inheritance laws to determine where the assets will be distributed. The probate court will hold hearings for any creditors or other parties that feel the deceased is in indebted to them and make decisions regarding the validity of their claim. The probate court will then move forward in the distribution of estate assets, including payment of all state and federal taxes. If an Executor was named in the will, the court will oversee him/her in the distribution of assets. One of the last things a probate court will do is oversee the guardians’ use of assets placed in a trust for children or dependants.

One can see how this can quickly become a lengthy and expensive undertaking. Determining validity, paying taxes, distributing assets, overseeing representatives, handling disputes and hearing claims can take an inordinate amount of time. As well as cost, for the court’s time, legal fees and any taxes or claims taken out. All this can take a toll on your heir’s inheritance and state of mind. A strong estate plan is your best option in making things as hassle free and inexpensive for your heirs in their time of grieving.

Assets that fall under the $100,000 umbrella that determine if one’s estate must go to probate are: bank accounts, stock, bonds, mutual funds, brokerage accounts, any other investments, real property and other assets along those lines that the deceased owned in his/her name.  The term real property can be a bit confusing, to define the legal term, is in reference to any property which is not moveable. This includes land, physical structures, attached equipment, anything that is growing on the land and any interests in the property. Interests would be things like the prospect of oil or other natural resources among other things.

That may seem like it covers most everything, however there are also quite a few assets that are not taken into account when establishing the worth of an estate. These include any trust assets, any pension accounts such as IRAs, 401Ks etc., joint tenancy assets, registered vehicles, life insurance, death benefits, armed forces pay, salary not paid before death up to $5,000, accounts with a named beneficiary and any pay on death accounts.

One should note that the value of these assets are determined based on the day of death. There are instances when an affidavit or declaration is not signed until years later, but none the less the worth of the estate is calculated based on the day the estate owner passes on.

Based on these parameters if an estate does not exceed $100,000, it does not need to go to probate. In this occurrence an affidavit or declaration needs to be signed at the minimum of 40 days after the death has occurred. Then such document can be used to collect the estate assets for the beneficiaries, heirs, trustees etc. In this case no documents need to be filed with the superior court and a lengthy legal process can be avoided.

Probate is avoidable and not a necessary step in the death process. To insure your loved ones do not have to go through this lengthy process in a time of grief an estate plan is necessary. Even if you believe your estate worth falls under the $100,000 mark, to ensure the graceful passing of your estate to those you intend, a will still is necessary. All of this is done to save you loved ones time, money and grief in an already difficult period.

Death is unavoidable. Should it happen unexpectedly, rest assured that your estate and your loved ones will be provided for according to your wishes and decisions. Estate planning ensures that your assets and belonging go to the people that you want, in the increment you want and when you want it to.

One common misnomer about estate planning and making preparations for death is that it isn’t something to think about until the elder years. However, it is in fact necessary to act early on estate planning to guard your loved ones against the possibility of an early death. Large amounts of money can be taken out of inheritances due to unnecessary administrative fees, avoidable high taxes or it not being clear which heir should receive which portion of the estate. If squabbling among heirs was to occur, high court and lawyers fees would also be thrown into the mix.

Thus, there are three main reasons that estate planning is necessary for everyone. First, it allows you to save yourself and your loved ones as much money as possible. Taxes, court costs and attorney’s fees can easily add up when a person’s assets have not been pre-designated. Estate taxes can run upwards of 40%.

Another important and often overlooked aspect of estate planning is if you ever become physically unable to care for yourself or make decisions for yourself before passing, estate planning will ensure who, how and what will happen in regard to you health.

The other extremely important reason to handle planning your estate is to establish who would be responsible for any minor children that are under your care. If it has not been pre-established, a judge will determine who will be given guardianship of your children. Knowing where your children would go and who would care for them in the event of your death allows any parent to better sleep at night.

Now that you know why you should establish an estate plan the final thing to consider is who to work with in creating your personal plan. The largest advice is do not do it alone. It is extremely important to work with a credible attorney to design your personal estate plane. This is due to the important nature of the decisions being made as well as government rules, regulations, and taxes. It is necessary to have a trained lawyer navigate these complicated waters and to insure that everything will be taken care of accurately and to the law in the event of your passing. All of this allows your loved ones to grieve and handle losing you without being burdened with financial confusion and red tape. Really it is the final gift you have to pass on.

And don’t forget to take out and review your personal estate plan every few years. Your financial and family situation may be very much the same but laws continuously change and it is important to keep your planning up to date.

The main two documents are a will and a durable power of attorney. A will is the legal document that transfers your property and assets to the person, persons or organizations you wish to have your possessions. A will typically also names an executor of your estate, who will carry out your instructions upon passing. The will is also where you would name a guardian of any minor children and establish any funeral arrangements you wish to be carried out. A will goes into effect only once your death has occurred.

There are two types of powers of attorney. The first is a durable power of attorney for health care, also known as an advance health care directive. This appoints a person of your choosing to make decisions regarding your health care treatment if you were to become incapacitated to do so. It also provides the hospital and care givers with instructions regarding the length and type of care you desire should you become permanently incapacitated. This document is specific in regards to life support services. The other durable power of attorney is for property or assets. This document appoints a person who is responsible to handle any financial matters should you become unable to continue to do so. Depending on the situation these documents can be employed together or separately. It is common for a person to have health problems but still be mentally apt and vice versa. Thus it is advisable to cover all of your bases.

A living trust is also an important document to consider. A trust is created to hold legal title and provide a way to manage your property. You select who is the trustee or trustees, most often yourself and often have a successor in the event of your passing. The main difference from a will is that a trust goes into effect immediately, not after your death. A trust will establish who will get what of your estate once you pass. Having a revocable trust will allow you at any time for any reason to make changes. Some of the reasons to create a trust are to limit estate taxes and avoid public probate once you pass.

If you have a trust instead of a normal will you will normally have what is called a pour over will, which will facilitate transferring your remaining assets into the trust upon your death. This would also be the place to name legal guardianship of any minor children.