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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Gratia Schoemakers
      • Community Outreach Program
    • Testimonials
  • Virtual Services
  • Estate Planning
    • Estate Planning Basics
    • Last Will and Testament
    • Revocable Living Trusts
    • Durable Power of Attorney
    • Medical Power of Attorney
    • Living Will
    • Family Estate Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning & Asset Protection
    • Kids Safety Plan™
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Guardianship
      • Guardianship Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Legacy Preservation Planning
    • Asset Protection
    • Trusts
    • Pet Trusts
    • Gun Trusts
  • Probate
    • Texas Probate Guide
    • Probate of a Will
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    • Texas Small Estate Affidavit
    • Texas Heirship Determination
    • Texas Muniment of Title
    • Trust Administration
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    • FAQs – Beyond Money in Estate Planning
    • FAQs – Divorce and Estate Planning FAQs and Myths
    • FAQs – Estate Planning for Newlyweds Myths and FAQs
    • FAQs – Estate Planning for Young Adults
    • FAQs – The Estate Planning Cast of Characters
    • FAQs – Expecting an Inheritance
    • FAQs – Myths and FAQs – Planning for Conflict Prone Families
    • FAQs – New and Expanding Families
    • FAQs – Pet Trusts
    • FAQs – Probate
    • FAQs – Standalone Retirement Trust Myths and FAQs
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What is an Inheritor’s Trust?

May 28, 2019 By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.

secure for loved onesWhen it comes to estate planning there are several types of tools you can use, depending on your circumstances. One such estate planning tool is the trust. There are numerous types of trusts aimed at fulfilling different estate planning purposes. If you are anticipating an inheritance, there is a special type of trust designed to help protect it: an inheritor’s trust.

Purpose of an Inheritor’s Trust

An inheritor’s trust is a trust that has been established for the purpose of receiving a beneficiary’s inheritance in a way that is protected legally and financially. In order to fulfill its intended purpose, an inheritor’s trust must be set up in a way that follows numerous tax and legal rules. Virtually every state in the country forbids what is referred to as a “self-settled trust.” A self-settled trust is an irrevocable trust established by an individual, for his or her own benefit, with the intent to protect the trust assets from creditors. Therefore, once you receive an inheritance, it is very challenging to protect the inheritance assets yourself. Luckily, the inheritor’s trust provides an option for people expecting an inheritance.

Inheritor’s Trust Explained

If you are expecting an inheritance from a loved one, and he or she is unwilling or unable to leave your inheritance in a trust, you can protect these new assets with an inheritor’s trust. However, because you cannot set up the trust yourself because of the “self-settled trust” rule discussed earlier, you will need to work with your loved one to establish the trust. Instead of receiving the inheritance outright, the trust will be the recipient of the inheritance. The trust will typically include a spendthrift clause to protect against creditors, a more drawn out distribution schedule, or provisions granting only discretionary distributions to you. Once the trust has been drafted, your loved one will need to sign the instrument as the creator (grantor) but you will be the beneficiary.

There are several benefits to an inheritor’s trust:

  • The inheritance can be excluded from your taxable estate potentially saving your family estate taxes;
  • The trust can be a more cost effective way to protect the assets instead of your loved one revising their existing plans;
  • Upon your death, the inheritance will be distributed outside of your probate estate which can help ensure privacy and lower attorneys fees and administration costs;
  • The inheritance will be protected from creditors, lawsuits, and divorcing spouses;
  • In some circumstances, the inheritance can even be controlled and managed by you, as a trustee; and
  • You can decide how remaining trust assets will be distributed after you pass away if the trust gives you that power.

An inheritor’s trust is a sophisticated, but powerful estate planning tool. It is ideal for anyone who is to receive a substantial, outright inheritance that may need additional asset and tax protection.

Consult with an Estate Planning Professional

Estate planning can be complicated, but it is essential in protecting yourself and your loved one’s financial future. If you expect to receive an outright inheritance and desire to maintain control, gain superb asset protection, and use all possible avenues to avoid estate and transfer taxes, an inheritor’s trust may be right for you. Call or contact us today to learn about whether this estate planning tool is an option for you.

 

Filed Under: Divorce, Estate Planning, Trusts Tagged With: Creditors, Inheritance, Spendthrift Trust, Taxes

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