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Category: Generation-Skipping Trusts

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Gifts for Educational Purposes

Giving money to children and grandchildren for educational purposes is a common goal in estate planning. There are several different ways that it can be done efficiently. Bigstock-Family-Portrait-At-Christmas-4881212[2]

Most people would prefer that their children and grandchildren do not have to go into debt to get an education. If they can find some way to pay for the education, besides having college students take out student loans, it is what most parents and grandparents would prefer.

It is common for people to take this into consideration when they visit an estate planning attorney, because they would like their estate plans to account for future educational expenses. There are a few good ways that the educational expenses of children and grandchildren can be covered, as The Legal Intelligencer recently explained in "How to Make Tax-Efficient Gifts to Children, Grandchildren for Their Education," including:

  • 529 plans are investment vehicles that allow people to put money in tax free. The money can then be used for the educational expenses of a beneficiary later. Withdrawals for education are also tax free.
  • Irrevocable trusts are another option. They do not have the same tax benefits. However, they can be grantor retained trusts allowing the settlor to have control over the assets, so they can be invested appropriately.
  • Another option is to pay the child’s or grandchild's tuition directly. Educational gifts made in this way are not subject to gift taxes.
  • IRAs can also be used for this purpose, when gifts to children or grandchildren are used to fund their own IRAs. However, you should consult with an accountant first, because there may be unintended tax consequences, if not done properly.

Reference: The Legal Intelligencer (Feb. 12, 2018) "How to Make Tax-Efficient Gifts to Children, Grandchildren for Their Education."

 

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Trusts – What Different Types of Trusts Exist?

Business_meeting[1]Learning about trusts can sometimes be difficult as there are several different types of trusts that you can get that are designed to do different things.

When attorneys talk about trusts they often end up confusing laypersons with all of the legal jargon. There are many different types of trusts out there and each type has its own terminology. This legalese can be difficult for the uninitiated to understand.

This is a problem for people who would like to set up a trust. They need to know what it is their attorneys are talking about so they can choose the right type of trust.

Recently, the Motley Fool discussed some common trust types in "Navigating the World of Trust Funds: Your Quick Guide," including:

  • Revocable Living Trusts – These are trusts the settlor (the person who creates the trust) can easily dissolve. If circumstances change, assets in the trust can be removed and a different trust can be created. These trusts avoid probate.  They do not reduce taxes.
  • Irrevocable Trusts – These trusts cannot be revoked. They often have estate tax benefits, while revocable trusts don't.
  • Credit Shelter Trusts – While not as useful as they used to be, these trusts still offer a good way to avoid some estate taxes. They are particularly useful in Maryland and DC, which currently have state estate taxes for estates greater than $2million and $1 million. Assets in the trust are held for the benefit of children normally, but a spouse can still use those assets while he or she is alive. The assets are not counted as part of the spouse's estate for tax purposes.
  • Generation-skipping Trusts – These trusts are created for the benefit of grandchildren instead of children. This is normally done for estate tax purposes, but the trusts need to be set up by experts to avoid other tax issues.
  • Qualified Personal Residence Trusts – These very specific trusts are a way to pass a home on to heirs while minimizing estate and gift taxes on the home.

When it comes to deciding which trust “flavor,” if any, is appropriate for you, be sure to contact a qualified estate planning attorney.

Reference: Motley Fool (Sept. 18, 2016) "Navigating the World of Trust Funds: Your Quick Guide."

Suggested Key Words: Estate Planning, Trusts