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Wills v Trusts

Wills v. Trusts: What’s the Difference?

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Wills v Trusts
What is a Will?

Often, the first 10 minutes of an estate planning consultation involve explaining the differences between a Last Will and Testament (or, simply a “Will”) and a trust. Each may have a critical role to play in a client’s estate plan. A Will is a testamentary instrument, which is a lawyerly way of describing a document that does not become effective until an individual’s death. In other words, a Will is merely a stack of paper with words and a few signatures until the individual executing it (called the “testator”) has passed away. Texas law provides stringent requirements for the proper execution of a legal, valid Will.[1] After the testator’s death, his or her Will must be “admitted to probate” by a court of appropriate jurisdiction. This requires someone (usually the executor) going before a judge and proving up all the various requirements of the Will. Only then can a personal representative take control of the deceased testator’s property, wind up his or her affairs, and distribute the estate in accordance with the Will’s provisions.

What is a Trust?

By contrast, a trust describes a relationship between three parties: (i) the settlor, (ii) trustee, and (iii) the beneficiaries. Thus, a trust is an abstract intangible thing, so it is not a document at all. Also, unlike a Will, a trust may become effective during the grantor’s life, or at death, and there is no requirement that a trust be proved up, authorized, or otherwise sanctioned by a court. To establish a trust, a settlor simply entrusts property to a trustee, who accepts a legal obligation to manage, administer, and distribute that property for the benefit of the beneficiaries. Each of these parties may be a single individual or a group of people. Even though the trust itself is amorphous, the terms, conditions, standards of distributions and other guidelines for this trust relationship are often memorialized in a written document called a “trust instrument.” A trust instrument may be a stand-alone document, or it may constitute a section in a testator’s Will. Either way, a single trust instrument will often govern many different trusts.

Trusts can take an endless variety of forms and serve myriad purposes. Many trusts are created to achieve special tax, asset protection, or wealth transfer goals. But when clients are weighing their options between a Will and a trust for estate planning purposes, they are generally thinking of a “revocable living trust.” This is commonly structured to have an individual or couple simultaneously serve as the settlor, trustee, and initial beneficiary. Revocable living trusts are similar to Wills in that they dictate what will happen with a person’s property when he or she dies. Thus, they remain a standard tool of estate planning attorneys.[2] 

Deciding whether a Will or a (revocable living) trust best matches a given situation will depend on the particular client’s needs, goals, outlook and other circumstances. Often, a Will is all that is needed in Texas to plan a person’s estate. In some circumstances, however, a revocable living trust will better address the situation. Understanding the fundamental distinctions between a Will and a trust is an important starting point to both a client’s decision about the overall structure of his or her estate plan, as well as the client’s ability to maintain that estate planning structure in the years to come.

Spencer Turner

Spencer Turner is an associate attorney at Farrow-Gillespie Heath Witter LLP. Since obtaining his license to practice law in 2016, Mr. Turner has focused his legal efforts primarily in the trust and estates arena. He has been featured as a speaker on various aspects of the probate process at several seminars hosted by the National Business Institute. Spencer is a graduate of from Baylor University School of Law.

[1] See Ch. 251 of the Texas Estates Code.

[2] Mr. Turner and Christian S. Kelso, Esq., a partner at Farrow-Gillespie Heath Witter LLP, recently co-authored an article for the State Bar of Texas’ Continuing Legal Education program. The article is entitled The Alchemy of Revocable Trusts: Creating the Perfect Solution for Each Client’s Problem, and may be found among the written materials for the “Handling Your First (or Next) Trust 2021” webcast.

How to Solve the Probate Homestead Conundrum

Resolutions to the Probate Homestead Conundrum

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Under Texas law, a surviving spouse has the right to reside in the marital home until the surviving spouse either abandons the home or dies. But this so-called “probate homestead” right does not extinguish the ownership interests of remaindermen (co-owners, heirs, or beneficiaries) under the decedent’s will.  

How to Solve the Probate Homestead Conundrum

The responsibilities of the homestead claimant (the surviving spouse) include paying ad valorem property taxes, costs of maintenance and repair, and interest on any existing encumbrances (e.g., a mortgage), avoiding “waste” and preserving the property, and funding any permanent improvements on the property. The homestead claimant is also entitled to all fruits, rents, and revenues derived from the property. The remaindermen must maintain insurance on the property and pay the principal on any existing encumbrances, such as mortgage principal. Texas law permits the surviving spouse to sell the homestead and use the proceeds to acquire a new homestead with the same rights and obligations as before.

These dynamics can strain a relationship, particularly between a stepparent and stepchildren. To lessen the strain, Texas law does not permit remaindermen to force a partition of a probate homestead. A common resolution to this conundrum is for one party to buy out the other party’s interest in the home, if both sides are willing.

Assuming the surviving spouse is the personal representative of the decedent’s estate, another option is for the surviving spouse to request authority from the court to purchase the home from the estate. Under Texas law, a personal representative of an estate may purchase estate property if the court determines that the sale is in the estate’s best interest.

If the home needs to be sold to satisfy debt associated with the property or the decedent’s estate, the personal representative can offer to purchase the property for an amount that would satisfy the debts or by assuming the debt associated with the property itself. Some factors weighing in favor of the purchase of the property by the personal representative include, but are not limited to, co-ownership of the property by the estate and the surviving spouse, as well as probate homestead rights. Both factors can greatly diminish the marketability of the property to a third-party buyer. The court is likely to find that a purchase of the property by the personal representative is in the estate’s best interest if the proposed purchase is the only viable option for settling the debts of the estate.

The lawyers in our firm have successfully assisted individuals in negotiating a buyout of either the homestead claimant or remainderman’s interests in the property; selling the probate homestead and using the proceeds to acquire a new homestead; and obtaining court authority for the purchase of estate property by a personal representative. Should you find yourself in a probate homestead conundrum, the attorneys at Farrow-Gillespie Heath Witter are here to help you navigate a resolution.

Jessica Dunne | Farrow-Gillespie & Heath LLP

Jessica Dunne is a senior associate attorney at Farrow-Gillespie Heath Witter LLP. Jessica has substantial experience in probate, guardianship, and trust litigation, with a special interest in adoptions. Jessica graduated cum laude from Baylor Law School in 2011 where she was the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship.

Spencer Turner

Spencer Turner is an associate attorney at Farrow-Gillespie Heath Witter LLP. Since obtaining his license to practice law in 2016, Spencer has focused his legal efforts primarily in the trust and estates arena. He has been featured as a speaker on various aspects of the probate process at several seminars hosted by the National Business Institute. Spencer is a graduate from Baylor Law School.

Digital Assets in Estate Planning

Digital Asset Planning

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As technology advances over time, the average person owns more and more digital assets. The same applies to businesses too, where the rise of technology also plays a large part in its development. If companies like Salesforce know it’s importance, then it is definintely something worth considering. We doubt technology is going to disappear anytime soon, so using it to our advantage can be very beneficial.

People want to get more assets over this transition and therefore may want to dispose of the old ones, which is why exittechnologies.com is brilliant for the disposal or renewal of your old IT equipment. The definition of digital assets is very broad and includes intangible assets ranging from online accounts, such as bank accounts, email accounts, and social media, to digital files stored on a computer or in the cloud. Traditional estate planning tools have been useful in dealing with comparable non-digital assets, such as by allowing a person’s fiduciary to deal with a bank in person. However, the efficacy of traditional estate planning tools on digital assets is still unclear.

Digital Assets Under Federal Law

While most issues of property disposition are handled by state laws, digital assets are usually controlled at the federal level because of their interstate nature. Original guidance was offered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA)’s Stored Communications Act (SCA). The SCA allows digital asset providers to deny access to anyone, but includes a now-abused “lawful consent” exception. The exception is not applied uniformly between states and is therefore unclear and unhelpful.

Digital Assets Under Texas State Law

More recently, twenty-three states have passed the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA) in some form, which provides specific guidance on how to distribute digital assets upon death. RUFADAA allows a person’s fiduciary, such as an agent or executor, access to online accounts if the person explicitly grants the power in an estate planning document or through a service provider’s own procedures. RUFADAA also allows the fiduciary to determine how to distribute and manage the assets after the person’s death. RUFADAA was filed in the Texas Legislature on February 21, 2017 for consideration during the 85th Regular Session.

In states that have not passed RUFADAA, planning for the disposition of digital assets remains unclear. Most digital assets will be governed by the user’s licensing agreements, which vary over time and between assets. More certainty will likely arise as these assets become more prevalent.

Estate Planning for Digital Assets

Whether or not the Texas legislature adopts RUFADAA, special considerations for digital assets should be included in every estate plan. The attorneys at Farrow-Gillespie & Heath, LLP understand the issues digital assets present and are prepared to help clients address them in a way that is appropriate for each client’s particular situation.

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About the Author

Catherine Parsley was an intern at Farrow-Gillespie Heath Witter, LLP. Ms. Parsley is a law student at SMU Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas, where she is a staff editor of the SMU Law Review. Catherine served as a judicial extern for Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht, of the Supreme Court of Texas. She holds a B.S. in communications studies, cum laude, from the University of Texas at Austin.

Jennifer Lewis | Farrow-Gillespie & Heath LLP | Dallas, TX

What do “Basic” Estate Planning Documents Include?

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Even if an estate is not large enough to be subject to the Federal Estate Tax — and most are not — estate planning is a component of an organized and responsible life.

Good estate planning enables a person to transfer his or her property at death in the fastest, easiest, least expensive manner possible; and it also enables a person to take advantage of the powers granted by the state of Texas to make healthcare choices and to plan appropriately for disability, whether temporary or permanent.

Your loved ones will be grateful to you for leaving your affairs in order. Completing these estate planning documents can provide peace of mind for you and your family.

We prepare the following basic estate planning documents at an affordable fixed fee for individuals and families with estates valued at less than the federal estate tax threshold.

  1. Last Will and Testament, validly prepared and executed under Texas law
  2. Statutory Durable Power of Attorney
  3. Medical Power of Attorney
  4. HIPAA Authorization
  5. Directive to Physicians (often called a Living Will)
  6. Appointment of Guardian for Minor Children
  7. Designation of Guardian Before Need Arises
  8. Burial Instructions

The Will

Every adult who has legal capacity has the authority to designate how his or her assets and liabilities will be distributed at the time of death. To protect that right, the state requires that a Will be properly executed to be considered valid. A valid Texas will can name an Independent Executor to serve without bond and with minimal court supervision. Probate is the legal process of proving the Will in court, settling the estate, and distributing the assets. In Texas the cost of probating a Will is very reasonable. Probate can be very expensive, however, if an individual has assets and dies without a valid Will. Executing a valid Texas Will can go a long way toward preserving your assets for the intended beneficiaries.

Statutory Durable Power of Attorney

The Texas Statutory Durable Power of Attorney is a document that allows you to designate someone to manage your financial affairs or transact business on your behalf in the event it should become necessary or convenient. The powers granted in the document can become effective immediately, or can be designated to become effective only if you become incapacitated. In either case, the powers will remain effective even after your incapacity – hence the use of the word “durable.” This document can be very powerful. The state of Texas has provided a statutory format to be used to help improve acceptance of the document by third parties. Without a Statutory Durable Power of Attorney, a Guardianship would likely be required to take over an incapacitated person’s financial affairs. Guardianships require continuing oversight by the Court, are very expensive, and open a person’s private business to public scrutiny. Having a Texas Statutory Durable Power of Attorney is the estate planning equivalent of a “stitch in time.”

Medical Power of Attorney

The Medical Power of Attorney allows you to designate the person who will make your healthcare decisions in the event you are unable to do so – and only in that event. This document is always important to have. It is particularly valuable where someone other than a spouse will be making those decisions, or when members of a family have differing views of what should happen. If you remember the case of Terry Schiavo in Florida, you should be aware that if she had only executed a Medical Power of Attorney – whether in favor of her husband or her parents – those parties would not have spent the 15 years and untold amounts of money they ultimately spent fighting in court over control of her healthcare decisions.

Directive to Physicians

The Directive to Physicians is sometimes called a Living Will. It allows an individual to decide in advance if he or she wishes to have artificial measures used to sustain life when the person is near death. Many people do not wish to be kept alive by means of artificial respirators or feeding tubes if they are not able to sustain life on their own. Without a Directive to Physicians the doctors involved may be required to use all measures available to sustain life. Proper execution of this document can help maintain a person’s dignity and preserve assets for loved ones. Most importantly, the document allows you to exert maximum control over what happens to you in the event you are unable to speak for yourself.

Designation of Guardian Before Need Arises

The Designation of Guardian Before Need Arises is a relatively new statutory document in the state of Texas. It allows you to designate in advance who your guardian will be should you ever need one – for example, in the event of a debilitating stroke, or an injury that results in incapacity (in which state individuals sometimes linger for many years). The document also allows you to disqualify certain individuals from ever becoming your guardian. This document can bring peace of mind to the maker, and can assist the court in making a proper guardianship designation if the need ever arises.

Appointment of Guardian for Minor Children

If you have minor children, and both you and their other parent die or become incapacitated, the children will need to be cared for by someone until they reach the age of majority. The Appointment of Guardian for Minor Children allows you to choose who that person should be – whether it is a family member or a friend. In the event you do not designate someone yourself before the need arises, your family members may dispute the matter; and in that case, a court of law would decide who will raise your children. You can avoid that possibility and maintain control over your children’s future by executing a Guardian appointment.

Burial Instructions

It is possible to designate a particular person to be in charge of decisions affecting burial and funeral arrangements; and once designated, that person can enforce the right to do so. Within the same document, you may specify your burial instructions.

Conclusion

The documents discussed above form the basic estate planning package. If the estate is large enough to be taxable, certain complex estate planning documents and techniques can minimize and in some cases eliminate the tax liability. For most of us, however, the bottom line is this: Good advance planning significantly eases the emotional and financial burden of disability and death on our loved ones.

Health Law | Farrow-Gillespie & Heath LLP

Balance Billing and Texas Healthcare Law

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Balance billing occurs when doctors, hospitals, or other health care providers who are not contracted with a patient’s HMO or preferred provider benefit plan (PPO) bill the patient for the difference between the amount the health plan pays and the amount the provider believes to be the adequate cost of a service.

For example, a patient may visit the emergency room at a hospital that is contracted with her health plan, but the emergency room doctor who treats her is not contracted with that health plan. The emergency room doctor and the hospital each bill $1,000 for their services, and the health plan pays them each $400. The hospital, which is contracted with the patient’s health plan, may bill the patient only for the copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts under her plan. It may not bill the patient for the additional amount not paid by her health plan. However, the emergency room doctor, who is not contracted with the patient’s health plan, may bill her for the $600 that her health plan didn’t pay, as well as any copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance that she owes.

Texas law gives patients the right to request, in advance, estimates of charges from providers and facilities and estimated payments from health plans. Doctors, other providers, and health plans have 10 days to give patients the estimates, so they won’t be able to get them in advance in cases of emergencies. Some providers and health plans also have cost information on their websites.

Texas law does not give consumers many rights when they are surprised by a “balance billing.” However, in some cases, patients can require providers and carriers to attend mediation to try to work out the claim. For details on how to determine if you’re eligible for mediation, visit www.tdi.texas.gov/consumer/cpmmediation.htm.