Barnes Lipscomb & Stewart PLLC

What Happens If You Don’t Name Beneficiaries?

“If you’ve had an IRA and a 401(k) for many years, you may occasionally ask yourself some questions: ‘Am I contributing enough?’ ‘Am I still funding these accounts with the right mix of investments for my goals and risk tolerance?’

It’s always good to check into your retirement accounts and consider if you are saving enough and if your investments are properly balanced. However, what’s just as important is whether you’ve reviewed named beneficiaries for these and other accounts. The recommendation comes from the article titled “Review your IRA, 401(k) beneficiaries” from Idaho State Business Journal, and it’s sound advice.

In more cases than you might think, people overlook this detail, and their loved ones are left with the consequences. After all, you opened those accounts long ago, and who even remembers? Does it really matter?

In a word, yes. What if your family circumstances have changed since you named a beneficiary? If divorce and remarriage occurred, do you want your former spouse to receive your IRA, 401(k) and life insurance proceeds?

It’s important to understand that beneficiary designations supersede anything in your last will and testament. Therefore, while you’ve been dutifully updating your estate plans whenever life changes occur and neglecting beneficiary designations, your ex or someone else who is no longer in your life could receive a surprise windfall.

Here’s another detail often overlooked: retirement plans, and insurance policies may need more than one beneficiary. Any time there is an opportunity to name a contingent beneficiary, take advantage of it. If the primary beneficiary dies or refuses the inheritance and there is no contingent or secondary beneficiary, the proceeds could end up back into your estate. Depending on the laws of your state, they might end up being taxable, in addition to not going to your intended heir.

This is an easy thing to fix, but it takes diligence and in some cases, a fair amount of time.

Start by gathering information on all your accounts, including retirement, checking and savings accounts, 401(k)s, pension plans, insurance policies and any accounts containing assets you want to pass to loved ones. If you see anything incorrect or outdated, immediately contact the financial institution, your company’s benefits manager or your insurance representative to request a change-of-beneficiary form.

Once you receive the form, immediately address making the changes. Request a printed confirmation from the financial organization to confirm the change has been made. Don’t accept a verbal acknowledgement by a call center employee—this is too important to leave to chance.

To be on the safe side, it would be wise to have your estate planning attorney work with you on documenting your beneficiary designations as part of your estate plan. You may also pick up some smart pointers on other suggestions for dealing with beneficiaries.

For example, children are not permitted to control assets until they reach the age of majority. But when most children reach age 18 or 21, they are not ready to manage substantial sums of money. Your will names a guardian for minor children, but it is also wise to create a trust for the benefit of a minor that controls when distributions are made when they are older.

Most people want to leave something behind for those they love. Make sure to do it in the right way—including paying attention to beneficiary designations.

Reference: Idaho State Business Journal (July 27, 2021) “Review your IRA, 401(k) beneficiaries”

Should You Get Medical Power of Attorney?

“Ensuring that your wishes on your medical care are followed is up to you. Take action now while you’re well, or you could lose a say in the matter during a crucial time later.”

The pandemic has created awareness that being suddenly incapacitated by an illness or injury is no longer a hypothetical. The last year has reminded us that health is a fragile gift, regardless of age or any medical conditions, explains the article “Now Is the Time to Protect Your Health Care Decision Making Rights” from Kiplinger. Along with this awareness, comes an understanding that having control over our medical decisions is not assured, unless we have a well-considered health care decision-making plan created by an estate planning attorney, while we are well and healthy.

Without such a plan, in the event of incapacity, you will not have the opportunity to convey your wishes or to ensure they will be carried out. This also leaves the family in a terrible situation, where siblings may end up in court fighting against each other to determine what kind of end-of-life care you will receive.

The best way to exercise your medical decision rights will vary to some degree by your state’s laws, but three are three basic solutions to protect you. An estate planning attorney will be needed to prepare these properly, to reflect your wishes and align with your state’s law. Do-it-yourself documents may lead to more problems than they solve.

Living Will. This document is used when you are in an end-stage medical condition or permanently unconscious. It provides clear and written instructions as to the type of treatments you do or do not want to receive, or the treatment you always want to receive in case of incapacity.

Health Care Durable Power of Attorney. The health care durable POA is broader than a living will. It covers health care decisions in all situations, when you are not able to communicate your wishes. You may appoint one or more agents to make health care decisions, which they will base on their personal knowledge of what your decisions would be if you were able to speak. Just realize that if two people are named and they do not agree on the interpretation of your decision, you may have created a problem for yourself and your family. Discuss this with your estate planning attorney.

Health Care Representative Laws. There are laws in place for what occurs if you have not signed a Health Care Durable Power of Attorney or a Living Will before becoming incompetent. They are intended to fill in the gap, by authorizing certain family members to act on your behalf and make health care decisions for you. They are a solution of last resort, and not the equal of your having had the living will and/or health care durable power of attorney created for you.

If the statute names multiple people, like all of your children, there may be a difference of opinion and the children may “vote” on what’s to happen to you. Otherwise, they’ll end up in court.

The more detailed your documents, the better prepared your loved ones will be when decisions need to be made. Share your choices about specific treatments. For instance, would you want to be taken off a ventilator, if you were in a coma with limited brain function and with no hope of recovery? What if there was a slim chance of recovery? The decisions are not easy. Neither is considering such life or death matters.

Regardless of the emotional discomfort, planning for health-care decisions can provide peace of mind for yourself and loved ones.

Reference: Kiplinger (April 29, 2021) “Now Is the Time to Protect Your Health Care Decision Making Rights”

Britney Spears’ Conservatorship Battle Continues

“The legal controversy surrounding Britney Spears is no secret. Her father has controlled her career and finances since 2008, a position she's been fighting against for years.”

The release of a documentary following the star’s rise to fame, public breakdown, and recent comeback has put the spotlight back on Spears and her father, Jamie Spears, as reported in the article “Britney Spears’ conservatorship, explained” from CBS News. Jamie was named her conservator, a court-appointed role that gave him control over her estate many years ago, and she has been fighting back ever since. A financial company acting as co-conservator is also in the mix.

What is a “conservatorship?” The legal definition of a conservatorship is a court decision where an individual or organization is appointed by a judge to manage the finances and other aspects for a person who has been deemed to be unable to care for themselves, manage their finances or make good decisions. The laws about conservatorship, like most estate planning laws, vary from state to state.

Conservatorship is generally granted as a first resort when someone is unable to take good care of themselves and there is no Power of Attorney or estate plan in place. An estate plan typically includes protections for a person when they become disabled. People who fail to have an estate plan with this type of protection end up in conservatorships and guardianships, sometimes with court-appointed strangers.

James Spears was appointed his daughter’s conservator in 2008, when Britney reportedly struggled with mental health issues and was hospitalized. A Los Angeles court made the conservatorship permanent, giving her father and the other co-conservator total control over both her finances and medical decisions. His argument is simple: under his direction, Britney’s estate has gone from being in debt to being valued at more than $60 million.

However, Britney does not want her father involved in her finances. In 2020, her court-appointed attorney requested that a qualified corporate fiduciary be named in his place. In 2021, a judge granted her wish to appoint Bessemer Trust as a co-conservator and she is still asking that Bessemer Trust become the sole conservator. Her attorney called her a “high-functioning” conservatee, who deserves to know what actions her father is taking, that she is afraid of him, and has not spoken to him in many years.

Clearly this is a high-stakes battle, but the issues are similar to many conservatorship and guardian cases that take place every day for non-celebrity families.

Conservatorships limit a person’s ability to advocate for themselves, to grow, develop and even learn from mistakes. Being locked into the permanent care of another person is not always in the best interest of the person who may need help for a period of tim, but may not need to have their personal autonomy forfeited permanently.

An estate plan addresses these issues in advance and can prevent stressful and costly court proceedings for the individual and for the family.

Reference: CBS News (Feb. 13, 2021) “Britney Spears’ conservatorship, explained”

Protect Your Estate from Nursing Home Costs

“No one wants a nursing home but the longer we live, the higher the chance we may need a nursing home at the end of life.”

Nursing home care is expensive, costing between $12,000 to $20,000 per month, so most seniors should do all they can to prepare for this possibility. According to a recent article from the Times Herald-Record, “Elder Law Power of Attorney can save assets that would go to nursing home costs,” this is something that can be done even when entering a nursing home is imminent.

A Power of Attorney is used to name people, referred to as “agents,” to conduct legal and financial affairs, if we are incapacitated. Having this document is an important part of an estate plan, since it reduces or completely avoids the risk of your family having to go through guardianship proceedings, where a judge names a legal guardian to take over your affairs.

The guardian likely will be someone you have never met, who does not know you or your family. It’s always better to plan in advance, so you know who is going to be taking charge of your affairs.

Then there’s the Elder Law Power of Attorney, a stronger form of a Power of Attorney that includes unlimited gifting powers. Having this unlimited gifting power lets a single person who applies for Medicaid in a nursing home to protect their assets, by using a gift and loan strategy.

Here’s an example: Amy, who is single, can’t live on her own and even having home health care aides is not enough care anymore. She has $500,000 in assets and does not qualify for Medicaid to pay for her care. Medicaid will allow her to keep only $15,900.

One option is for Amy to spend down all of her money on nursing home costs, until all she has is $15,900. All of her savings will go to the nursing home, with very little left for her daughter, Ellen.

However, if Amy has an Elder Law Power of Attorney, a gift and loan strategy can protect her assets. Half of the money, $250,000, can go to Ellen as a gift under the unlimited gifting powers. The other half goes to Ellen as a loan, under a promissory note with a set rate of interest.

Any gifts made in the past five years, known as a “five year look back,” cause a penalty period. Amy will have to pay for the nursing home for about twenty months. Every month during that period, Ellen will pay Amy a monthly payment that, with her income, is used to pay the nursing home bill. At the end of the 20 months, Amy qualifies for Medicaid to pay for her care for the rest of her life, and Amy may keep the $250,000. Saving half of her assets by using the gift and loan strategy is sometimes called the “half a loaf is better than none” strategy.

With a Standard Power of Attorney, there are no unlimited gifting powers.

A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) created five or more years before Amy needed a nursing home could have saved her entire nest egg for Ellen.

Preplanning is always the better way to go. An elder law estate planning attorney is the best resource for determining what the best tools are to protect a nest egg if and when a person needs the care of a nursing home.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that it “won’t happen to me.” However, injuries and illnesses often accompany aging, and it is far better to plan for this eventuality in advance than waiting and hoping for the best.

DISCLAIMER: Medicaid planning is complex and the case hypothetical above with “Amy and Ellen” is provided for purposes of illustration. Whether this strategy would work for you or your loved ones depends on the laws of your state of residence given your unique circumstances. Consult with an experienced elder law attorney admitted to practice law in your state of residence before engaging in any Medicaid planning!

Reference: Times Herald-Record (Jan. 8, 2021) “Elder Law Power of Attorney can save assets that would go to nursing home costs”

Britney Spears’ Conservatorship Battle with Father Continues

“James Spears has been her co-conservator since 2008, when the singer suffered a very public breakdown.”

A Los Angeles court has declined an application from Britney Spears asking to remove her father James Spears from the conservatorship of her estate, reports NBC News in the recent article “Britney Spears loses bid to remove father from conservatorship, refuses to perform.” The singer’s father has been her sole conservator in 2019, after attorney Andrew Wallet resigned from his role as co-conservator.

Superior court judge Brenda Penny declined to suspend James Spears from his conservatorship in a hearing in a Los Angeles court. She did not rule out the possibility of considering any future petitions for his removal or suspension.

Britney Spears’ attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III, informed the judge that the singer is afraid of her father and has said that she will not perform again as long as her father is in charge of her career.

The financial company Bessemer Trust has been appointed as co-conservator.

James Spears’ lawyer has argued that in the time he has been in charge of her estate, Britney Spears’ net worth has changed from being in debt to a net worth reaching $60 million.

In addition to the conservatorship battle being waged in court, there is also an online campaign named #FreeBritney. The campaign maintains that the singer is being controlled by her father, despite her wishes to be an emancipated adult.

James Spears became his daughter’s conservator following a mental breakdown in 2007, which was widely covered in the media. An acting conservator, Jodi Montgomery, has stepped in to help Spears.

James has been critical of the #FreeBritney movement, comparing supporters to conspiracy theorists.

Britney has requested that her father be removed from his role as conservator earlier this year, but his conservatorship has been extended until February 2021.

This past September, James also withdrew his legal battle to rehire estate manager Andrew Wallet, who Britney Spears said was “uniquely unsuited” during his first period of service.

He worked from 2008-2019 as a co-conservator, but Britney said that she could not afford his services.

Wallet subsequently claimed that the pop star will likely need to be under conservatorship for the rest of her life.

Reference: NBC News (Nov. 11, 2020) “Britney Spears loses bid to remove father from conservatorship, refuses to perform”

Is Florida Ready to Make Changes to a Disastrous Guardianship Program?

The idea that someone charged with the safety and well-being of an incapacitated senior would sign a DNR order without their consent is alarming. Florida’s guardianship program is clearly in need of some big changes. Will they occur, or will it be more of the same?

A recent article from the Orlando Sentinel, “DeSantis, Florida lawmakers consider changes in troubled guardianship program,” says that changes, especially improving monitoring and increasing penalties for guardians with valid complaints, may be coming. It started with a meeting between judges, guardianship trade groups, state attorneys, members of the Elder Law section of the Florida Bar and officials from the governor’s office.

“More must be done to enhance the structure of accountability for guardians to monitor compliance with established standards of practice and ensure that guardians are acting in the best interests of their wards,” Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Richard Prudom said. “The matter is complex, and the solution extends beyond the Department of Elder Affairs; families, local communities, and public officials must also work together to prevent all forms of exploitation to provide safety and security for all.”

The recent news concerning guardian Rebecca Fierle, who investigators say was responsible for more than 400 wards and regularly signed “Do Not Resuscitate” orders for clients against their wishes, has rekindled interest among lawmakers for more control over Florida’s 550 registered guardians.

Senator Kathleen Passidomo and Representative Colleen Burton participated in the meeting and said some of the ideas being discussed include limiting the number of cases each guardian has and requiring a judge to approve a DNR order. Other Ideas include increased standards for guardians and more thorough monitoring.

The lawmakers say there’s no need to increase the requirements to become a guardian. All that is required now is a 40-hour course and passing an exam. Passidomo said the issue isn’t a lack of competence, but the risk for abuse.

As a result, standards and monitoring of guardians must be increased. However, these ideas are merely being discussed, as lawmakers have yet to present a concrete plan.

The Office of Public and Professional Guardians currently has only four employees. The executive director of the agency who was in charge at the time of the Fierle case, was asked to resign and Prudom has now taken control of the department. Governor DeSantis plans to put in a budget request for the Department of Elder Affairs that would include more funds for investigators, so that complaints may be reviewed.

Reference: Orlando Sentinel (September 16, 2019) “DeSantis, Florida lawmakers consider changes in troubled guardianship program”

How will Pending Legislation Impact Social Security Benefits for the Disabled?

A number of regulations for Social Security benefits for the disabled have not been revised since 1972. Rules that do not permit recipients to have more than $2,000 in assets at any time and a penalty for getting married are severe and outdated.

The Supplemental Social Security Restoration Act now in the U.S. House of Representatives would raise the SSI’s asset limit to $10,000 for an individual and $20,000 for couples, according to the article “Lawmakers Look To Update SSI Program” from Disability Scoop.

Right now, in order to retain benefits, SSI recipients generally can have no more than $2,000 to their name at any given time. However, Congress is looking to significantly increase that ceiling, with a bill introduced this month that would increase SSI’s asset limit to $10,000 for an individual and $20,000 for couples.

The Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act would also increase the amount of disregarded income that beneficiaries can collect monthly.

The bill would also repeal penalties for marrying or receiving financial, food, and housing assistance from family members.

Supporters of the Act say it’s time to update Social Security’s SSI program, which has remained largely static since 1972.

“This issue is one I have heard about directly from autism advocates and families in our district, particularly parents preparing for children with disabilities to transition into adulthood,” said Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., who introduced the measure along with Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz.

This is a common-sense adjustment that could have a huge impact on individuals and families with disabilities.

The time has come for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to be brought up to date.

Reference: Disability Scoop (September 23, 2019) “Lawmakers Look To Update SSI Program”

Looking for a Great Estate Planning Attorney? Here’s Help

You want to work with an estate planning attorney who you feel you can trust, who you respect and who has the experience and knowledge. After all, you are trusting them to take care of your family.

The reasons for having an estate plan are many: protecting your surviving spouse, children, other family members when you have passed and preparing for incapacity while you are living. An estate planning attorney may also be instrumental in helping you create a legacy. Therefore, finding the right professional is an important task.

Taking care of a will, power of attorney, health care power of attorney and probably some trusts will limit the potential for family fighting and possible legal battles in the event you become incapacitated, as well as after your death. An estate planning attorney can help you avoid mistakes and missteps and assist you in adjusting your plans, as your individual situation and the laws change.

Next Avenue’s recent article “How to Find a Good Estate Planner” offers a few tips for finding one:

Go with a Specialist. Not every lawyer specializes in estate planning, so look for one whose primary focus is estate and trust law in your area. After you’ve found a few possibilities, ask him or her for references. Speak to those clients to get a feel for what it will be like to work with this attorney, as well as the quality of his or her work.

Ask About Experience. Ask about the attorney’s trusts-and-estates experience. Be sure your attorney can handle your situation, whether it is a complex business estate or a small businesses and family situation. If you have an aging parent, work with an elder law attorney.

Be Clear on Prices. The cost of your estate plan will depend on the complexity of your needs, your location and your attorney’s experience level. When interviewing potential candidates, ask them what they’d charge you and how you’d be charged. Some estate planning attorneys charge a flat fee. If you meet with a flat-fee attorney, ask exactly what the cost includes and ask if it’s based on a set number of visits or just a certain time period. You should also see which documents are covered by the fee and whether the fee includes the cost of any future updates. There are some estate-planning attorneys who charge by the hour.

This isn’t a one-and-done transaction. Understand that your estate planning attorney and their team are people you may be working with for decades. You may also be working with them during some very stressful periods of life, like after the loss of a loved one. Make sure you’re comfortable with the attorney and their team, that they respect you, your family and your values.

Reference: Next Avenue (September 10, 2019) “How to Find a Good Estate Planner”

Michigan Improving Law Enforcement Process for Elder Abuse

With a new elder abuse investigative and reporting form, Michigan’s Elder Abuse Task force is standardizing the processes for elder abuse, implementing best practices and providing more training to help law enforcement in this complex area.

According to The Detroit News’ recent article, “Mich. task force rolls out new elder abuse reporting form,” state law enforcement associations will distribute new forms, a list of best practices for elder abuse investigations and training videos to assist police officers to better understand and respond to elder abuse.

“People are not getting caught and this is one of the reasons,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said at a press conference announcing the initiative Tuesday. The model’s development is part of the ongoing work of the Elder Abuse Task Force established this year.

The Attorney General remarked that the form will bring some clarity to what can be, a complicated investigation. Law enforcement must look for signs of physical abuse or neglect, as well as financial evidence from banks, legal documents, and purchases.

“People will know now that law enforcement is really paying attention to crimes that earlier, it wasn’t that they didn’t care about, it was that they needed assistance in identifying these crimes,” Nessel said. “Now people know that they’re watching these types of offenses.”

Michigan doesn’t have a specific elder abuse statute, so many elder abuse cases are investigated using a standard police report form that looks to establish whether the suspected crime could fall under the vulnerable adult statute, said Assistant Attorney General Scott Teter, division chief for the department’s Financial Crimes Unit.

“It’s a very complex crime,” Teter said. “There’s not a lot of teaching in the police academy on it.”

The program helps to create best practices across the state for the investigation and prosecution of elder abuse, according to Michigan State Police Director Joe Gasper. He said that it’s similar to a standardized form created in 1994 to help law enforcement investigating domestic violence cases.

“The form aids in identifying not only physical abuse but financial abuse,” Gasper said. “This will be a good foundation for all law enforcement to follow.”

The new form will prompt officers to identify items that may qualify a person as a vulnerable adult, like if they need assistance walking, cooking, bathing, driving, or taking medication. Officers will use a checklist for potential signs of physical risks, like bodily injury, dehydration, soiled conditions, bad odors, or malnutrition. The form also requires officers to find out if a senior is at risk of financial harm through a “parasitic” caregiver, poor care, the person controlling the victim’s bank account, or through legal provisions that remove an individual’s decision-making capacity, such as guardianships, conservatorships or power of attorney.

One of the challenges of prosecuting elder abuse cases in the past has been a lack of legal documents, financial statements and photographic evidence of the senior’s living conditions. These are things that need to be proved in a courtroom but aren’t necessarily the first thing on a police officer’s mind when looking at elder abuse cases.

Reference: The Detroit News (September 10, 2019) “Mich. task force rolls out new elder abuse reporting form”

Estate Planning When the Family Includes a Disabled Child

Parents with disabled children face a different set of challenges with their estate planning. It can seem overwhelming, but there are steps to take to plan for their child’s future, when the parents aren’t there to help.

The future can seem daunting when parents consider what will happen to a disabled child, when the parents become elderly and eventually pass away. There are steps that need to be taken, as reported by Yahoo News’ recent article, “4 Tips for Estate Planning When Your Child Has a Disability” to prepare.

1. Draft a letter of intent. This is a letter of instruction that includes instructions that your family and friends will need, if you die or for any reason become incapacitated. This letter should list the passwords to your online financial accounts and personal information someone would need to efficiently step into your life, your home and care for child with a disability. It can include medications, daily routine, strategies you use for calming, therapists’ contact info and other daily living items someone not living in your home may not know about your life.
2. See an estate planning lawyer. Ask an attorney to help you build a vision for what you want your child’s future to look like. Have the attorney create a will and a special needs trust. A special needs trust lets you to distribute funds and property in a way that doesn’t interfere with government program benefits.
3. Create a power of attorney or guardianship. A power of attorney for financial and medical issues may be a viable solution. Supported decision-making is an alternative that empowers those with intellectual disabilities to make choices with support and while preserving their rights. If guardianship is your objective, talk to an attorney before your child reaches age 17.
4. Create an ABLE account. This account can hold funds to ensure your child’s regular account never has more than $2000, which would jeopardize government program benefits, like Medicaid.

An experienced elder law estate planning attorney will have gone through this process before with other families and can help put all of these pieces into place. Take one step at a time, and keep going—this can be overwhelming, but the end result will be well worth it. You will feel better knowing that you did what was necessary to protect your child, and in the end, isn’t that what matters most?

Reference: Yahoo News (August 26, 2019) “4 Tips for Estate Planning When Your Child Has a Disability”