National Estate Planning Awareness Week: 13 Estate Planning Terms You Need to Know

National Estate Planning Awareness Week is October 19 -25, 2020. Estate Planning is often overlooked, and it is estimated that  56% of Americans do not have an up-to-date Estate Plan, and do not understand many commonly used Estate Planning terms.

Estate Planning—it is an incredibly important tool, not just for the uber-wealthy or those thinking about retirement. On the contrary, Estate Planning is something every adult should do. Estate Planning can help you accomplish any number of goals, including appointing guardians for minor children, choosing healthcare agents to make decisions for you should you become ill, minimizing taxes so you can pass more wealth onto your family members, and stating how and to whom you would like to pass your estate on to when you pass away.

While it should be at the top of everyone’s to-do list, it can be an overwhelming topic to dive into. To help you get situated, below are some important Estate Planning terms you should know as you think about your own Estate Plan.

13 Estate Planning Terms You Need to Know

1. Assets

Generally, anything a person owns, including a home and other real estate, bank accounts, life insurance, investments, furniture, jewelry, art, clothing, and collectibles, are called that person’s assets.

2. Beneficiary

A person or entity (such as a charity) that receives a beneficial interest in something, such as an Estate, Trust, account, or insurance policy is called the beneficiary.

3. Distribution

A payment in cash or asset(s) to the beneficiary, individual, or entity who is entitled to receive it is called a distribution.

4. Estate

All assets and debts left by an individual at death is called their Estate.

5. Fiduciary

A person with a legal obligation (duty) to act primarily for another person’s benefit, e.g., a trustee or agent under a Power of Attorney. “Fiduciary” implies great confidence and trust, and a high degree of good faith.

6. Funding

The process of transferring (re-titling) assets to a Living Trust is called funding. A Living Trust will only avoid Probate at the trustmaker’s death if it is fully funded, meaning it contains all of the decedent’s assets.

7. Incapacitated/Incompetent

Someone who is incapacitated or incompetent means they unable to manage their own affairs, either temporarily or permanently; often involves a lack of mental capacity.

8. Inheritance

The assets received from someone who has died is called an inheritance.

9. Living Probate

Probate is the court-supervised process of managing the assets of an incapacitated person. Conservatorship is another term used for this process.

10. Marital Deduction

A deduction on the federal estate tax return, a marital deduction lets the first spouse to die leave an unlimited amount of assets to the surviving spouse free of estate taxes. However, if no other tax planning is used and the surviving spouse’s estate is more than the amount of the federal estate tax exemption in effect at the time of the surviving spouse’s death, estate taxes will be due at that time. 

11. Settle An Estate

The process of winding down the final affairs (valuation of assets, payment of debts and taxes, distribution of assets to beneficiaries) after someone dies.

12. Trust

A fiduciary relationship in which one party, known as the trustmaker or settlor, gives another party, known as the trustee, the right to hold property or assets for the benefit of another party, the beneficiary. The Trust should be memorialized by a written Trust Agreement, outlining how the Trust assets will be distributed to the beneficiary.

13. Will

A written document with instructions for disposing of assets after death. A Will can only be enforced through a Probate court. A Will can also contain the nomination of a guardian for minor children.

FLORIDA ESTATE PLANNING

If you have any additional questions about Estate Planning, or would like to consult an Estate Planning Attorney, please contact the Siegel Law Group for a complimentary consultation. Barry Siegel and the Estate Planning Professionals in our South Florida office can make sure you have a comprehensive plan that is tailored to your unique needs and goals.