How the Phrase “Other Obligations” Made Special Needs Trust Invalid Christopher W. G was denied Supplemental Security Income when his conservator initially filed an application on January 25, 2022. Reconsideration was denied on August 17, 2022. The conservator requested a hearing which was conducted on June 6, 2023. After the hearing, “the ALJ issued an […]
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Can I help my parent create a Will? The answer is yes and no. Yes, you can help to the extent your help is requested. No, you cannot substitute your desires and goals for those of the person executing the Will. You cannot execute a Will for someone else. However, you can assist your parent […]
The ultimate test in determining who should be appointed as guardian is “who will best serve the interest of the adult.” There is, however, a priority list. Certain persons, if they seek to be appointed, may only be disregarding “upon good cause shown.” Since most guardianship hearings are audio recorded, caseful counsel will want to […]
There are times, especially when probating older Wills, when you need signatures from the subscribing witnesses, but you can’t find them. Maybe they’ve died or they moved away. Maybe the signatures were illegible, and you don’t have good contact information. In cases like this O.C.G.A. § 53-5-24 provides for a workaround. Specifically, it provides: When […]
In In Re Estate of Henry, 366 Ga. App. 638 (2023), Charles Henry executed a new Will in 2017, revoking his Will from 2007. Charles had divorced his previous wife, leaving substantially all of his estate to his two children, Tenika and LaRon. In 2011, Charles married Shirley. An antenuptial agreement was executed, although the […]
We previously reported on In re Estate of Curvan, 362 Ga. App. 665 (2022). This case made its way back to the Court of Appeals in 2025 in a pro se appeal. The first lesson from this case is “hire a lawyer” before filing an appeal. No transcript was submited and the appellant failed to […]
In In Re Estate of Kurtzman, 366 Ga. App. 725 (2023), Bette Kurtzman, 85 years old, had dementia and was residing in an assisted living facility. In December of 2020, Kurtzman’s daughter, Amy, and brother, Myron, filed a Petition for Guardianship and Conservatorship. Bette Kurtzman objected to the petition, alleging she had nominated her son, […]
Video Wills You might wonder whether you can make a video recording of yourself stating who gets your stuff and use the video as your Will. Well, as Jesse Beck’s family found out, that probably doesn’t work. At least not yet. In Estate of Beck, 557 P.3d 1255 (Mont. 2024), Jesse made a recording on […]
In Georgia, an individual has legal capacity to make a Will “when the testator has a decided and rational desire as to the disposition of property.” O.C.G.A. § 53-4-11(a). Georgia also recognizes that capacity is fluid and the testator may be able to make a Will even when he or she is unable to enter […]
Last updated 2/28/2025 The Georgia Power of Attorney Act was enacted in 2017 (HB 221) and amended in 2018 (HB 897). It is codified at O.C.G.A. § 10-6B-1 et seq. The Act was effective as of July 1, 2017. It does not apply to powers of attorney executed prior to the effective date, but powers […]
In North Carolina Department of Revenue v. The Kimberley Rice Kaestner 1992 Family Trust, the U.S. Supreme Court was asked to review North Carolina’s attempt to tax an out-of-state trust. Justice Sotomayor, writing for a unanimous court, said the case was about the limits of a State’s power to tax a trust. “The North Carolina […]
Not everything goes through someone’s probate estate. That means not everything passes through your Will. If you care how your assets are distributed, then it’s important to coordinate how your probate and non-probate assets pass following your death. Property held as joint tenants with right of survivorship (JTWRS) does not pass through anyone’s Will until […]
Georgia law defines a Will as “the legal declaration of an individual’s testamentary intention regarding that individual’s property or other matters. Will includes the will and all codicils to the will.” O.C.G.A. § 53-1-2(17). A Codicil is “an amendment to or republication of a will.” O.C.G.A. § 53-1-2(4). No particular form is necessary to constitute […]
One question we frequently get is what happens to a home mortgage after my relative (usually mom or dad) dies? The Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 addresses so-called due on sale clauses. Specifically, at 12 U.S.C. § 1701j–3(d), the Act provides: With respect to a real property loan secured by a lien on […]
What is Form 1041 used for? If an estate or trust has gross income of $600 or more during a tax year, it must file a tax return. The fiduciary of a domestic decedent’s estate, trust, or bankruptcy estate uses Form 1041 to report: The income, deductions, gains, losses, etc., of the estate or trust; […]
IRS Form 56 is used to notify the IRS of the creation or termination of a fiduciary relationship under section 6903 and provide the qualification for the fiduciary relationship under section 6036. Form 56 cannot be used to update the last known address of the person, business, or entity for whom you are acting. Use […]
Many people think that estate planning is just having documents prepared. They have a lawyer prepare a Will, get it signed and they’re done. As Lee Corso says on Game Day, “Not so fast!” The hardest part of stepping into someone else’s shoes, whether its as an agent under a power of attorney, or as […]
In Chambers v. Edwards, 365 Ga. App. 482 (2022), William Chambers sued his sister, Kathy Edwards, alleging tortious interference with inheritance. The trial court granted Edwards’ motion to dismiss (converted to a motion for summary judgment when evidence not in the pleadings was considered). The parties’ father died in 2011, leaving everything to their mother. […]
If called upon to determine the meaning of a trust, or to resolve some ambiguity, Court look for the intent of the Settlor. As stated in Strange v. Towns, “The cardinal rule in construing a trust instrument is to discern the intent of the settlor and to effectuate that intent within the language used and […]
Everyone should have a Will. If you don’t have a Will then your stuff might go to someone you don’t like when you die. Or it might go to a laughing heir. But if you don’t have your own Will prepared, then the State has a Will for you (and you might not like it). […]
The following sample language comes from a trust that was drafted years ago, however it remains useful in understanding issues to consider when drafting trusts: Appointment of Trustee. During my lifetime, [TRUSTEE] shall act as the sole Trustee of all trusts created in this agreement, with the full powers, duties and responsibilities as set forth […]
One of the most important tasks when creating a trust is selecting the trustee. You can have the best trust ever written, but if the trustee doesn’t follow the trust agreement, or worse, if the trustee intentionally violates the terms of the trust, then you’ve failed. There is a saying that you should not let […]
In Hammerberg v. Department of Human Servs. (Minn. Ct. App. 4/22/2024), the State made an estate recovery claim against what appears to have been an income only trust. Very little of the trust language appears in the decision, but the “trust instrument required the trustee to pay all income derived from the trust to the” […]
The American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2021 (now “of 2024”) may have taken on new life recently as Kamala Harris promised, if elected, to make housing affordable. That promise has to be funded somehow and the “how” of it seems to be rolling back the estate and gift tax exclusion amounts significantly. At […]
The amounts below are the estate tax exclusion amounts as provided by the IRS. Unless Congress takes action, in 2026, the exclusion amount will revert to the pre-2018 level ($5,490,000, adjusted for inflation) per deceased person. You can, however, use your exemption now. On November 26, 2019, the IRS clarified that individuals taking advantage of […]
On June 11, 2024, the Gerontologist published an article on Medicaid enrollment and Intergenerational transfers of wealth among older adults. The article was based on a review of data from 2008 through 2018 analyzing estate planning and family wealth transfers of older adults aged 65 and older who became Medicaid recipients. There were 8,347 respondents […]
In 2021, we blogged about a valuation case, Connelly v. U.S., 20 F. 4th 412 (8th Cir. 2023). We noted at the time that a Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed. On June 6, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case, ruling for the United States. Justice Thomas, writing for a unanimous […]
Gun trusts were developed so gun owners can pass their firearms to beneficiaries or heirs at death (or disability) without creating unintended legal problems. Some people (e.g., convicted felons) are not allowed to own guns. Some weapons require a specific license. The trust is intended to prevent beneficiaries who are not allowed to own guns, […]
Medicaid’s “Any Circumstance” Test for Trusts In case you missed the memo, Medicaid doesn’t like trusts. The rules relating to trusts you create with your money or property are found at 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(d). To put this discussion in context, we’ll begin with the sections relevant to the “any circumstances” test, but the full […]
SNT Trustee Ordered to Reimburse Some Conservator Expenses In Weidner v. Stevenson (Cal. App. 2nd Dist. May 13, 2024), Roberta Davis established a special needs trust inside her living trust for her disabled adult son, Daniel. Daniel was under a conservatorship. Daniel’s aunt, Charlyne, was the successor trustee of the trust after Roberta’s death, while […]
In Agency for Health Care Administration v. Spence (Fla. App. 3rd Dist May 22, 2024) the Court of Appeals reversed a probate court order authorizing distributions from a special needs trust without first reimbursing the Medicaid agency. Ryan Spence was a disabled child adopted by Kathleen Spence. After Spence was killed, a settlement agreement allocated […]
When someone accepts the position of trustee, he (or she or it) must act for the benefit of the trust and its beneficiaries. In Bates v. Howell (Ga. App. 2019), Emily Howell decided that the trustee of her aunt’s trust breached his duties. She then went to court without giving anyone else notice (an ex […]
During the 2024 legislative session, HB 1247 morphed into SB 420, which passed both houses and was signed by the governor. The new law creates a new Chapter 17 within Georgia’s Title 44 and authorizes the creation of transfer on death deeds. Previously, these deeds, commonly known as Lady Bird Deeds (although technically LBDs are […]
On November 28, 2023, the IRS Office of Chief Counsel published a memorandum addressing whether modification of an irrevocable grantor trust to add a tax reimbursement clause not previously in the trust constituted a taxable gift. The IRS concluded that it does constitute a taxable gift by the trust beneficiaries because the addition of a […]
The federal Medicaid statute authorizes the use of individual self-settled special needs trusts for individuals under the age of 65. See 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(d)(4)(A). It also authorizes any applicant, regardless of age, to establish a self-settled pooled special needs trust sub-account. 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(d)(4)(C). An open question not addressed in (d)(4)(C) is whether […]
In Creamer v. Manley, decided March 14, 2024, the Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment upholding the validity of a Will. In summary, Willifred Thompson executed a Will leaving substantially all of her estate to Mable Manley, her caregiver. Two second cousins, Barbara Creamer and Gordon Lowe, filed a caveat alleging that Thompson lacked testamentary […]
Recently we received a document we haven’t seen before which informs Medicaid recipients that their special needs trust accounting was approved. Obviously, there is probably a different form telling some individuals that their accounting was not approved, but we haven’t seen that form yet. The new form is below:
Recently the Special Needs Alliance published a new handbook for individuals with disabilities and their advocates. The SNA states: “The intent of this handbook is to explain some of the terms related to services and supports for people with disabilities, to introduce the process of transitioning from child services to adult services, and to provide […]
Historically, unborn embryos have not been considered children. Recently, in LePage v. The Center for Responsive Productive Medicine, P.C., the Alabama Supreme Court found otherwise. Ordinarily this would not be an “elder law” issue, but the law considers unborn children to be potential heirs of an estate. For example, O.C.G.A. § 53-2-1(b)(1) provides: Children of […]
What Constitutes a Valid Will? In Michigan, a jury found that a handwritten document by Aretha Franklin, found in her couch, was a valid Will. Apparently, a notebook containing documents with scribbles and hard-to-read passages emerged in 2019 after a niece scoured the home for records. It was signed by Aretha Franklin with a smiley […]
Warren Buffett The following video clips are from Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meetings where Warren Buffett fielded questions regarding estate planning: 2013 Annual Meeting: 2023 Annual Meeting:
Sometimes you just have to say No “No” isn’t a four-letter word. Saying “no” isn’t necessarily bad and you shouldn’t feel bad when you say it. Part of saying no means taking a stand. It can mean standing up to injustice. For example, our legal system is, for the most part, dependent on people saying […]
Some people want to control others. This reminds me of the Bible story in Genesis 27 where Jacob stole Esau’s blessing. We’re not going to focus on Jacob. Instead, we’re looking at his mother, Rebekah. That’s why this is under the heading of control, not greed. Isaac and Rebekah were unhappy when Esau married two […]
Fear is a powerful motivator. The Bible tells us to fear not. Stonewall Jackson (and others) are attributed as having said “Never take counsel from your fear.” Nonetheless, people act based on fear. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah had executed all of the false profits leading Israel astray. King Ahab whined to his wife, Jezebel. […]
Tradition can be a powerful motivator. Traditions can be like laws, meaning the group following them will not accept any change or departure from their custom. Traditions can also be a way of acting that varies with life changes. In 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Paul urged the Church to stand fast and hold to the traditions. […]
This is the first in a series of posts exploring why people do what they do. In this post, we’re discussing certainty. When I was a young lawyer, I worked on a corporate team where Fortune 500 companies paid tens of thousands of dollars for certainty. When they signed a contract, they wanted to know […]
After a policy holder dies, it is important to contact insurance companies to see whether a claim should be paid. Types of claims can include: Life insurance payout Refund of unused premiums Indemnities Typically assets with a beneficiary designation are not probate assets and should be paid to the person named as beneficiary. In some […]
If you’re concerned about protecting your resources, here are a few thoughts on how to protect Inherited IRAs. First, define the risk you’re planning to minimize or avoid. Some States might treat all retirement accounts as exempt resources for Medicaid eligibility purposes, while others do not. If you’re worried about nursing home expenses, find out […]
Until recently, the IRS has said little (if anything) regarding whether assets the beneficiary of an irrevocable trust receives get a step up in basis following the Grantor’s death. With issuance of Revenue Ruling 2023-2, that has changed. The IRS has spoken. In RR 2023-2, the IRS posed the following hypothetical which I’ve edited slightly: […]
