Best Way to Protect Assets while minimizing taxes and probate

Best Way to Protect Assets while minimizing taxes and probate

Member since 2018 · 4 posts · 2 votes

Hello,

New to the forums, just started reading articles and listening to the podcasts. Just listened to the one about planning for death a couple weeks ago and then yesterday my father calls me to get my opinion on a question he had.

My parents are getting close 70 years in age and own 1 house under my mothers name, my father is a doctor so just in case he gets sued is not on the title. My dad is an obgyn so parents/kids can open lawsuits till they are 21 years in age so even if he retires now any kid/parent has 21 years to sue him. Thankfully in all his years he has only been sued once and he was not found responsible so the chances of him being sued are less than 5% but its better to be safe than sorry.

His question is god forbid something happens to my mother, the estate would go into probate and then they decide to do with the house, they can decide to sell it and etc and it takes forever. Plus they no longer need such a large house and if they sold it they can make a profit of about 750k. He consulted a lawyer and if they are both on the title they don't get taxed for the first 500k of profit, if its just my mom they just save half but then god forbid a lawsuit happens its not protected.


In a trust it seems like its protected but there is no tax savings if they sell the house, in a revocable trust they have the tax savings, and probate risk is removed but its not shielded from a lawsuit.


Is there anything to minimize all 3 problems of taxation, lawsuits, and probate?

Thanks ahead of time for any recommendations.

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  • Financial Advisor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 294 posts · 165 votes
    6y

    @Kev Cooper

    A Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) is your best bet from a legal structuring standpoint. It would depend on the size of the estate how exactly it should be setup though.

    Alternatively, just buy a lot more malpractice insurance and cross your fingers nothing too crazy happens.

  • Investor · Broward County, FL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 938 votes
    6y

    @Kev Cooper

    In which state your parents reside?

    Some state offers unlimited homestead protection and will protect the home in case of lawsuit.

    In other state you can also use tenancy by the entirety that would also protect the home if only one of them is sued.

    Both your parent will anyway need a living trust to avoid probate on what they own directly.

  • Member since 2018 · 4 posts · 2 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Mike S.:

    @Kev Cooper

    In which state your parents reside?

    Some state offers unlimited homestead protection and will protect the home in case of lawsuit.

    In other state you can also use tenancy by the entirety that would also protect the home if only one of them is sued.

    Both your parent will anyway need a living trust to avoid probate on what they own directly.

    Hi Mike, 

    Thanks for replying, they reside in NJ so looks like tenancy by entirety is possible there, unfortunately no unlimited homestead protection. Looks like the only con of the tenancy is if they do get sued and lose, the creditor can take the money if they sell it or my mom passes before my dad. Will definitely look into this further.

  • Member since 2018 · 4 posts · 2 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Daniel McNulty:

    @Kev Cooper

    A Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) is your best bet from a legal structuring standpoint. It would depend on the size of the estate how exactly it should be setup though.

    Alternatively, just buy a lot more malpractice insurance and cross your fingers nothing too crazy happens.

    Hi Daniel,

    Thanks for the suggestion, house is probably around $2-2.5million, not sure what other assets the parents have. Looks like they still get the 500k credit in a qprt so this could be a great option. Will look into what kind of structuring options are available for assets 2 million+.

    Much appreciated.

  • Basit SiddiqiBusiness Member
    Accountant · New York, NY · Member since 2015 · 8k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    @Kev Cooper

    you likely want to consult with an attorney based on your specific situation and wants.

    Normally a trust will help assets stay out of probate.
    Attorney's mention trusts do provide some type of asset protection because it is not so easy to determine that you own those assets(I am not 100% sold on this).
    Protecting assets, in my opinion, needs some sort of business entity that provides limited liability.

    You should consult with an attorney on the proper setup. Just be mindful that the set up that he/she recommends may have a HUGE upfront cost and a huge annual upkeep cost to keep all of your entities compliant.

    Good luck!

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