An individual's largest asset is usually their homes. In an attempt to keep these large assets in the family and to avoid probate, individuals are either gifting the homes away to children early by signing over the deed or setting up a living revocable or irrevocable trust. Unfortunately sometimes these instruments are not used properly, don't take in all that needs to be done in estate planning and could cause harms not initially apparent when initially create them.

Trusts are used to manage assets. They can be set up to accomplish any number of goals such as providing income for a child, grandchild or other family member or it can provide income for a favorite charity or distribute assets in an attempt to reduce tax consequences or security assets from those inevitable issues that come with aging.

If you are setting up a trust in order to protect your assets from creditors or other unforeseeable situations which may arise as you age you must look at both types of trust closely to determine which is best for your circumstance. There are two types of living trusts, revocable and irrevocable. The difference being that the revocable trust can be changed or modified, giving the creator the flexibility of continued control over the assets during his lifetime. The other type of trust is an irrevocable trust. Once an irrevocable trust is established it cannot be changed. The creator will have no access or control over the assets any further through their lifetime once it is placed in the irrevocable trust. Some individuals do not like particular aspect of irrevocable trusts. They want the protection of the trust however they do not want to give up all control of their assets. Depending on what needs to be done in the protection of the assets, an individual might have to give up all control over the property in order to get the protection necessary from creditors or lien holders.

It is important to understand prior to forming such an instrument, that general creditors may use the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (UFTA) under G.L. c. 109A to void or rescind a transfer by a individual debtor for less than fair consideration, regardless of whether the transfer is to an individual or a trust. The Fraudulent Transfer Act can be used by an individual's creditor if they can show that: 1) the debtor had "actual intent" to "defraud either present or future creditors"; or 2) the debtor believed "that he will incur debts beyond his ability to pay as they mature"; or 3) even if there was no fraudulent intent, the debtor was "thereby rendered insolvent". What this act will do is render an individual's trust void and rendered charges against the individual for a fraudulent transfer. This "look back" period as it is called is a statute of four years. If for example an individual has placed a piece of property into a trust and then enters a nursing home the creditor or Medicaid will look back four years from the date of incurring the charges to see if any property was transferred. If such property was transferred and the intent is considered fraudulent then the trust is considered void and the nursing home will be able to attach the home for charges incurred.

Also prior to placing assets into a trust the individual must understand that in bankruptcy, debtors must report all transfers made within one year of signing the bankruptcy petition. In conjunction with the one year "look back" period in bankruptcy, creditors may also use the Fraudulent Transfer Act to reach assets that have been transferred without fair consideration within their four year "look back" period as well.

If after discussing all aspects of why you need an instrument for estate planning with your attorney understanding the difference in the instruments, what they can and can't do is the next step. While a revocable trust gives the individual the ability to continue to control their assets, this control makes it impossible for the trust to offer any protection to an individual from creditors seeking to collect on a debt. "The established policy of the Commonwealth long has been that a Settlor (person who creates the trust) cannot place property in the trust for his own benefit and keep it beyond the reach of his creditors". Following, after the settlor's death, creditors of a settlor also have access to any and all trust assets that the trustee could have distributed during his lifetime. The plain meaning is that a revocable trust offers no creditor protection to the creator of such a trust.

A revocable trust may also result in loss of homestead protection and right of survivorship. A homestead or homestead exemption means that your home is protected from creditors up to the limit of the exemption for as long as the house is your primary residence. A homestead prevents most creditors from taking the house away from you to satisfy a debt that you owe the creditor. It will also protect your home in the event that you have to file for bankruptcy. If the home is placed in a trust, the homestead does not work. The home is no longer a primary residence, it is placed in the trust name and is no longer in your name. The placing of the home in a trust also will break the right of survivorship relative to a spouse that survives you.

An irrevocable trust in turn will protect you from your creditors as long as the trust is created in such a way the individual has no control over the trust asset for which it was made. In making any type of long term estate plan it is the best policy to speak to an attorney regarding your assets, your long term planning, and how you would like to manage such assets during and after your lifetime. Due to the "look back" period this should be done sooner rather than later

By: Michael A. Goldstein
The foregoing article was drafted by The Law Office of Goldstein and Clegg, LLC. For additional articles, see their http://www.goldsteinandclegglaw.com/bankruptcy_blog.

I just received notice of a lawsuit that was filed against me by a collection agency. What do I do now? I get that type of phone call at my office about once a week. Fortunately, the caller has made the obvious correct choice in contacting an attorney right away. This is an important aspect when a collection agency is involved because a collection agency lawsuit is a different type of lawsuit. The collection agency has either been hired by the original creditor or has purchased the right to collect the debt off of you from the original creditor. That makes a little more work for the collection agency and may provide you with a defense.

A review of the lawsuit is the first order of business. As an attorney, I ask three questions right away that form the basis of the defense of the lawsuit. 1. Is the Debt is legitimate? 2. Does the collection agency have the legal right to attempt to collect it from you? 3. Does the lawsuit meet all necessary legal requirements to proceed?

Looking at these questions individually, let’s start with “Is the Debt legitimate?” The client has to advise as to whether they ever had this type of loan or credit card. If a collection agency is involved, the Debt may have been incurred years ago, and may be difficult for the client to remember. Time is an important factor here, because all states have Statutes of Limitation that define when a lawsuit must be filed. In Pennsylvania, the Statute of Limitation to collect on a debt is typically four (4) years, with certain exceptions.

The second question is whether the collection agency has the legal right to attempt to collect from you. What I look for here is any evidence that the collection agency has authority to proceed. This might be indicated by a purchase agreement or an assignment from the original creditor. In my experience, I often find that the collection agencies fail to attach this document to their lawsuit. In that instance, I would place an objection to the suit to make the collection agency prove that the have the legal right to proceed. If they cannot, I move to have the lawsuit dismissed.

The third question is whether the lawsuit meets all of the necessary legal requirements to proceed. Again, in my experience, I have found that collection agencies often fail to properly articulate the claims against the debtor, either by means of failing to provide enough information or failing to provide the proper documentation.

If you are sued in Pennsylvania by a collection agency and can answer NO to any of the three questions posed above, you likely have a valid defense to the lawsuit. Contacting an experienced attorney is the right first step.

By: Greg Artim
Greg Artim is an Attorney based in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. For more information on related legal issues, please visit his website at http://www.gregartim.com.

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When presenting potential clients with different asset protection options, systems, and strategies, one of the questions asked is if I would be willing to act as their Trustee. Yes, I reply but only as a temporary basis and with a resignation letter. The temporary basis allows me to act quickly without fanfare and time consuming communications between the assets and their financial goals.

As an alternative, my answer is, "No, I don't want to serve as a Trustee, but I will gladly offer my services as the Trust Protector." The role of a Trust Protector takes up less of my time and I can educate the Trustee in his day-to-day responsibilities.

WHAT'S A TRUST PROTECTOR?

In offshore Foreign Asset Protection Trusts the role of "Asset Protector" is a standard. Offshore countries have extensive networks of Trust Companies specifically designed to accommodate the implementation of Trust Agreements with ready Trustees. The election to have a Trust Protector, who is usually a United States Person, is a normal offshore business transaction.

Although in Foreign Asset Protection Systems the role of the Trust Protector is a standard, domestically in the United States, only a few states have a legally recognized the dual existence of Trustee and Trust Protector. Those states are Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

The power of the Trust Protector is derived from the Trust Contract. The Agreement sets forth the dual function of the Trustee and the Trust Protector. While the Trustee can be a bank or trust company, or other financial institutions, the Trust Protector is usually a person close to the family, a CPA, accountant, or lawyer who is already the family consigliore.

THE TRUST PROTECTOR'S POWERS

The Trust Protector's powers can take any form, limited only by the wishes of the Grantor(s) and their imagination. Generally, the powers granted the Trust Protector are:

1. Ability to remove or replace the Trustee. Often this is the only power granted to the Trust Protector. In cases where the Trustee is a corporate body (bank, trust company, insurance company, or professional trustee) if the Trustee is unresponsive or not performing to the Trust Agreement for the benefit of all Beneficiaries, or changes in management, or investment choices, the Trust Protector can fire and replace the Trustee, at will, without explanation to the current Trustee.

2. Ability to change the Trust's situs to take advantage of law changes or necessary steps to act in the best interest of beneficiaries if they move from low tax states to high tax states, i.e. from California or New York (high tax states) to New Hampshire, or Nevada (low tax states) or changes in laws occurring long after the initial implementation of the Trust Agreement.

3. Ability to resolve deadlocks between co-trustees or in squabbling between the Trustee and/or Beneficiaries.

4. Ability to control spending over a certain amount. This level of control is significant if disbursements of the Trust are in excess of pre-arranged amounts requiring two signatures of the Trustee and the Trust Protector i.e. in excess of $10,000.

5. Ability to veto distributions to Beneficiaries. Before distributions are to occur the Trust Protector may want to investigate the financial stability of the Beneficiaries. For example, if the beneficiary is being sued, The Trust Protector may withhold distributions, or the Beneficiary is undergoing divorce proceedings, or the Beneficiary may be too young, is under duress, mentally incompetent, unable to manage, or otherwise unavailable. The Trust Protector can override/veto the Trustee and withhold distributions temporarily or permanently make other arrangements such as buy the assets necessary for the benefit of the Beneficiary (buy a house, a car, sign a rental agreement, but have the Trust own the assets, make loans or make other provisions.

6. Ability to veto investment decisions. This checking and balancing of investment decisions are based on the Trust Protector's experience, prudence, and the Trust Agreement guidelines in protecting the assets for the Beneficiaries.

7. Ability to sue and defend lawsuits against the Trust assets. The fiduciary duty of the Trustee and The Trust Protector as to save the assets of the Trust, at any cost, for the benefit of all classes of Beneficiaries.

8. Ability to terminate the Trust. If in the opinion of the Trust Protector there are insufficient funds or the cost of administration is greater than available cost/benefit, the Trust Protector may terminate the Trust, as for example, if all beneficiaries have received their distributions based on age (over the age of 21) and there's one minor beneficiary currently 10 years old, and there aren't enough assets to administer the Trust for the next 11 years, the Trust Protector has the power to make the final distribution and terminate the Trust.

TRUST PROTECTOR'S ROLE

The Trust Protector's role is created by the Trust Agreement to add an additional layer of protection and is usually a person most familiar with the Grantor's long-term financial and personal goals. A Trust Protector usually is the balance of power between the Trust Agreement, the Trustee, The Grantor, and the Beneficiaries.

Neither the Trustee or the Trust Protector should be a family member, nor anyone related to the family by blood or marriage. Both positions should be independent of each other acting in the long-term interest of the beneficiaries.

By: Rocco Beatrice
Rocco Beatrice, CPA, MST, MBA, award-winning trust and estate-planning expert. 71 Commercial Street #150 Boston, MA 02109 tel: 888-938-5872
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A durable power of attorney is much like a normal Power of Attorney except that it continues to remain in effect even when the principal loses his or her mental faculties and thus becomes incapable of sound reasoning. Unless, and until, the power of attorney has been made durable, it will become ineffective in the event of the principal becoming incompetent.

Thus, it follows that if the power of attorney is not durable, it would result in the family of the principal having to approach the courts to appoint a guardian or conservator over the assets of the principal.

What differentiates a normal power of attorney from a durable power of attorney is the presence of a phrase such as "This power of attorney shall not be affected by subsequent disability or incapacity of the principal". The presence of such a phrase shows the intent of the principal that the authority that he is giving shall remain in force even if his mental health deteriorates beyond control.

To make a power of attorney durable, it is subject to certain state laws. The Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act has taken force in as many as 48 states in the US.

There are two requirements to a durable power of attorney. The first is that it shall be in writing and the second that it contain words to the effect that the power of attorney shall remain in effect even in the event of the principal becoming mentally incapacitated. Even though the Uniform Act does not specify that the agreement be notarized, most such documents have space for the notary's signature.

A lot of states require that the agreement be notarized, especially in real estate matters. In addition, some states even require that the document be witnessed.

It is wise to have such an arrangement even if the Principal and their spouse own everything jointly. In the event the principal becomes disabled, the spouse can still sign checks and withdraw money from jointly held bank accounts, but is unable to sell jointly held property or stock without the signature of the principal.

In addition, the spouse is unable to change the name of a beneficiary to a life insurance policy or retirement benefit plan. Even though the principal holds everything jointly, it is wise for him or her to execute a durable power of attorney.

To revoke this type of agreement, the principal has to be of sound mind at the time of revocation. The revocation must be written and should be sent to the agent and to third parties, like banks. A conservator appointed by the court may also revoke the agreement.

Under normal circumstances, the durable power of attorney may have very broad terms of reference i.e. the principal may authorize the agent to do any and all things. However, there are cases when the agreement shall only confer specific rights to the Agent. The main advantages of having this type of agreement are:

* You have someone to look after you in the event of mental incapacity * You, not the court, selects the agent * You save time and expense of not having to go to court

By: Wade Anderson, a CPA who operates DigitalWorkTools.com Legal Forms and Business Documents.

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