What Happens If You Don’t Die?

Most estate planning documents are prepared for what happens when we die. They are not prepared for what happens if we don’t die. With regard to the trust, if one spouse dies, for instance, everything goes to the other spouse. When the second spouse dies, everything goes to the children. During the lives of the spouses, all assets stay in the trust. If any gifting is allowed, it is not to exceed $13,000 per year per child. If there is no trust, the financial durable power of attorney will usually not provide for any gifting or asset protection.

But what if we want to do Medi-Cal or VA Aid & Attendance Benefit planning, and the makers of the trust or the makers of the financial durable powers of attorney have lost their mental capacities. For this planning, we at times will transfer assets, including the home,  from the ill spouse to the well spouse. We might also make transfers of various assets from parents to the children or to other loved ones.  The language to do this type of planning, 99% of the time, is not included in the typical estate planning documents. If the makers of the documents have lost their mental capacities, we cannot do this planning, and may have to go to court to reform the documents. As a result, long term care planning should include updating the estate planning documents to include government planning and asset protection language.

This blog is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. You should consult an elder law attorney for your particular case, and before you proceed with any planning.

Written Michael J. Young, lawyoung1@gmail.com, elder law attorney in Walnut Creek, CA. www.WalnutCreekElderLaw.com mike@WalnutCreekElderLaw.com. 1931 San Miguel Dr., Suite 220, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. 925-256-0298. Mr. Young serves Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, including the cities of Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, Concord, Brentwood, Pleasant Hill, Antioch, Clayton, etc.