Do Trusts Expire?
Do trusts have an expiration date after the death of the grantor? For most states, the answer is “Yes”. New York is one of those states that have adopted “The Rule Against Perpetuities” which requires all of the assets to be distributed from the trust by a specified date.
Do trusts have an expiration date after the death of the grantor? For most states, the answer is “Yes”. New York is one of those states that have adopted “The Rule Against Perpetuities” which requires all of the assets to be distributed from the trust by a specified date.
The Rule Against Perpetuities
For most states, the trust assets have to be distributed no later than the “lifetime of those then living plus 21 years.” In other words, the trust asset must be distributed 21 years after the death of the youngest beneficiary listed in the trust document. For example, if I setup a trust with my children listed as beneficiaries, after my passing the trust assets would have to be distributed no later than 21 years following the death of my youngest child.
Per Stirpes Beneficiaries
Some trust documents have the children listed as beneficiaries “per stirpes”. This mean that if a child is no longer alive their share of the trust passes to their heirs. In many cases their children. If the beneficiaries are listed in the trust document as per stirpes beneficiaries then you may be able to make the argument that the “youngest beneficiary” is really the grandchildren not the children which will allow the trust to retain the assets for a longer period of time. Typically trusts do not allow the perpetuity rule to extend beyond their grandchildren.
Consult An Estate Attorney
Trust can be tricky and the language in a trust document is not always black and white, so it’s highly recommended that you consult with an estate attorney that is familiar with the estate laws for you state of residence and can review the terms of the trust document.DISCLOSURE: The information listed above is not legal advice. For legal advice, please consult your attorney.
About Michael……...
Hi, I’m Michael Ruger. I’m the managing partner of Greenbush Financial Group and the creator of the nationally recognized Money Smart Board blog . I created the blog because there are a lot of events in life that require important financial decisions. The goal is to help our readers avoid big financial missteps, discover financial solutions that they were not aware of, and to optimize their financial future.
Common Mistakes With Grandparent Owned 529 Accounts
529 college savings accounts owned by the grandparents can be in a valuable benefit for a college bound grandchild. Since the accounts are owned by the grandparents it does not show up anywhere for financial aid purposes which allows the student to qualify for more financial aid. However, even though 529 account owned by the grandparents are
529 Accounts
529 college savings accounts owned by the grandparents can be in a valuable benefit for a college bound grandchild. Since the accounts are owned by the grandparents it does not show up anywhere for financial aid purposes which allows the student to qualify for more financial aid. However, even though 529 account owned by the grandparents are not considered an asset when applying for financial aid, distributions from 529 accounts on behalf of the beneficiary are considered income of the account beneficiary in the year that the disbursement occurs from 529 account.
For example, assume the grandchild receives $20,000 in financial aid in their freshman year but there is still a $10,000 balance due to attend college. The grandparents distribute $10,000 from the 529 account that they own for the benefit of the grandchild. When the parents apply for the financial aid package in the student’s Junior year, they $10,000 529 disbursement that took place in the freshman year will need to be reports as income of the student on the FASFA application. That could completely destroy their financial aid package since 50% of the student’s income counts against the financial aid package.
Remember, the FASFA application now looks back two years instead of one for income purposes. To avoid this situation, the grandparents should not distribute any money from the grandchild’s 529 account until the spring semester of their sophomore year.
Don’t setup UGMA or UTMA accounts
UGMA a stands for Uniform Gift to Minors Act. UTMA stands for Uniform Transfer to Minors Act. Different names but the accounts work in a similar fashion.
If there is a chance that the student may qualify for financial support from either a public or private institution, these accounts can significantly reduce the financial award. The types of accounts are considered an asset of the child not the grandparent. When an asset is titled in the child’s name, approximately 20% of the account balance will count against their financial aid package. For this reason, it is often more beneficial to establish a 529 account which is considered an asset of the grandparent and can be invisible for financial aid purposes.
About Michael……...
Hi, I’m Michael Ruger. I’m the managing partner of Greenbush Financial Group and the creator of the nationally recognized Money Smart Board blog . I created the blog because there are a lot of events in life that require important financial decisions. The goal is to help our readers avoid big financial missteps, discover financial solutions that they were not aware of, and to optimize their financial future.
