U.S. v. Kimball Case Supports the Use of a 541 Trust – Even Against IRS Lien

Posted by curtis

One of the simplest planning techniques to protect against claims from creditors, even the IRS, is to use a properly drafted irrevocable non self-settled trust. For generations, courts have found that these types of trusts will not be accessible by the creditors of the individual creating the trust.

In U.S. v. Kimball, Jr., 117 AFTR 2d 2016-811, (DC ME), 06/24/2016, the United States District Court District of Maine addressed two separate counts. The first count was granted on summary judgment, resulting in a judgment of $1,090,700.05 in unpaid taxes and penalties against Mr. Kimball as an individual. The second count was an attempt to have the tax lien attach to a trust that Mr. Kimball created. The Court denied the second count on summary judgment. In other words, the assets in the trust were safely protected from the tax lien.

The Court found that the trust was not the property of Mr. Kimball and the tax lien should not attach to the trust property. Mr. Kimball created the trust naming his children as beneficiaries and himself as trustee. The trust included flexible provisions, but the trust restricted any changes that would cause Mr. Kimball to become a beneficiary of the trust. In the event of changes to the trust, the relevant property would go to the beneficiaries of the trust, and not to Mr. Kimball.

The type of trust used by Mr. Kimball was a non-self-settled trust. This type of trust is a trust that does not name the settlor as a beneficiary, but instead the trust names a third party as the beneficiary of the trust (i.e. naming the settlor’s spouse or children as beneficiaries). Because the trust is not “self-settled” the creditors of the settlor cannot reach into the trust, so long as there are no fraudulent transfers into the trust.

A powerful asset protection solution is to combine the asset protection benefits from using a non-self-settled trust with the flexibility provided by the grantor retaining a special power of appointment. A special power of appointment is a tool that provides the settlor with a lot of flexibility while still protecting the trust from creditors’ claims. Court cases and statutes going back over 200 years have consistently held that a special power of appointment is not subject to creditors. We have created such a trust with these unique characteristics. We call our unique trust a 541 Trust®.

A non-self-settled trust has provided an elegant and powerful solution for solid asset protection. Asset protection does not need to be complicated and does not need to use a new and untested planning technique. When properly funded and operated correctly, a 541 Trust® is one of the most efficient, flexible, and effective creditor protection strategies available.

We have perfected the 541 Trust® to obtain the best in asset protection with the flexibility to adjust for changing circumstances. There are generations of court cases demonstrating that it is extremely unlikely that a creditor will be able to access the assets in a 541 Trust®.

Want to get the best in asset protection or learn more about the 541 Trust® and why the Kimball Court, on summary judgement, denied the IRS’ attempt to attach a tax lien to the trust, please call us at 801-765-0279.

Common Questions About Estate Planning Answered

Posted by McCullough

The topic of estate planning and creating a Will can sometimes be a difficult subject to bring up, but it’s a very important topic to discuss with your loved ones, and with an experienced estate planning attorney. Estate planning, when done properly, can ensure that your affairs are handled properly after you pass on, that your family is taken care of, and the inheritance and property is shielded from unnecessary taxes and fines.

What is a Will?

A Will is a document designed to instruct your heirs how to divide and dispose of your tangible personal property and other assets when you pass away. A Will also designates guardians for minors. Television series often portray having a Will as the most important document to govern the administration of your estate when you pass away. This is mostly true—but if you own real estate, your Will has to go through probate. But again, guardians are elected in your Will and it is a necessary document.

What is a Trust?

A Trust is one of the most common estate planning techniques available. While there are many different variations of Trusts, they all share the same basic structure. The creator of the Trust is called the grantor who signs an agreement with a trustee who agrees to hold assets in Trust for the grantor’s chosen beneficiaries. Sometimes the grantor and the trustee are actually the same person.

Think of the Trust like a bucket. The grantor creates a bucket and puts assets into it, such as bank accounts and a home. The trustee’s job is to hold the bucket handle and the assets “in trust” for the beneficiaries named by the grantor. The trustee administers the trust according to the rules laid out by the grantor including how and when to take assets out of the bucket and give them to the beneficiaries.

The benefits of Trusts can include:

Probate avoidance;
Flexibility;
Cost savings;
Tax planning;
Privacy; and
Peace of mind.

Do I Need a Will or a Trust?

Both Wills and Trusts can be commonly used estate planning tools, and you may want to have both depending on your situation. The main differences that you will find between the two are that Wills are only effective after your death, whereas Trusts can become effective immediately (or at a specified time in the future); Wills are directives used to distribute property or appoint a legal representative after your death, whereas Trusts can distribute property at any time prior to or after your death; Wills cover all of your assets, whereas Trusts only cover items that are specifically placed in the Trust; and finally, Wills are public documents while Trusts can remain private if you choose. An experienced estate planning attorney can help you decide which is right for you.

How Important is Power of Attorney or Health Care Directive?

Granting someone “power of attorney” (POA) is a very important step in estate planning because it designates someone who can make legal decisions for you in the event you are unable to make them on your own. These can include financial decisions as well as medical or legal ones, so the person you appoint to this duty should be someone you trust and someone who knows what you would want. Without POA, these decisions could be left up to a judge in the courts, who is likely a stranger and will have no idea what you would have wanted.

A Health Care Directive (HCD) is designed to instruct medical caregivers and doctors how you want to be cared for in the event of incapacitation. Incapacity most commonly includes a coma or dementia. This document covers your Living Will wishes, which are your wishes if you are in a state of unawareness with little or no hope of recovery. You choose your own healthcare agents and tell through this document your wishes. You can revoke this document at any time while you’re competent to make decisions for yourself.

How Often Should I Update an Estate Plan?

The best answer to this question is: as often as you need to. While there is no set time frame for updating your documents, you should make sure to revisit them any time you have a significant life event take place. This might include things like:

Marriage or divorce
Additional children, whether by birth, adoption, or marriage
Death of a spouse
Significant changes to your assets
Relocation
Changes to tax laws, or the status of guardians, trustees, or executors

Since you may not know when the tax laws change, in the absence of any of the other events, it’s a good idea to visit with an estate planning attorney in Utah about once every five years to be sure yours is up to date.

What Happens if My Family Contests My Will?

The death of a family member can be a very difficult time, and sometimes other issues within the family spillover when settling an estate plan. Fortunately there are things you can do to protect the directives spelled out in your Will, even in the face of a legal challenge after your death. Having a plan that is created and properly executed by an estate planning attorney is the best way to protect against this. It’s also helpful to discuss your wishes and plans with family members while you are alive to avoid surprises.

Estate planning can be complicated, so to answer all your questions and get started on your estate plan, call an experienced attorney today.

The 4 Most Important Assets to Protect in Your Estate

Posted by McCullough

If you are thinking about how to protect your legacy, you have probably heard about and perhaps learned a little about estate planning in Utah. Many people are curious about what types of assets they should be protecting when they begin building an estate plan, and it’s important to get the right legal advice to help you protect your most valuable items and your overall net worth.

Customizing an Estate Plan

There is no clear-cut definition of exactly what assets you must protect with your estate plan, and it’s important that you work with an attorney that recognizes that each plan is unique and should be customized according to your individual financial situation, your assets, and your plan for the future. These plans can also help you define exactly how your heirs will receive their inheritance to avoid problems later down the road, and can take into account things like death, remarriage, divorce, lawsuits, and bankruptcy. Finally, your estate plan should be designed to avoid the hassle and unknowns associated with probate, prevent losses from gift or estate taxes, and carry out the transfer of your assets according to your wishes.

Four Assets to Protect

While every estate plan should be individualized, there are a few common assets and some traditional wealth accumulation that many people want to protect.

Retirement Accounts – If you have been saving money in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), a 401(k), profit sharing, pension funds, survivor benefits, or any similar retirement account, you want to make sure that your heirs will be able to access this money after you are gone. If you have a significant amount of wealth that you have accumulated through similar investment accounts, it’s important to have an attorney that can help you understand the laws associated with transferring this wealth.
Your Home and Property – Another part of every estate is the family home, as well as any additional property, such as vacation homes, rental properties, and more. This is often one of the largest single assets in an estate, and should be protected and passed on to your heirs in the way that you would prefer.
Business Ownership or Income – When you own a business, it’s critical that you create an estate plan that takes into account these assets. Your family might want to continue to run the business for income, or they may prefer to sell it when you are gone, but either way you want to make sure that your surviving beneficiaries divide up the ownership or profits from that business (or sale of the business) in the way that you envisioned.
Heirlooms – Finally, you should consider any valuable family heirlooms that you might want to pass along to your beneficiary (or beneficiaries) after you pass away. In some cases these things might have specific monetary value, while in other situations they will carry more emotional value, but either way you want to ensure that they are in the right hands when your estate is divided.

While this is not necessarily a comprehensive list of all the assets you might want to protect, these four are essential items to address during estate planning. Talk to an attorney today to find out more and get started customizing your own estate plan.

TrustCo case shows importance of timing in asset protection.

Posted by McCullough

The most important factor in almost every asset protection case is the timing between the time the assets were transferred and the time of the creditor’s claim. In TrustCo Bank v. Mathews, the court held that a plaintiff was barred from bringing a fraudulent transfer claim because the statute of limitations had run. Susan Mathews signed a personal guaranty in 2006. A few months later she transferred stock to a couple of Delaware asset protection trusts. The plaintiffs brought a fraudulent transfer claim against the trusts on March 1, 2013 and the court ruled that the claim was barred because the statute of limitations on fraudulent transfers had run. This case is interesting because the transfer actually occurred after Susan had incurred an obligation. Because the transfer occurred after the obligation, the transfer probably would have been voidable as a fraudulent transfer if not for the statute of limitations. In other words, the planning worked only because of the timing between the date of the transfer and the date of the fraudulent transfer action.

The Early Bird Keeps the High Value Assets

Posted by McCullough

The ability to safeguard what you have is something indispensable in business, especially when a company runs into adversity. Asset protection is much more complex than simply deciding which things are untouchable. Most people are not ready for everything they will need to do to get it done. Fortunately, there are a few rules that can help guide business owners on how to cover their losses when the need arises.

Planning Ahead

The first rule is to start making plans to put assets out of harm’s way as soon as they get them. This is because liability claims can spring up faster than most think. There are many methods that owners can use to protect their effects before someone else lays claim to it, but there are precious few that can help them after the fact.

Failing to plan sooner than later often results in the loss of assets. Attempting to conduct asset protection after a claim arises would likely make things worse instead of better. This is because it makes the owner look like they are hastily shoving assets down, rather than securing something that is rightfully theirs.

Fallout of Tardiness

If a liability does not end up in an owner’s favor, a judge can do much more than undo the transfer of the asset so that an owner ends up with roughly what they had at the start. A decision can make the owner liable for the attorney’s fees of whoever raised the claims. This effectively removes filing for bankruptcy as a relief to keep the lawyers and the banks from taking absolutely everything.

Being proactive, and making the first move is the first thing business owners needs to learn when it comes to keeping as much of their effects intact. Still, there’s more to asset protection that being an early bird. Contact us today for all the information you need to know, from asset protection to estate planning. At McCullough & Sparks, we offer free consultation, as well.

What is a 541 Trust®?

Posted by McCullough

We use the 541 Trust® name to refer to an irrevocable asset protection trust built upon a foundation of generations of proven legal precedent. A 541 Trust® is a domestic, irrevocable, non-self-settled trust carefully designed to provide the best asset protection while at the same time affording maximum flexibility. The 541 Trust® is not a new school of thought nor is it based on foreign laws. We have carefully researched generations of legal precedent right here in the U.S. to find strategies that have always worked and design our trusts in compliance.

Assets owned by you are within reach of your creditors. Likewise, absent a fraudulent transfer, assets not owned by you cannot be reached by your creditors. If asset protection is a key goal in your estate planning, you must somehow remove the assets from your personal ownership. The best way to remove assets from your ownership is through the use of a properly crafted irrevocable trust. Because our trusts are drafted in compliance with U.S. laws, and are supported by generations of legal precedent, they provide the best possible protection.

Public policy and generations of legal precedent are clear: you cannot settle a trust for your own benefit and at the same time shield the trust assets from your potential creditors. Offshore Trusts and Domestic Self-Settled Asset Protection trusts (DAPTs) are self-settled, which is a fatal chink in the supposed armor of these types of trusts. Even though some states and offshore jurisdictions purport to allow self-settled asset protection trusts, it is important to see what the courts have made clear–the only court cases dealing with Offshore Trusts or DAPTs have shown that they fail to protect the assets.[i] Despite an abundance of promotion and marketing, self-settled trusts (DAPTs and Offshore Trusts) have zero wins when challenged in court. The Uniform Trust Code states that a creditor of a settlor may reach the maximum amount that can be distributed to or for the settlor’s benefit.[ii] In other words, if a settlor who is also a beneficiary has access to trust cash, property, vehicles, etc., so does a creditor. It is hard to argue that an Offshore Trust or a DAPT is the best solution based on their dismal record when challenged in court.

Generations of legal precedent have made clear that the only type of trust which has withstood the test of time as a proven method of asset protection is a non-self-settled trust (a.k.a. a third party trust or our 541 Trust®). This means that the settlor of the trust creates the trust for beneficiaries other than him/herself.[iii]

Our 541 Trust® protects assets from a person’s potential future liabilities by removing the assets from the person’s legal and personal ownership. Rather than employing new strategies which have not been tested or strategies which rely on the laws of foreign jurisdictions, the 541 Trust® is designed using methods which have been successfully tested in lawsuits, bankruptcy, and IRS audits in the U.S. legal system. The 541 Trust® has been proven to work better than offshore trusts and other asset protection strategies. Frankly, the name of the trust is of little importance. The important part of the 541 Trust® is its craftsmanship. Our years of experience and dedication to building trusts upon a tried and tested legal foundation is the key value to our asset protection trusts. After all, what good is a trust if it fails when challenged? The legal precedent speaks for itself.

[i] In re Mortensen, Battley v. Mortensen, (Adv. D.Alaska, No. A09-90036-DMD, May 26, 2011), Waldron v. Huber (In re Huber), 2013 WL 2154218 (Bk.W.D.Wa., Slip Copy, May 17, 2013), Dexia Credit Local v. Rogan 624 F. Supp 2d 970 (N.D.Ill. 2009), 11 U.S.C. 548(e), More offshore self-settled trust cases HERE.

[ii] Uniform Trust Code Section 505, Restatement (Second) of Trusts Section 156(2), and Restatement (Third) of Trusts Section 58(2).

[iii] “By establishing an irrevocable trust in favor of another, a settlor, in effect, gives her assets to the third party as a gift. Once conveyed, the assets no longer belong to the settlor and are no more subject to the claims of her creditors than if the settlor had directly transferred title to the third party.” In re Jane McLean Brown, D. C. Docket No. 01-14026-CV-DLG (11th Cir. 2002).

IRS Approved NING Trust provides Substantial Tax Savings

Posted by McCullough

For many years, we have helped clients reduce income taxes by using a Nevada trust often referred to as a “NING Trust” (Nevada Incomplete Gift Non-Grantor Trust). In PLR 20131002, the IRS approved this concept by ruling that the trust qualified as a complex trust for income tax purposes and that gifts to the trust were incomplete for federal gift tax purposes. In other words, a person can transfer assets of unlimited value to a NING Trust without gift tax consequences. The income of the NING Trust is taxed at the trust level and does not flow through to the grantor. Because Nevada has no state income tax there is huge potential for income tax savings. Here are three examples of how a NING trust can save taxes:

A California resident can avoid the 13.3% California tax on investment assets or capital gains. For example, assume a California resident establishes a properly structured [NING] trust and contributes a $20 million stock portfolio that produces 8% taxable income per year. Over a period of 10 years, the California income tax saved could be $2,500,000. Over 20 years, the compounded savings from not paying California income tax could be $8,500,000. (See Gordon Schaller & The 13.3% Solution: of DINGs, NINGs, WINGs and Other ThINGs, LISI Estate Planning Newsletter #2191 (February 5, 2014)).

As another example, we have a client who placed his stock into a NING trust prior to a sale of his company. When the stock was sold by the NING trust, the client saved over $5,000,000 in state capital gains taxes. Later, when the trustee terminated the trust and distributed the assets back to the client, the client was not required to pay state capital gains tax on the distribution because the state does not tax capital gains distributed from a nonresident trust.

As a third example, a professional athlete transferred the majority of his investment portfolio to a NING trust. The athlete pays federal and state tax on his W-2 earnings and on the investments he holds outside of the NING trust. The athlete is not required to pay state tax on the investment income earned by the trust, and this allows the trust to grow free of state income tax.

Call 801-765-0279 for more information or click HERE to email us.

The information and examples above are provided as general information and may not be used as tax advice for any particular situation. Each person should seek individualized tax advice for their own situation.

When do courts allow a trust to be pierced as an alter ego?

Posted by McCullough

One way to attack an irrevocable trust is to prove that the trust is the alter ego of the grantor because the trust is operated in a manner so that it has no separate existence from the grantor. Some courts describe this as the grantor “exercising such control that the trust has become a mere instrumentality of the owner.” In re Vebeliunas, 332 F.3d 85 (2nd Cir. 2003).

In WILSHIRE CREDIT CORPORATION v. KARLIN, 988 F.Supp. 570 (1997), Allan and Mary Rozinsky established an irrevocable trust for their children and transferred their home to the trust. The Rozinskys paid rent equal to the amount of the mortgage, insurance, and monthly expenses. For a time, the trust also owned a beach home that the Rozinskys rented from the trust. The trustees were close friends and relatives who admitted that most of their decisions were made at the direction of the Rozinskys.

After a time, the Rozinskys became unable to make the rent payments and they issued promissory notes to the trust in the amount of the delinquent rent, although no payments were made on the promissory notes. The court held that under Maryland law, alter-ego will only apply where necessary to prevent fraud, and because no fraudulent transfer had occurred, the creditors could not reach the trust assets despite the control exerted by the settlors.

In UNITED STATES v. EVSEROFF, No. 00-CV-06029 (E.D.N.Y. April 30, 2012), Jacob Evseroff established an irrevocable trust and transferred his primary residence to it after having received notice of a tax deficiency of over $700,000. A series of family friends served as the trustees of the trust. Evseroff did not pay rent to the trust for the privilege of living in the residence, but he did pay the mortgage and expenses as he had when he owned the home. The trust never assumed the mortgage and it was never listed on the flood or fire insurance on the home.

The court held that a plaintiff may pierce the veil of a trust, under the laws of New York, if the plaintiff can show that “(1) the owner exercised such control that the corporation has become a mere instrumentality of the owner, who is the real actor; (2) the owner used this control to commit a fraud or ‘other wrong’; and (3) the fraud or wrong results in an unjust loss or injury to the plaintiff.” Because the transfers to the trust were found to be fraudulent, and because the facts indicated that Evseroff had dominated the trust, the court allowed the government to collect against the assets of the trust.

Lessons learned from these cases: (1) don’t wait until you have a liability problem to transfer assets to an asset protection trust, (2) appoint a trustee who will take control of the trust, and (3) don’t allow a person other than the trustee to control or dominate the trustee or engage in transactions with the trust on terms that are not commercially reasonable in an arms-length transaction.

Building a Better Asset Protection Trust/ as published in Estate Planning Magazine

Posted by McCullough

Estate Planning Journal (WG&L)
Volume 38, Number 01, January 2011
Use ‘Powers’ to Build a Better Asset Protection Trust, Estate Planning Journal, Jan 2011

Use ‘Powers’ to Build a Better Asset Protection Trust

A creatively drafted special power of appointment can be used to increase flexibility, asset protection, and anonymity of a trust.

Author: LEE S. McCULLOUGH, III, ATTORNEY

LEE S. McCULLOUGH, III practices exclusively in the areas of estate planning and asset protection in Provo, Utah. He also teaches estate planning as an adjunct professor at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University

An asset protection trust can provide a person with security and peace of mind by ensuring that some assets are protected against future potential liabilities. State and federal laws support the use of an asset protection trust that is designed and funded in an ethical manner. Fraudulent transfer laws prevent the use of an asset protection trust to hinder, delay, or defraud a creditor.

For the past several decades, most asset protection trusts have been based on the concept of a self-settled trust. 1 Historically, the general rule has been to deny asset protection to a self-settled trust. 2 This began to change when laws were passed in offshore jurisdictions, such as the Cook Islands and the Isle of Man, which protect the assets in a self-settled trust. Beginning with the Alaska Trust Act in 1997, 13 states now offer some degree of asset protection for a self-settled trust:

(1) Alaska.

(2) Colorado.

(3) Delaware.

(4) Hawaii.

(5) Missouri.

(6) Nevada.

(7) New Hampshire.

(8) Oklahoma.

(9) Rhode Island.

(10) Missouri.

(11) Tennessee.

(12) Utah.

(13) Wyoming.

Although this concept has dominated the discussion and the practice of designing asset protection trusts, it is not the only option. The special power of appointment, an old reliable tool, can be implemented to replace and improve on the concept of a self-settled trust.

The special power of appointment is perhaps the most powerful and unappreciated tool in estate planning and asset protection. While most estate planners regularly use special powers of appointments to add flexibility to trust documents, most fail to recognize many of the most powerful uses of this tool. Whether designing a trust solely to protect against potential creditors, or to protect against estate taxes as well, a special power of appointment can be used to build a better asset protection trust.

Powers of appointment are nothing new

The concept of a power of appointment has been a part of the English common law for hundreds of years. This concept is well recognized in all 50 states and in the federal tax laws. 3 Although some minor variations in the law pertaining to powers of appointment have occurred over time, the basic principles, which form the basis of this article, have never varied. These basic principles are summarized below.

Key terminology. Familiarity with the following terms is crucial to an understanding of the strategies discussed below:

A power of appointment is a power that enables the donee of the power, acting in a nonfiduciary capacity, to designate recipients of beneficial ownership interests in the appointive property. 4The “donor” is the person who created the power of appointment.The “donee” is the person on whom the power is conferred (and who may exercise the power).The “permissible appointees” or “objects” are the persons for whom the power may be exercised.An “appointee” is a person to whom an appointment has been made.A “taker in default of appointment” is a person who will receive the property if the power is not exercised. 5

A power of appointment is “general” to the extent that the power is exercisable in favor of the donee, the donee’s estate, or the creditors of the donee or the donee’s estate, regardless of whether the power is also exercisable in favor of others. 6 A power that is not general is referred to as a “special” or “nongeneral” power of appointment.

Basic rules pertaining to asset protection and estate tax inclusion. Property that is subject to a presently exercisable general power of appointment is generally subject to the creditors of the donee because it is a power that is equivalent to ownership. 7 On the other hand, property subject to a special power of appointment is exempt from claims of the donee’s creditors. 8 The donee of a special power of appointment is not considered to have a property interest in the property subject to the power because it cannot be exercised for the economic benefit of the donee. 9 Because the donee has no property interest, the property subject to the power of appointment is not included among the property of the donee for purposes of judgment collection, bankruptcy, 10 divorce, Medicaid eligibility, estate tax inclusion, 11 or other determinations that involve the property of the donee.

Similarly, a permissible appointee (including the donor) has no property interest in a power of appointment. 12 Any attempt to include the interest of a permissible appointee for purposes of judgment collection, bankrupty, divorce, Medicaid eligibility, estate tax inclusion, or other determinations that involve the property of the donee would be a logical and practical impossibility because most special powers of appointment include everyone in the world as a permissible appointee, except for the donee, the donee’s estate, and the creditors of the donee and the donee’s estate.

Replacing the self-settled asset protection trust

An irrevocable trust with a special power of appointment that includes the donor as a permissible appointee (referred to herein as a “special power of appointment trust”) can be used to replace and improve on the concept of a self-settled asset protection trust. Both the self-settled asset protection trust and the special power of appointment trust can be designed so that gifts to the trust are incomplete for gift tax purposes 13—and thus not subject to gift tax at the time of the initial transfer. Both of these trusts can also be designed as a grantor trust for income tax purposes so that income from the trust is taxed to the settlor. If the tax treatment for these two trusts is the same, and the ability to benefit the settlor is the same, what is the difference between a self-settled asset protection trust and a special power of appointment trust?

The pros and cons of these two alternatives may be summarized as follows:

(1) No case law supports the asset protection provided by a self-settled asset protection trust because the statutes that allow asset protection for a self-settled trust are relatively new and untested. On the other hand, the inability of a creditor of a permissible appointee to reach the assets of a special power of appointment trust is supported by centuries of common law that is consistent throughout all 50 states in addition to federal bankruptcy courts. 14 In addition, the asset protection provided by a special power of appointment trust is supported by the logical and practical impossibility of ascribing trust liability for all permissible appointees when that class includes every person on earth other than the donee, the donee’s estate, and the creditors of the donee and the donee’s estate.

(2) The common law rule, followed by the majority of states, is that the assets of a self-settled trust are available to the claims of the settlor’s creditors. 15 Many commentators believe that a state that does not grant asset protection for self-settled trusts will not uphold the laws of a state that does grant asset protection for self-settled trusts, because doing so would violate the first state’s public policy. 16 The asset protection provided by a special power of appointment trust is not dependent on the state where the parties reside or the state where the matter is adjudicated.

(3) Many commentators question whether a self-settled asset protection trust will hold up in a bankruptcy court. At least two bankruptcy courts have held that the recognition of an offshore self-settled trust would offend federal bankruptcy policies. 17 A person who files bankruptcy is typically required to disclose any trust in which he or she is included as a beneficiary. In addition, the 2005 changes to the Bankruptcy Code have created a new ten-year limitations period for transfers to self-settled trusts that are meant to hinder, delay or defraud creditors. 18 Even if a bankruptcy court is unable to bring the assets of a self-settled trust into the bankruptcy estate, the court could dismiss the debtor’s case and deny the debtor a discharge under the bankruptcy laws. In contrast, the special power of appointment trust should be irrelevant to a bankruptcy proceeding because the settlor has no beneficial interest in the trust.

(4) Many of the state statutes that grant some form of asset protection for a self-settled trust also include exceptions that allow creditors to seize the assets of a self-settled trust for child support, alimony, transfers made within certain time periods, government creditors, bankruptcy, or certain torts. 19 In contrast, no statutory exceptions allow a creditor of a permissible appointee to reach the assets of a special power of appointment trust.

(5) Plaintiff’s attorneys, creditors, and government agencies often ask if a person is a beneficiary of a trust in order to determine whether the trust assets may be attached or taken into account for various purposes. This opens the trust up to inspection and evaluation by an adverse party, and it may affect a person’s eligibility for certain programs or benefits. The special power of appointment trust is immune to this kind of scrutiny because the settlor is not a beneficiary, and most every person in the world is a permissible appointee.

(6) A self-settled trust governed by the laws of an exotic and foreign jurisdiction often carries with it a negative stigma and a perception of wrongdoing. Upon learning that a person is a beneficiary of a self-settled trust in a foreign jurisdiction, judges, juries, and government agencies are likely to view the person as a criminal who is attempting to avoid the law. In contrast, a special power of appointment trust established in a domestic jurisdiction for the benefit of a person’s family has the appearance of an ordinary measure established by a law-abiding citizen for estate planning purposes.

(7) The self-settled asset protection trust requires the appointment of a trustee or co-trustee in one of the jurisdictions where self-settled trusts are allowed (with some jurisdictions requiring the use of a corporate trustee 20); the special power of appointment trust does not require the appointment of a corporate trustee or a trustee that is located in a certain jurisdiction.

(8) One may argue that the self-settled trust is safer than the special power of appointment trust because the trustee has a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries and this ensures that the trustee will not distribute the assets to the wrong people. 21 However, if the trustee has a discretionary power to sprinkle assets among the potential beneficiaries, there is still a chance that the trustee will not distribute the assets according to the wishes of the settlor. The settlor of a special power of appointment trust could use the following measures to ensure that the donee of the power does not exercise it inappropriately:

The settlor could appoint one or more co-donees who are required to act together.The settlor could limit the class of permissible appointees.The settlor could appoint a trust protector with power to approve or veto the exercise of a power of appointment.The settlor could grant a trust protector the power to remove and replace a donee.

To illustrate the differences between a self-settled asset protection trust and a special power of appointment trust, consider the following example:

Scenario 1. Dawn creates a self-settled asset protection trust naming her brother as the trustee. She names herself, her spouse, and her children as the beneficiaries. She gives her brother the power to withhold distributions or to sprinkle distributions among the beneficiaries as he determines in his sole and absolute discretion. Dawn funds her self-settled asset protection trust at a time and in a manner that is not considered a fraudulent transfer.

Scenario 2. Michael creates a special power of appointment trust naming his brother as the trustee. Michael names his spouse and children as the beneficiaries, but he does not include himself as a potential beneficiary. He gives his brother the same power to withhold distributions or to sprinkle distributions among the beneficiaries as he determines in his sole and absolute discretion. Michael also gives his brother a special power of appointment to appoint assets to any person other than himself, his estate, or the creditors of himself or his estate. Michael funds his special power of appointment trust at a time and in a manner that is not considered a fraudulent transfer.

In both scenarios, the brother of the settlor has power to withhold assets or sprinkle assets among the spouse and children of the settlor. In both scenarios, the brother of the settlor can transfer all, part, or none of the assets of the trust to the settlor at any time and for any reason.

Now assume that both Dawn and Michael are sued, and a judgment is entered against them. The creditor’s attorneys will ask both Dawn and Michael if either is the beneficiary of any trust. Michael will correctly answer that he is not a beneficiary of a trust. Even if creditors discover that Michael once created a trust, they will have no claim on the trust because Michael is not included as a beneficiary. Dawn, on the other hand, will have to reply that she is the beneficiary of a self-settled trust, and her creditors will then commence an examination of the trust and an attempt to confiscate its assets.

Improving an intentionally defective grantor trust

An intentionally defective grantor trust is a trust that is excluded from the settlor’s estate for gift and estate tax purposes but whose income is attributed to the settlor for income tax purposes. The name comes from the fact that the settlor intentionally includes a “defect” in the trust document that causes the income to be taxable to the settlor (or “grantor”). The purpose of an intentionally defective grantor trust is to protect assets from estate taxes in addition to protecting assets from the potential future creditors of the settlor. An intentionally defective grantor trust is typically used to own life insurance or other appreciating assets. In order to ensure that the assets of the trust are not included in the settlor’s estate, the settlor is not included as a beneficiary of an intentionally defective grantor trust.

The concept of an intentionally defective grantor trust can be greatly improved if the settlor grants a special power of appointment allowing a donee to appoint assets to any person other than the donee, the donee’s estate, or the creditors of the donee or the donee’s estate. The grant of a special power of appointment to a non-adverse party is one way to cause an irrevocable trust to be treated as a “grantor trust” for income tax purposes. 22 This power allows the donee potentially to appoint the assets of the trust back to the settlor. The donee should not be a person who is also a beneficiary of the trust, or the exercise of a special power of appointment may result in a taxable gift. 23 The fact that the settlor and the settlor’s spouse are included as permissible appointees is insufficient to cause the trust assets to be included in their taxable estate because most everyone in the world is a permissible appointee. 24

Example. Sarah and John both create an intentionally defective grantor trust, and both transfer significant assets to the trust by gift and by sale in order to remove the assets from their taxable estates. Sarah’s trust also includes a special power of appointment allowing her brother to appoint assets to any person other than himself, his estate, or the creditors of the brother or his estate. If the estate tax is repealed, if Sarah falls on hard times, or if she decides that she does not want her children to receive a large inheritance, Sarah’s brother can simply appoint the assets to her at any time. John’s trust does not include this special power. Thus, he has no way to benefit from the assets in the trust, and the trustee has no power to give them back to him.

This option to return assets to the settlor may be especially useful if Congress eventually increases the estate tax exemptions while maintaining the step-up in basis for property included in a decedent’s taxable estate. The special power of appointment that is included in Sarah’s trust would allow her brother to appoint sufficient assets back to her to take full advantage of the step-up in basis at her death to the extent of her available estate tax exemption.

Conclusion

Although a special power of appointment is an old familiar tool, it may be used in creative ways to add greater flexibility, greater asset protection, and greater anonymity to a trust. In fact, it may accomplish what was otherwise impossible in that it allows a person to make an irrevocable gift without giving up the possibility that the assets that were given might be returned.

A “self-settled” trust is one in which the settlor is included as a beneficiary of the trust.
2

See RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TRUSTS, section 156.
3

See RESTATEMENT OF PROPERTY sections 318-369 (1940), RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF PROPERTY: DONATIVE TRANSERS sections 11.1-24.4 (1986), RESTATEMENT (THIRD) OF PROPERTY: WILLS AND OTHER DONATIVE TRANSFERS (Tentative Draft No. 5, 2006) section 17.1, and IRC Section 2041.
4

RESTATEMENT (THIRD) OF PROPERTY: WILLS AND OTHER DONATIVE TRANSFERS (Tentative Draft No. 5, 2006) section 17.1.
5

Id. at section 17.2.
6

Id. at section 17.3.
7

Id. at section 17.4.
8

Id. at section 22.1.
9

See RESTATEMENT (THIRD) OF TRUSTS section 56 comment b (2003).
10

See 11 U.S.C. section 541.
11

See Sections 2041 and 2514.
12

See RESTATEMENT (THIRD) OF PROPERTY: WILLS AND OTHER DONATIVE TRANSFERS (Tentative Draft No. 5, 2006) Section 17.2. Also see In re Hicks, 22 BR 243 (Bkrptcy. DC Ga., 1982) and In re Knight, 164 BR 372 (Bkrptcy. DC Fla., 1994).
13

A transfer to a trust is “incomplete” for gift tax purposes if the settlor retains a power to veto distributions proposed by the trustee. See Reg. 25.2511-2(c).
14

Supra note 12.
15

Supra note 2.
16

A trust is generally governed by the law of the jurisdiction designated in the trust agreement unless that jurisdiction’s law is contrary to a strong public policy of the jurisdiction having the most significant relationship to the matter at issue. See Uniform Trust Act section 107 and Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws sections 273 and 280.
17

See In re Portnoy, 201 B.R. 698, and In re Brooks, 217 B.R. 98.
18

11 U.S.C. section 548(e).
19

See Utah Code 25-6-14, Delaware Code Section 3573, Oklahoma Statutes Title 31, section 11.
20

See Utah Code 25-6-14; Oklahoma Statutes Title 31, section 11.
21

By definition, a trustee has a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries of a trust, while a donee of a power of appointment acts in a nonfiduciary capacity and has no duty to the beneficiaries or permissible appointees. See RESTATEMENT (THIRD) OF PROPERTY: WILLS AND OTHER DONATIVE TRANSFERS (Tentative Draft No. 5, 2006) section 17.1.
22

See Section 674.
23

See Reg. 25.2514-1(b)(2).
24

Section 2042(2) provides that a reversionary interest could cause the trust assets to be included in the settlor’s estate if the value of the reversionary interest immediately before the insured’s death exceeds 5% of the value of the trust. Because the special power of appointment is exercisable in the donee’s absolute discretion, the value of the reversionary interest is less than 5% of the value of the trust. See Reg. 20.2042-1(c)(3). If it can be shown that the settlor and the donee had an express or implied understanding that distributions would be made to the settlor, then the assets of the trust could possibly be included in the settlor’s estate under Section 2036(a)(1).

Asset Protection for Doctors

Posted by McCullough

Doctors have several unique characteristics that require specialized asset protection planning. First, doctors cannot take advantage of the corporate shield that protects other business owners from the liabilities of their business. In all fifty states, doctors are personally liable for malpractice claims regardless of whether their practice is operated within a corporation. Second, malpractice insurance for many doctors is prohibitively expensive. Many doctors choose to underinsure or even go without malpractice insurance due to the outrageous expense. Third, a doctor’s most valuable assets often consist of accounts receivable and future earnings which are more difficult to protect than a current asset.

Because doctors have unique needs, they need a unique solution. The best solution for a doctor consists of the following entities: (1) a professional corporation (taxed as an S corporation) to operate the medical practice, (2) a 541 Trust® to remove assets from the doctor’s personal ownership, (3) a Delaware LLC that is owned by the 541 Trust to own cash and other investments, and (4) an effective equity stripping plan that allows the Delaware LLC to put an enforceable lien on the doctor’s home, accounts receivable and other assets which are personally held by the doctor. If you would like a diagram and detailed explanation of this plan, send me an email at lee@lsmlaw.net.

The purpose of the professional corporation is to save money on employment taxes and keep the employees and other non-malpractice liabilities separate from the doctor and his assets. The purpose of the 541 Trust is to remove assets from the doctor’s personal ownership so they cannot be discovered or attached in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding. The purpose of the Delaware LLC is to own and manage cash or other liquid assets. The purpose of the equity stripping plan is to ensure that the doctor’s home and accounts receivable cannot be attached by a third party.

This plan is simple to implement, easy to maintain, and impervious to attack if it is implemented in advance of a problem. However, individual circumstances require individual plan design and this site should not be construed to create an attorney-client relationship or provide legal advice for any particular situation. If you would like to discuss your situation, please give me a call.