March 2, 2024

Wills, Trusts, and Advanced Directives: Beyond the Basics

Wills, Trusts, and Advanced Directives: Beyond the Basics

This episode delves deeper into estate planning, going beyond the basics of wills, trusts, and advanced health directives. Dr. William T. Choctaw and Attorney Bernie Brown answers questions.
 
Key takeaways:
Deed transfer vs. trust: Deed transfer is ...

This episode delves deeper into estate planning, going beyond the basics of wills, trusts, and advanced health directives. Dr. William T. Choctaw and Attorney Bernie Brown answers questions.

 

Key takeaways:

  • Deed transfer vs. trust: Deed transfer is simpler but limited to specific property, while trusts offer privacy and avoid probate (court process).
  • Recording deeds: Deed transfers need to be recorded at the county recorder's office for validity.
  • Advanced directive validation: Check with your doctor for the easiest way to validate your advance directive, which may involve witnesses or a notary.
  • Trust property transfer: You need to name a trustee and successor trustee to manage the trust property. The successor trustee records the transfer to the trust after your passing.
  • Trust benefits beyond control: Trusts can offer creditor and tax protection in addition to avoiding probate.
  • Using a trust for multiple properties: Separate deeds of trust are needed for each property or you can consult an attorney for other options.
  • Will addendum vs. new will: Lawyers generally recommend creating a new will instead of an addendum.
  • Will revocation due to marriage: A prior marriage automatically revokes the portion of your will related to your ex-spouse. Remarriage revokes the entire will unless you specify otherwise.
  • Online trust creation: While services like NOLO exist, consulting an attorney is recommended for complex situations.
  • Storing advance directives: Keep a copy at home, give one to your doctor, and carry one with you during hospital admissions. Inform a trusted person where your documents are located.
  • Community vs. separate property: In California, surviving spouses generally inherit all community property but not necessarily all separate property.
  • Probate in multiple states: If you own property in another state, there might be simultaneous probate proceedings in both states.

 

Listen now to gain a deeper understanding of estate planning and make informed decisions about your future!

Transcript
100:00:01,890 --> 00:00:04,030Are there any questions for either of us?200:00:04,110 --> 00:00:04,490Oh, yes.300:00:04,490 --> 00:00:10,360Attorney Brown, my question is,on a deed of transfer, you don't400:00:10,620 --> 00:00:11,760leave it at a trust, right?500:00:11,760 --> 00:00:16,430You could just do the deed oftransfer and that's less expensive?600:00:16,430 --> 00:00:22,700Yes, a deed of transfer, the disadvantageis it only covers the specific property700:00:22,849 --> 00:00:27,700that's named in the deed, the deedupon death, okay, is what it's called.800:00:28,110 --> 00:00:33,830Generally you can go to Oneof your stores, or like Office900:00:33,830 --> 00:00:35,450Depot or someplace like that.1000:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,340And a lot of times they have theforms available there, but yes you1100:00:39,340 --> 00:00:47,260would not need a trust if you do a,a deed deed deed upon death, sorry1200:00:47,600 --> 00:00:49,185then it will transfer automatically.1300:00:49,785 --> 00:00:53,445And so if you have more than oneproperty, then you need one that's a1400:00:53,445 --> 00:00:57,277deed of trust for each property, or youjust can't use this amount of money?1500:00:57,277 --> 00:01:00,674Now, I would do oneseparately for each property.1600:01:01,355 --> 00:01:07,784And basically, the interesting thing too,is you, you fill it out, but then you have1700:01:07,785 --> 00:01:09,964to go to the county recorder's office.1800:01:09,964 --> 00:01:14,438At some point, someone will need togo to the county recorder's office1900:01:14,438 --> 00:01:19,229and record it so that the transfer Ok.2000:01:19,229 --> 00:01:26,120Basically, it won't cost younot even a hundred dollars.2100:01:26,120 --> 00:01:26,809Yes.2200:01:27,949 --> 00:01:28,190Ok.2300:01:28,289 --> 00:01:28,679Thank you.2400:01:28,770 --> 00:01:29,270You're welcome.2500:01:32,570 --> 00:01:32,859Dr.2600:01:33,130 --> 00:01:33,449Chalko.2700:01:34,140 --> 00:01:38,129Did I understand you to say thatan arm of the Director here,2800:01:38,130 --> 00:01:42,269Director Bell is in there, andthey cannot be here in health care?2900:01:45,955 --> 00:01:50,995Are relatives, so you have totake two plans, is that correct?3000:01:51,215 --> 00:01:51,435Yes.3100:01:51,585 --> 00:01:51,875Yeah.3200:01:52,275 --> 00:01:52,835E exactly.3300:01:53,740 --> 00:01:57,910That, that they, they, they can, oneof them cannot be a family member3400:01:57,915 --> 00:02:00,280or, or someone who's related to you.3500:02:00,750 --> 00:02:03,540Which is one of the reasons why alot of people just do the notary3600:02:03,570 --> 00:02:07,200because you know, you have to doa lot of planning a lot of times3700:02:07,205 --> 00:02:08,760to get all these people together.3800:02:09,265 --> 00:02:14,185Ideal way I think to approach it is thatif you get an advanced directive, say at3900:02:14,185 --> 00:02:19,135your doctor's office or at the hospital,ask them what the most, the easiest way4000:02:19,345 --> 00:02:24,145to get the validation in terms of whetherit's witnesses or whether it's a notary4100:02:30,285 --> 00:02:30,975attorney brown.4200:02:31,205 --> 00:02:31,625Yes.4300:02:31,625 --> 00:02:34,415The transfer property, ifyou had it in a living trust.4400:02:34,445 --> 00:02:34,535Yes.4500:02:35,500 --> 00:02:43,360Does the trust take care of forwardingit to the Board of Registrar's Office?4600:02:45,310 --> 00:02:46,560The Board of Registrar's Office.4700:02:47,390 --> 00:02:54,100No, what happens is you name atrustee and a successor trustee.4800:02:54,680 --> 00:03:00,370Now, when the person dies,actually, the transfer to the4900:03:00,370 --> 00:03:02,680trust occurs while you're alive.5000:03:03,260 --> 00:03:07,870And somebody has to go down tothe county recorder's office.5100:03:08,580 --> 00:03:15,400And the recorder's office and recordthe transfer of the deed to the trust.5200:03:15,970 --> 00:03:21,210It's the, you fill out a form,you indicate that it's transferred5300:03:21,210 --> 00:03:25,080to the Bernie Brown Trust orwhatever the name of your trust.5400:03:25,420 --> 00:03:29,800And then it's on record thatit's transferred to the trust.5500:03:30,310 --> 00:03:34,000And then the trustees controlit control the property.5600:03:34,430 --> 00:03:36,780Which, like I saidearlier, it might be you.5700:03:37,500 --> 00:03:41,590So while you're alive, you control it,and while you're alive, it's revocable.5800:03:41,750 --> 00:03:48,350But once you die, then your successortrustee will go, will transfer5900:03:48,350 --> 00:03:52,780the property, and they will showthat it's owned by the trust, and6000:03:52,780 --> 00:03:56,150therefore that they are authorized todo whatever they want to do with it.6100:03:56,620 --> 00:04:04,440Keep it, hold it, trust it, or however youhave directed it to happen in the trust.6200:04:06,245 --> 00:04:09,195You see, these trusts are very,they can be very complex, and I6300:04:09,195 --> 00:04:12,525don't want to take up too muchtime, but you can put virtually6400:04:12,545 --> 00:04:14,315anything that you want in the trust.6500:04:14,965 --> 00:04:18,245You can put in there one of thethings my mother did, which was6600:04:18,245 --> 00:04:20,045really kind of, kind of cool.6700:04:20,535 --> 00:04:22,655It was my sister and my three brothers.6800:04:23,265 --> 00:04:29,755And she had the we put in her trustthat the property should remain6900:04:29,765 --> 00:04:32,625in the family during the lifetime.7000:04:33,085 --> 00:04:38,625And any of us should be entitledto live in that property.7100:04:39,130 --> 00:04:43,360While we're alive, unlessall of us agree to sell it.7200:04:44,290 --> 00:04:50,750So, thereby she created a situation whereall the kids would have a place to stay.7300:04:50,750 --> 00:04:51,950And that was what she wanted.7400:04:52,280 --> 00:04:55,750She wanted each child to have aplace where they could stay if7500:04:55,750 --> 00:04:58,070they needed a home to live in.7600:04:58,555 --> 00:05:01,565Sorry, I didn't want to,but anyway, that's good.7700:05:07,515 --> 00:05:08,175I have a question.7800:05:12,245 --> 00:05:14,005I have a set aside on,7900:05:18,065 --> 00:05:20,365and I told them that'splenty of money for my car.8000:05:21,275 --> 00:05:24,785However, I think you saidit's about a year and a half,8100:05:26,985 --> 00:05:27,715putting stuff in the garage.8200:05:29,355 --> 00:05:33,825How does he get money fromthere when I get a car?8300:05:33,925 --> 00:05:35,945Well, what happens isyou name an executor.8400:05:36,325 --> 00:05:41,825In your will, and the executor filesthe application with the court, and8500:05:41,835 --> 00:05:46,335they go into court, and if you'venamed a guardian in your will for your8600:05:46,345 --> 00:05:50,875minor child, they go into court, andthen the court approves everything.8700:05:51,345 --> 00:05:57,195Now, it can be, it can, Take time,but it can be pretty quickly too.8800:05:57,485 --> 00:06:00,855I mean, as soon as they file theapplication, your executor files the8900:06:00,855 --> 00:06:05,345application, the attorneys come in,they get a date, and then they get9000:06:05,345 --> 00:06:08,875approval from the court, they showthe court the will, the court looks at9100:06:08,875 --> 00:06:13,985it, it directs that certain funds bedistributed in a certain way, and then9200:06:13,985 --> 00:06:19,675they immediately begin that process ofdistributing those funds as you indicated.9300:06:20,030 --> 00:06:20,630In the will.9400:06:21,650 --> 00:06:21,740Mm-Hmm.9500:06:29,895 --> 00:06:31,235Can you do addendum?9600:06:32,595 --> 00:06:34,095It's not recommended.9700:06:34,155 --> 00:06:40,015You can generally most lawyerswould say just do another trust.9800:06:40,015 --> 00:06:42,205Revoke the old winner and do another one.9900:06:42,525 --> 00:06:45,725But it, it, it is, it, it can be done.10000:06:45,815 --> 00:06:46,175Yes.10100:06:51,110 --> 00:06:51,670Attorney miles.10200:06:56,690 --> 00:06:58,625And the time that I viewed the.10300:07:11,855 --> 00:07:16,234It just made me stop thinking about kids.10400:07:18,475 --> 00:07:24,391I did do a wheel, and I still have it.10500:07:24,391 --> 00:07:26,044So, I still see it as so10600:07:31,505 --> 00:07:31,965unrecognizable.10700:07:35,395 --> 00:07:36,265And it's not10800:07:41,065 --> 00:07:43,695kids just to get everything.10900:07:47,005 --> 00:07:52,405Your will is revoked automaticallyby operation of law with11000:07:52,405 --> 00:07:55,215regard to your prior spouse.11100:07:55,915 --> 00:07:59,765So that portion of the willis automatically revoked.11200:08:00,025 --> 00:08:03,985If you get remarried, theentire will is revoked.11300:08:04,405 --> 00:08:08,600You can always like I said, mentionedearlier, you can just destroy11400:08:08,600 --> 00:08:13,290the will, throw it away and writea new one or write a new trust.11500:08:13,650 --> 00:08:18,820You can all so it is flexible asto exactly how you want to do it.11600:08:18,820 --> 00:08:20,960There are several ways to do it.11700:08:21,490 --> 00:08:24,090But I wasn't sure.11800:08:24,490 --> 00:08:24,890I'm sorry.11900:08:24,890 --> 00:08:25,190Go ahead.12000:08:28,300 --> 00:08:28,810Okay.12100:08:29,580 --> 00:08:30,070Okay.12200:08:30,070 --> 00:08:36,240Well then, then he's not going to, yeah,and you said you're divorced from him.12300:08:36,945 --> 00:08:38,825Right, so he's not going toget anything out of the way.12400:08:38,825 --> 00:08:42,835Don't worry, he won't get a bag.12500:08:48,045 --> 00:08:50,355I can't hear you now.12600:09:01,405 --> 00:09:03,675Well, that's what a living trust does.12700:09:04,495 --> 00:09:06,765A living trust makes it possible.12800:09:07,055 --> 00:09:11,835So that everything can go directly to thechildren without going through probate.12900:09:21,595 --> 00:09:23,565Another price for the probate, right?13000:09:23,565 --> 00:09:24,475To do that.13100:09:24,535 --> 00:09:26,824I mean, to do that over and over.13200:09:27,105 --> 00:09:30,395You wouldn't go through probate, soyou wouldn't have to pay for probate.13300:09:30,395 --> 00:09:32,035But yes, you would have to.13400:09:33,555 --> 00:09:39,685Prepare, pay a lawyer to preparea new living trust, or huh.13500:09:40,105 --> 00:09:45,515There is another one other alternativeand in this modern space age we live in13600:09:46,965 --> 00:09:50,485You can go online and there are services.13700:09:50,485 --> 00:09:55,645One of the services is called Nolo Nolow press, but you go online and type13800:09:55,645 --> 00:10:01,585in Revocable Trust or, you know, LivingTrust and you type it in there and it'll13900:10:01,605 --> 00:10:08,445come up and it'll say we'll charge you 75and what will happen is, it's a question14000:10:08,445 --> 00:10:14,005and answer and it's an interactivetype thing and then you go page by page14100:10:14,005 --> 00:10:18,405by page and you create it and then itit'll make your answer a little shorter.14200:10:18,890 --> 00:10:21,360And I'm just making apoint that I feel awful.14300:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,413Ha ha ha ha ha!14400:10:23,413 --> 00:10:25,466Ha ha ha ha ha!14500:10:25,466 --> 00:10:27,518Ha ha ha ha ha!14600:10:27,518 --> 00:10:29,571Ha ha ha ha ha!14700:10:29,571 --> 00:10:31,624Ha ha ha ha ha!14800:10:31,624 --> 00:10:33,677Ha ha ha ha ha!14900:10:33,677 --> 00:10:35,729Ha ha ha ha ha!15000:10:36,070 --> 00:10:36,770Ha ha ha ha ha!15100:10:36,770 --> 00:10:41,690Is that it?15200:10:46,290 --> 00:10:47,410Hello, Dr.15300:10:47,410 --> 00:10:47,720Chalk!15400:10:48,550 --> 00:10:48,860Yes.15500:10:49,045 --> 00:10:53,205Oh, sorry.15600:10:54,385 --> 00:10:57,105I have a question regardingthe advance directive.15700:10:57,265 --> 00:10:57,525Yes.15800:10:57,535 --> 00:11:00,525When you officially fillout the advance directive.15900:11:01,515 --> 00:11:03,415After you fill out everything.16000:11:04,120 --> 00:11:09,480Is it a particular paper that justgoes with you wherever you go?16100:11:09,480 --> 00:11:14,530So if you're admitted in thehospital or you have a procedure or16200:11:14,530 --> 00:11:18,870whatever, do you just have that onhand and you just bring it with you16300:11:18,870 --> 00:11:20,710from home after you have it done?16400:11:20,830 --> 00:11:23,549Or does it expire and you have to redo it?16500:11:23,550 --> 00:11:24,800That's an excellent question.16600:11:24,810 --> 00:11:28,914Your question is, once I've done myadvanced directive, what do I do with it?16700:11:29,495 --> 00:11:31,465And that, that's, that's,that's an excellent question.16800:11:31,675 --> 00:11:33,885One, you should keep a copy for yourself.16900:11:34,295 --> 00:11:38,925It is a good idea that you keep a copyat home, you know, where, where you17000:11:38,925 --> 00:11:41,485normally keep important documents.17100:11:41,705 --> 00:11:44,735And I would certainly recommendthat you give it to your doctor.17200:11:44,735 --> 00:11:47,515Like, if you have a GP orregular doctor that you go to,17300:11:47,805 --> 00:11:49,435that, that you give them a copy.17400:11:49,815 --> 00:11:53,125If you are admitted to thehospital, say an elective admission,17500:11:53,405 --> 00:11:56,525That you take a copy with youdoing your elective admission.17600:11:56,855 --> 00:12:00,575I didn't mention it, but youjust reminded me, all hospitals17700:12:00,585 --> 00:12:05,955now must ask you on admission ifyou have an advanced directive.17800:12:06,295 --> 00:12:07,385It's a requirement.17900:12:07,775 --> 00:12:10,555And when I worked with the JointCommission and we were accredited18000:12:10,565 --> 00:12:13,805hospitals, we would go through therecord and make sure they have to18100:12:13,815 --> 00:12:15,445ask that of every single patient.18200:12:15,715 --> 00:12:18,345But at least you should keepit in a safe place at home.18300:12:18,605 --> 00:12:21,035I would keep it like inyour car or whatever.18400:12:21,245 --> 00:12:23,505And you do want to giveit to your health care.18500:12:24,200 --> 00:12:27,380Individuals, your doctor orthe hospital that you go to.18600:12:28,790 --> 00:12:29,170Thank you.18700:12:31,430 --> 00:12:32,800Could I add one thing?18800:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,610With regard to your wills, trusts,and all your documents, you18900:12:36,610 --> 00:12:40,690want to tell some trusted personwhere they can find the document.19000:12:41,330 --> 00:12:43,870Because if you don't tellsomebody where to find it, then,19100:12:44,530 --> 00:12:46,070you know, you, you, you die.19200:12:46,260 --> 00:12:48,950And then they're trying to findthe documents and where is it?19300:12:48,950 --> 00:12:54,280And so if there's someone you trust, justtell them where to find it and maybe give19400:12:54,280 --> 00:12:55,969them a lock if it's under lock and key.19500:12:56,300 --> 00:13:00,030Key tell 'em where to find the key orhow, or give them a key so that they19600:13:00,030 --> 00:13:02,570can quickly locate your documents.19700:13:05,130 --> 00:13:06,960Attorney Brown, I have a quickquestion that my read some19800:13:06,960 --> 00:13:12,750information that says, in the stateof California, when a spouse dies.19900:13:13,170 --> 00:13:19,440If there's a will, the wife doesn'tautomatically get all of the property20000:13:19,500 --> 00:13:23,610the wife may get, or the survivspouse may get half of the property,20100:13:23,760 --> 00:13:28,660especially in consideration withchildren and possibly other relatives.20200:13:28,665 --> 00:13:29,500Could you clarify?20300:13:29,620 --> 00:13:32,500Generally speaking, the wifedoes get all of the property20400:13:32,500 --> 00:13:34,360except for separate property.20500:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,230There are two categories,basically of property.20600:13:37,895 --> 00:13:41,675There's community property,which is all property that you20700:13:41,675 --> 00:13:43,385acquire during the marriage.20800:13:43,765 --> 00:13:50,085And generally speaking, thatgoes directly to the surviving20900:13:50,095 --> 00:13:53,125spouse when one spouse dies.21000:13:53,715 --> 00:13:55,975Now there's what's knownas separate property.21100:13:56,335 --> 00:13:58,545A spouse can have separate property.21200:13:58,555 --> 00:14:05,145Separate property is property that youeither inherited or was gifted to you.21300:14:05,445 --> 00:14:07,805It can be during the, the marriage.21400:14:07,805 --> 00:14:12,385So let's say there's husband andwife and let's say the wife's21500:14:12,745 --> 00:14:17,955parent Gave her property during,as part of a will, and she received21600:14:17,955 --> 00:14:19,905that property during the marriage.21700:14:19,945 --> 00:14:23,835That's her own separate property,even though it's during the marriage.21800:14:23,835 --> 00:14:27,915So that would not transferautomatically to the husband.21900:14:28,245 --> 00:14:33,985It depends on whether you have a will, ora trust, or whether you don't have a will,22000:14:34,235 --> 00:14:37,145as to how that property would transfer.22100:14:37,195 --> 00:14:38,585But it's not automatic.22200:14:39,090 --> 00:14:40,760to all of it to the husband.22300:14:41,140 --> 00:14:45,210If it's separate, the wife's,the spouse's separate property.22400:14:45,210 --> 00:14:52,301Okay, I inherently I stay insideand I die in the sitting inside.22500:14:52,301 --> 00:14:53,139Well, the22600:15:00,739 --> 00:15:06,759law, that can be a real interestingthing because you may have to22700:15:07,129 --> 00:15:13,374initiate, the children may haveto initiate a probate In the other22800:15:13,374 --> 00:15:16,554state where the property is located.22900:15:16,734 --> 00:15:21,394If the property is located in anotherstate there's some complicated rules.23000:15:21,824 --> 00:15:25,484With regard to that, but it ispossible that you could have23100:15:25,664 --> 00:15:28,654simultaneous probate proceedings.23200:15:29,054 --> 00:15:34,014One in one state where certain property islocated and another proceeding in another23300:15:34,014 --> 00:15:36,124state where other property is located.23400:15:36,644 --> 00:15:41,244So, we could discuss thatfurther in the breakout session.23500:15:46,974 --> 00:15:47,104Thank you.