Posted on Wed May 4, 2016, on Special Needs Estate Planning
Our “Ask a Question” mailbag addresses the question, how to equalize inheritances with a special needs child.
“My estate is only large enough to provide care for my Special Needs child. So how do leave an equal amount to my other two sons? Is there a way to equalize inheritances with a special needs child with siblings?”
Klenk Law
Posted on Tue Oct 27, 2015, on Special Needs Trust
From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: I want to form a Special Needs Trust for my daughter in my will, to be funded at my death. Will the money I put into the Special Needs Trust be subject to the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax?
The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax rate for transfers to children is 4.5%. This tax is payable whether you give the child money outright or if you place the money in a trust. A Special Needs Trust is an Irrevocable Trust that has the added language allowing the money to be available for a Special Needs Person’s care, but still allows that person to qualify for Medicaid.
Klenk Law
Posted on Thu Oct 22, 2015, on Special Needs Trust
From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: I am planning to set up a Special Needs Trust for my son and place a gift in the trust each year to help provide care for my son after my death. If he dies without the entire amount being used, whom can I name as the beneficiary?
If I have the facts correct, you are thinking about forming an Irrevocable Trust for your son during your lifetime (“inter vivos”) and then placing money into the trust every year to create a pool of funds to provide care for your son after your death. I also assume, in order to provide the maximum tax benefits, you will use Crummey Powers to make these transfers free of Federal Estate Tax, and you will not serve as trustee.
Klenk Law
Posted on Fri Oct 9, 2015, on Special Needs Estate Planning
From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My son is a special needs child and I have formed a Special Needs Trust in my will for his care. How do I fund this Trust without paying the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax?
If you are unable to fund the trust until your death, then the only way to fund the trust without paying the 4.5% Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax on transfers to children (or to trusts for children) is to use life insurance.
Thanks to a skilled lobbying group, life insurance is exempt from the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax.
Klenk Law
Posted on Tue Jul 7, 2015, on Special Needs Trust
From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My son is a special needs child in Philadelphia on Medicaid, and I want to leave money at my death for his care. I have heard that Special Needs Trusts are becoming more liberal, is that true?
Special Needs Trusts have been available for many years, allowing parents to leave money for a child’s care that “supplements” but does not “supplant” what government programs provide. In this way, your child can qualify for Medicaid but the trustee can use the money you set aside for your son to provide him with the extra things that the government program does not provide.
Klenk Law
Peter Klenk is the founding member of Klenk Law, a seven attorney boutique estate planning law firm. We serve clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Florida. Peter Klenk received his Masters in Taxation LL.M. from NYU Law School and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. He served his country in the Navy JAGC during Desert Storm. Easy to talk to, feel free to call Peter for an appointment. We will make the process as easy as possible!
"I worked for Peter Klenk for 4 wonderful years. I can’t speak highly enough of everyone at the firm. Everyone truly cares about their clients and has a strong sense of responsibility to get things done right. I would highly recommend Klenk Law!"
Flora Novick
Very friendly and easy to work with - definitely a better experience than I've had with other lawyers! Peter is very detailed and thorough. I've worked on previous versions of my will with other lawyers, and he pointed out things they'd never mentioned. Fast turnaround and very responsive to emails and phone calls.
I can't tell you how satisfied I am with this law firm. They were competent and helped me with a very difficult situation. They got the job done in a timely fashion and I am so happy I found them. If you find yourself in a difficult and contentious probate situation I highly recommend this firm. There is just no way I could have had this positive outcome without them. I worked with 2 different lawyers prior to hiring them and neither of them could get the job done like Klenk. Daniella Horn was a pleasure to work with and highly competent.
Peters' firm has prepared and updated our Wills and Trusts for the last 15 to 20 years. They know the law and help with your decision making to use the law to your best advantage. Response time to your requests is very reasonable, and final reviews and signing is executed in a timely manor with a thorough coverage of the documents. Our most recent updates to our Wills & Trusts were somewhat complicated, in our opinion, but Peter and his staff handled them effortlessly. As you can tell from this review Peter Klenk's firm is top notch.
Very easy to deal with. Like the fact they are focused on estate planning and their expertise in this area shows. Peter and staff were helpful and easy to communicate with.
Overall I great experience with Daniella and the rest of her team to work with me for my fathers estate. Never was an issue that couldn’t be fixed. I highly recommend klenk Law firm.
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