Estate Planning Terms
No one likes to think about their death. However, planning ahead can help your family avoid unnecessary complications, delay and expense. This may be done though wills, trusts, joint ownership and life insurance. In addition, modern estate planning also includes "life" planning through powers of attorney and health care proxies. These enable someone else to act for you in the event of your incapacity. Understanding the following terms is the first step towards planning your estate. However, no estate planning steps should be taken without consulting with a qualified professional.
Probate
This is the name for the process in the Probate Court through which the ownership of your assets passes to your heirs. It includes the collection of your assets, the payment of your bills and the distribution of your estate. It only covers what you own outright, not joint property, trust property or life insurance proceeds.
Will
Your will is a legally-binding statement of who will receive your property at your death. It also appoints a legal representative to carry out your wishes. However, the will only covers probate property, not joint property, trust property or life insurance proceeds.
Estate Tax
The estate tax applies to both the probate and non-probate property of the individual who has died. For both the federal government and Massachusetts, the amount free from taxation will increase over the next several years from $1 million in 2002, under current law, until 2010, when the estate tax is slated to be repealed. However, the law currently has a sundown provision that will bring back the tax with a $1 million exemption.
Marital Deduction
On the federal level, anything passing to the surviving spouse of a decedent is not included in the taxable estate and, consequently, is not subject to taxation (until the surviving spouse passes away). In Massachusetts for deaths prior to July 1, 1994, this Marital deduction only applied up to one-half of the total value of the estate. Beginning for people who die on or after July 1, 1994, the Massachusetts marital deduction, like the federal rule, applies to anything given to the surviving spouse.
Trust
A trust is a legal entity under which one person -- the "trustee" -- holds legal title to property for the benefit of others -- the "beneficiaries". The trustee must follow the rules provided in the trust instrument. An irrevocable trust is one that cannot be changed after it has been created. A revocable trust is one that may be changed or rescinded by the person who created it. Trusts are often used for tax planning, to provide for someone with expertise to manage assets, or to shelter assets to protect them from creditors or for long- term care planning.
Durable Power of Attorney
Under a power of attorney, you may appoint someone else to act for you when you are unable to do so yourself. The reason may be your mental incapacity or your inability to be somewhere when needed. Traditionally, powers of attorney expired upon the grantor's incapacity. However, under new law, "durable" powers of attorney continue indefinitely unless revoked.
Health Care Proxy
Similar to a power of attorney, through a health care proxy you may appoint someone else to act as your agent -- but for medical, as opposed to financial, decisions. Unlike a power of attorney, the health care proxy does not take effect until your doctor determines that you are incapable of making decisions yourself. Before that decision, your agent may make no decisions on your behalf. You may include in your proxy a guideline for your agent to use in making decisions. These may include directions to refuse or remove life support in the event you are in a coma or a vegetative state. On the other hand, your instructions may be to use all efforts to keep you alive, no matter the circumstances.
Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA)
If your spouse has to move to a nursing home, you will have to pay for his or her care out-of-pocket until he or she qualifies for Medicaid. Under the Medicaid program the nursing home spouse may only have $2,000 in "countable" assets. (Noncountable assets include your home, household belongings, one car, and prepaid funeral plans.) The amount the healthy spouse is permitted to keep under the Medicaid program is known as the "community spouse resource allowance" or "CSRA." The CSRA is all of the couple's combined assets up to a cap of $91,280 (in 2002). In some cases, the community spouse is entitled to retain assets above the $91,280 limit when her income is less than the minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance which is described below.
Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA)
The Medicaid rules also govern the amount of income the community spouse is entitled to once the nursing home spouse qualifies for Medicaid. Normally, the community spouse keeps his or her income and the nursing home spouse pays his or her income to the nursing home, keeping only a $60-a-month "personal needs allowance." However, if the healthy spouse's income is low, he or she may be entitled to a share of the nursing home spouse's income. In each case where a married nursing home resident qualifies for Medicaid, the Division of Medical Assistance calculates a "minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance" or "MMMNA" for the community spouse based on his or her housing costs. This will range between a low of $1,493 to a high of $2,232 a month. If the community spouse's own income is below his or her MMMNA, he or she will be entitled to a share of the nursing home spouse's income to make up the difference.
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