Many individuals and families need far more than just a Living Trust to protect their assets for their beneficiaries. At The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc., of Southern California, we provide customized solutions for larger, more complex estates. These include:

The IRA Inheritance Trust

This unique, cutting-edge strategy, created by our firm in conjunction with one of the nation’s leading IRA experts, and approved by the IRS in a published ruling, may provide you and your loved ones with numerous, considerable benefits, including:

  • Maximization of income tax deferral and wealth accumulation relating to your IRAs and other qualified retirement plans
  • Minimization of estate and generation-skipping taxes
  • Guarantee of eventual distribution to your desired beneficiaries through several generations
  • Spendthrift, divorce and creditor protection for your beneficiaries

This IRA Inheritance Trust should be set up separately from your Living Trust and is generally advisable if your IRAs total over $150,000 (both husband and wife combined and including any company retirement plans such as 401(k)s. See our seminar or, for more information, visit www.irainheritancetrust.com.

“You have created a package that includes all of the things for a comprehensive estate plan. It’s the most complete package that I have ever encountered. Your firm’s emphasis on maintaining the Trust struck a chord and your “IRA Inheritance Trust®” and “Personal Asset Trustâ„ ” are two innovative things.” – Robert B.

“Flexible” Irrevocable Trust (Also Known as a Life Insurance Trust, Gifting Trust or Dynasty Trust)

This trust, typically establish and funded during your lifetime, is an excellent vehicle for passing significant amounts to your beneficiaries, while avoiding estate taxes for several generations. Additionally, this trust, when funded by life insurance, may provide tax-free funds which can be used to:

  • Create a “family bank,” which your loved ones can turn to for help when needed or to invest and build your family’s wealth for generations
  • Defray some or all of the anticipated estate taxes on your other assets
  • Provide funds to pay income taxes on IRA and annuity withdrawals
  • Equalize gifts to various beneficiaries (such as when there are children of another marriage or real estate or a business is earmarked for a particular beneficiary)

Our unique “flexibility” features permit changes to be made to the trust later, even though it is irrevocable. Plus, this trust can provide significant asset protection for you and your beneficiaries, from spouses, divorces, lawsuits, creditors and bankruptcies.

Personal Residence Trust

A qualified personal residence trust (QPRT) provides a unique opportunity to remove your personal residence or vacation home from your taxable estate, while you continue to enjoy it during your lifetime. The QPRT has the potential to save your beneficiaries hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more) in estate taxes, while allowing you the continued use of the property. This trust may also protect your primary residence and/or vacation home against potential lawsuits and creditors.

Family Limited Partnership or Limited Liability Company

The family limited partnership (FLP) can achieve significant gift and estate tax savings by leveraging your lifetime and death exemptions. Significant discounts may be taken in the gift/estate tax values of investment assets passing through a FLP. The FLP also provides an easy vehicle to make continued annual gifts, while retaining control over your assets, plus provides proper succession management of your real estate, business or other investment assets by those beneficiaries or a third party most capable of doing so.

Furthermore, the FLP may provide significant asset protection from potential lawsuits as well as other valuable benefits. A limited liability company (LLC) or domestic asset protection trust (DAPT) may attain similar or better results and may be used instead of the FLP, depending on your circumstances; particularly if asset protection is a primary concern.

Capital Gains Bypass Trust

The capital gains bypass trust, also known as a charitable remainder trust, is an IRS approved method of avoiding the payment of capital gains tax upon the sale of appreciated property such as real estate, stocks and mutual funds. After transferring the assets to the bypass trust and selling them, you receive a lifetime income payment. When properly combined with a life insurance trust, your beneficiaries will also receive the full value of the trust assets, estate and income tax-free. Alternatively, your beneficiaries may continue to receive income payments for a period of years after you’re gone.

Other Gift Planning

It is important to seek qualified professional advice when making gifts so that they will withstand IRS scrutiny and not be currently gift taxed or pulled back into your taxable estate at your death. When making gifts of real property, care should also be taken to avoid a property tax reassessment and to obtain a step-up in basis to reduce capital gains taxes after death. We can help you avoid these and other potential pitfalls while counseling you on proper gift-giving procedures.

Reduction or Elimination of Estate Taxes for Very Large Estates

Once the above planning techniques have been used, if appropriate, even more advanced level estate planning may be designed and implemented by our “of counsel” attorneys for estates of over $10 million. These include, but are not limited to: specialized irrevocable trusts (such as “GRATs”, “IDGTs”, “CLATs”); private annuities; self-canceling installment notes and private foundations.

Income Tax Reduction For Large Estates

Through “of counsel” attorneys, we also provide specialized income tax planning if you have over $750,000 of annual taxable income.

Learn More at a Consultation or a Free Seminar

Do not leave your the future of your estate in the hands of lawyers without the proper experience. Turn to a law firm that has helped thousands of people over the last four decades by providing innovative, customized solutions.

To learn more about our services or sign up for a seminar, contact us online or call us at 866-402-1805. We have offices in Torrance, Orange, Woodland Hills, Newport Beach and Pasadena.

Do You Need To Speak With An Attorney About Estate Planning?

If you need to speak with an experienced estate planning lawyer please contact us online or call us directly at 800.756.5596 to first register for one of our free, informative seminars. Your attendance will qualify you for a special discount for our estate planning services should you decide to make a free appointment at the conclusion of the seminar and choose to proceed with us. We proudly serve clients throughout California with offices in Torrance, Newport Beach, Orange, Woodland Hills and Pasadena.

Philip J. Kavesh
Nationally recognized attorney helping clients with customized estate planning guidance for over 40 years.