Protecting Your Home from Lawsuits with a Dynasty Trust
An irrevocable dynasty trust can play a valuable role in keeping the valuable equity in your home safe from personal and business-related lawsuits.
Entrepreneurs can provide essential groundbreaking advancements for industry and society. Unfortunately, while being an entrepreneur can offer lucrative financial rewards and great satisfaction, it has its share of risks, as well. Not all of those who follow this path are happy with some of the side effects that go along with being a successful businessperson. They can put the entrepreneur at risk for lawsuits, both legitimate and frivolous.
Tech industry innovator Steve is just such an entrepreneur. Successful in his pursuits, Steve now has a large estate he wants to protect for his children. He is especially interested in safeguarding his $10 million-plus Silicon Valley home for his family.
The Right Irrevocable Dynasty Trust Brings Peace of Mind
Concerned about the potential for lawsuits in this litigious industry, Steve gets busy. On advice from counsel, he sets up an irrevocable dynasty trust for his wife, children and grandchildren using the Nevada more protective trust laws. Using his generous $12.06 million federal gift tax exemption, Steve transfers the title of his house to a single member LLC and then deposits the LLC interest into the trust. Then he rents the house from the LLC at fair value rent.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
This LLC/trust strategy removes the value of the home from his gross estate for estate planning purposes. And more importantly, he becomes a tenant (not an owner), so the home will not be at risk in case of an unforeseen lawsuit.
After doing this, Steve feels secure that his business can continue breaking new ground while protecting his existing estate from future misadventures.
What Happens When Lawsuits Crop Up
As time goes on, Steve’s company ends up having to recall a defective product, and lawsuits ensue.
While his business takes some hits, the significant equity in Steve’s personal residence is safe because he established a legal entity separate from himself and his business that could not be liable for the business’s legal claims. Litigants considered attacking the trust, but after determining that road would be expensive and uncertain, they decided against it. Steve was able to avoid the personal liability of the lawsuit with a very modest monetary settlement instead. So, his home was never at risk.
Are You a Candidate for the LLC/Trust Lease-Back?
If you reside in a state with a modest homestead exemption from judgment creditors and wish to protect the equity in your home from future lawsuit judgment creditors, you are likely a candidate for the LLC/Trust lease back strategy.
For example, California limits the protection of home equity to the greater of 50% of the medium value in your community up to a maximum of $600,000. There is no protection for equity in a second or vacation home.
To learn more, please view our video, Protecting the Equity in Your Residence.
To continue reading this article
please register for free
This is different from signing in to your print subscription
Why am I seeing this? Find out more here
Jeffrey M. Verdon, Esq. is the lead asset protection and tax partner at the national full-service law firm of Falcon Rappaport & Berkman. With more than 30 years of experience in designing and implementing integrated estate planning and asset protection structures, Mr. Verdon serves affluent families and successful business owners in solving their most complex and vexing estate tax, income tax, and asset protection goals and objectives. Over the past four years, he has contributed 25 articles to the Kiplinger Building Wealth online platform.
-
How to Assess the Impact of Your Charitable Giving
Here are five simple ways to 'do this, not that' when trying to find out from a nonprofit what kind of impact your donations are having.
By Catherine Crystal Foster Published
-
How a Two-Year Installment Sale Strategy Can Save on Taxes
When selling property or other substantially appreciated asset, you could spread the taxes over two years to save big bucks. Following the rules is critical, though.
By Derek A. Miser, Investment Adviser Published
-
How to Assess the Impact of Your Charitable Giving
Here are five simple ways to 'do this, not that' when trying to find out from a nonprofit what kind of impact your donations are having.
By Catherine Crystal Foster Published
-
How a Two-Year Installment Sale Strategy Can Save on Taxes
When selling property or other substantially appreciated asset, you could spread the taxes over two years to save big bucks. Following the rules is critical, though.
By Derek A. Miser, Investment Adviser Published
-
Five Ways to Make Retirement a Little Less Scary
To avoid lying awake at night once you’re retired, consider having these strategies in place before you take the plunge.
By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA® Published
-
With Irrevocable Trusts, It’s All About Who Has Control
An irrevocable trust must be carefully funded, structured and managed to achieve both asset protection and tax planning.
By Rustin Diehl, JD, LLM Published
-
If You’re Preparing to Move, Should You Buy or Rent?
Both prospects are expensive these days, but there are several questions you can ask yourself to help you decide what’s right for you.
By Justin Stivers, Esq. Published
-
How Annuities Can Help You Retire Early and Delay Social Security
Waiting until 70 to claim Social Security benefits can pay off, so how do you bridge the gap between giving up your paycheck and filing for benefits?
By Ken Nuss Published
-
How to Get Your Kids to Step Off the Gravy Train
A surprising number of young adults live with their parents. Setting some financial ground rules could get the kids out on their own faster.
By Neale Godfrey, Financial Literacy Expert Published
-
Spring Is a Good Time to Clean Up Your Finances, Too
While you’re decluttering your home for spring, consider also taking a crack at cleaning up your finances and old paperwork.
By Tony Drake, CFP®, Investment Advisor Representative Published