Summary: In almost any situation, any contested estate that ends up in litigation involves an estate plan where something went wrong. Sometimes, that “something” is a flawed plan. Sometimes, it is the absence of any plan at all. If you look at most estate litigation cases, you will find that the litigation could have been avoided, or the chance of litigation at least reduced, by taking a more pro-active approach and planning more fully and properly for the distribution of one’s estate.
Almost everyone needs an estate plan,
but fewer than 50% of people actually have one. Regrettably, a lot of
heterosexual couples have historically underestimated the important of planning
many mistakenly believing that the laws of intestacy are sufficient to handle
the distribution of their estates. They want their assets to go to their
surviving spouse and their kids; the laws say that intestate estate should be
divided among the surviving spouse and surviving children, so an estate isn’t
necessary, they erroneously believe.
Same-sex couples, however, have been
told for many years about their uniquely high need for planning. With the law
in many places, prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s marriage ruling in 2015,
disallowing same-sex marriages, same-sex partners were strongly warned that a
plan is extremely important as your will or living trust may be your best (or
even only) way to ensure that you leave behind the legacy you want for your
surviving partner. Now that marriage is an option, and is an institution to
which many same-sex couples have availed themselves, proper estate planning
remains very vital for many same-sex couples.
Sadly, many people in same-sex marriages
or same-sex relationships have experienced discrimination and estrangement,
even from close relatives, as a result of their personal lives. While planning
is very useful for any gay or lesbian person, married or unmarried, it is
especially so for these people whose relationships and marriages have caused
rifts within their immediate family.
As an example, imagine a gay couple,
Stephen and Edward, who have lived together in North Carolina for nine years.
They share a home outside just outside Charlotte and got married on New Year’s
Eve, 2015. Neither has an estate plan. Stephen is estranged from his parents,
who strongly disapprove of his personal life and marriage.
If Stephen were to die, Edward would be
much better off than he would’ve been two years ago (when he’d have received
nothing from Stephen’s estate,) but there are still problems that result from
the intestacy process. North Carolina law says that the parents of a deceased
person (even if he’s married) can be entitled to a sizable chunk of the estate.
Specifically, Edward would get the first $100,000 of personal property. For all
of Stephen’s personal property in excess of $100,000, Edward would be forced to
split that wealth 50-50 with Stephen’s parents – the same people who had cut
Stephen out of their lives for marrying Edward.
When it comes to real estate, it
potentially becomes even more complicated. The law in North Carolina says that surviving
parents gets ½ of all of the deceased’s real estate. Unless Stephen and Edward
structured their home’s deed to say “joint tenants with right of survivorship”
or modified their deed after they married to say “tenants by the entirety,” then
the law will view each spouse as owning 50% of the house and Stephen’s parents
as entitled to ½ of Stephen’s half, meaning Stephen’s estranged parents now own
25% owners of Edward’s home. This can lead to all kinds of problems, possibly
including Edward’s having to pay Stephen’s parents (in order to buy out their
25% share,) or even potentially a forced sale of the home.
The way to avoid this is to take prompt
and pro-active action and get an estate plan. If you’re married, you cannot
disinherit your spouse, as that is not allowed by the law. Beyond that
limitation, however, there is a wide spectrum of options available to you
regarding how you structure your estate plan. For example, while you cannot
disinherit your spouse, you can disinherit your parents, even if you live in a
state (like North Carolina) where the intestacy laws would stand to give
surviving parents a substantial portion of your wealth. By getting a detailed
estate plan composed and executed, you can make sure you leave behind the
legacy you want.
This article is published by the Legacy Assurance Plan and is intended for general informational purposes only. Some information may not apply to your situation. It does not, nor is it intended, to constitute legal advice. You should consult with an attorney regarding any specific questions about probate, living probate or other estate planning matters. Legacy Assurance Plan is an estate planning services-company and is not a lawyer or law firm and is not engaged in the practice of law. For more information about this and other estate planning matters visit our website at www.legacyassuranceplan.com.
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