Fong Law Group

知名藝人遽然離世, 突顯資產規劃重要

最近，一位知名藝人的離世震驚了全球華人社群。知名演員大S（徐熙媛）的驟然離世，不僅讓娛樂圈和粉絲震驚，也引發了人們對遺產規劃重要性的討論，特別是在家庭關係和子女監護的層面。

遺產規劃不僅僅是富人的事

許多人認為只有超級富豪才需要進行遺產規劃，但事實上，無論資產多寡，若無妥善規劃，任何遺產——不論大小——都可能成為法律糾紛、財務管理不善以及家庭爭端的中心。大S的離世讓我們看到，婚姻、離婚、生育等重大人生事件都應促使我們重新檢視自身的遺產規劃。

離婚與過時的遺產計劃風險

大S於2010年與商人汪小菲結婚，育有一子一女。然而，兩人在2021年離婚，並因此涉及子女監護權的問題。離婚後，如果沒有及時更新遺產規劃文件，可能會產生嚴重後果。例如：若前配偶仍然是人壽保險或退休帳戶的受益人，他可能會繼承這些資產，而不是其他指定的繼承人。若離婚前所立的遺囑未更新，可能導致前配偶仍然擁有資產的控制權。以我個人經驗為例，我的一位客戶的丈夫去世後，她發現丈夫的保險受益人仍是前妻，因為他在離婚後從未更改受益人，導致保險金最終被前妻繼承。這再次強調了遺產規劃需要與時俱進。

台灣法律對遺產分配的影響

據媒體報導，大S的遺產估值約為新台幣10億元。如果她沒有立遺囑，根據台灣的《繼承法》，她的現任丈夫將繼承一半，剩餘的一半將由兩個孩子繼承。然而，如果她立有遺囑，她則可以自由分配資產，例如將更多的遺產留給子女。此外，大S的現任丈夫具俊曄公開表示，他將放棄繼承權並將其份額轉讓給大S的母親。然而，根據台灣法律，如果他放棄繼承權，他的份額將自動歸於大S的子女，而非其母親。在美國也是如此，繼承人可以放棄繼承權，但無法指定遺產的最終去向。若具俊曄希望大S的母親獲得資產，他需先接受遺產再進行贈與，這將帶來巨額稅務負擔。因此，如果希望資產傳承給父母，應在遺產計劃中明確指定。

子女監護與資產控制權

由於具俊曄並未正式收養大S的兩個孩子，因此汪小菲很可能會獲得孩子的監護權。這將帶來一個重大問題：如果孩子繼承了大S的全部遺產，因未成年無法直接管理財產，監護人（即汪小菲）將代為管理資產。換句話說，大S的前夫將間接掌控她的遺產。如果大S生前立有遺囑，她本可以指定現任丈夫為子女的監護人，確保她的資產由她信任的人管理。然而，在沒有遺囑的情況下，前夫可能會掌握她全部的遺產。正如我在講座中常說的：「如果你沒有遺產計劃，最不希望獲得你財產的人，最終可能會成為財產的掌控者。」

美國與台灣的遺產規劃差異

在美國，如果去世者無遺囑或信託，且沒有合格繼承人，財產將歸政府所有。因此，設立信託至關重要。此外，遺產計劃應包括兩類文件：

生前文件（如財務與醫療授權書）

身後文件（如遺囑與信託）

信託相較於遺囑更具優勢，因為遺囑需經過「遺囑認證」（probate），這是一個漫長且昂貴的法律程序。在加州，遺產認證費用通常約為遺產總價值的4-5%。例如，若房產價值100萬美元，遺產認證費用可能達到5萬美元。此外，法院計算遺產認證費用時，是根據總價值而非淨值。例如，若房產總值100萬美元但仍欠銀行80萬美元貸款，法院仍會以100萬美元計算費用，而非淨值20萬美元。

信託的重要性

使用信託而非遺囑的另一個好處是隱私保護。遺囑屬於公開文件，債權人可透過法院查閱並索賠，而信託則屬私人文件，無需對外公開。此外，遺囑必須經法院批准才能執行，這使其更容易引發爭議，而信託則可直接生效，減少訴訟風險。

遺產規劃應與時俱進

許多人制定遺產計劃後便置之不理，但財務狀況變化、搬遷或家庭結構變動時，應定期檢視和更新遺產計劃，以確保其仍然符合自身意願。

為孩子建立遺產計劃

遺產規劃不僅關乎金錢，還涉及價值觀的傳承。像大S這樣對文化具有影響力的人，可以透過信託確保子女獲得教育資源，並在適當的價值觀引導下成長。她的離世提醒我們，人生無常，應提前規劃，以確保親人能夠得到妥善照顧。

結論

大S的案例強調了遺產規劃的重要性，特別是對於家庭結構較為複雜的人來說，及早規劃不僅能確保資產順利傳承，也能避免不必要的糾紛。透過周全的遺產計劃，每個人都能為摯愛的家人提供保障，確保自己的遺願得以實現。

為什麼每個人都需要一份生前信託來進行遺產規劃

新年是檢視和強化您遺產規劃的最佳時機。而其中一個關鍵是了解為什麼生前信託往往比僅依靠遺囑更好。

為什麼不單單依靠遺囑？

遺囑需要通過遺囑認證程序（Probate），即由法院監督處理遺產的過程。在加州，遺囑認證程序複雜、耗時（通常需要1至2年）且昂貴。遺囑認證費是根據遺產的總價值計算，而非淨價值。例如，如果您擁有一套價值100萬美元的房子，但仍有80萬美元的抵押貸款，那麼費用將基於100萬美元的總價值計算，而不是20萬美元的淨值。這可能導致遺囑認證費高達5萬美元或更多。

此外，遺囑是公開文件，這意味著任何人（包括債權人）都可以查看。遺囑認證法院會通知債權人，使其有優先權申索遺產，從而減少留給受益人的財產。

生前信託的優勢

生前信託可避免遺囑認證，並提供以下好處：

隱私保障： 信託文件不是公開的，債權人或其他人無法查看您的資產細節。

效率高： 信託管理人（受託人）無需法院批准即可分配資產，避免延遲並降低成本。

減少爭議： 與遺囑相比，信託較少引發法律爭議，因為不需要法院審核。

正確資金注入是關鍵

生前信託只有在資產正確注入時才能發揮作用。這意味著需要將資產的所有權（例如不動產、銀行賬戶、商業利益及貴重的個人財產）轉移到信託名下。若未完成此步驟，資產仍需經過遺囑認證，導致信託無法有效運作。

常見的問題

許多人使用在線工具或聘請非律師來設立信託，最後卻發現資產未被正確轉移到信託中。這一疏忽導致不必要的遺囑認證程序，增加成本和分配資產的時間，甚至引發家庭糾紛。一位經驗豐富的遺產規劃律師能確保您的信託得到正確的資產注入。

其他遺產規劃的考量

稅務規劃： 由於聯邦和州法律可能影響遺產，適當的規劃能有效減輕稅務負擔。2025年，聯邦遺產稅免稅額將增加至1,399萬美元。然而，若國會未採取行動，2026年該免稅額可能降至350萬美元，這可能影響到許多加州居民，特別是高房價地區。

受益人更新： 定期更新您在賬戶和保單上的受益人名單，避免將資產留給不想要的人（如前配偶）。

未成年子女的監護權： 確保指定適合的人選作為子女的監護人，以備不時之需。

無行為能力的規劃： 在您的遺產規劃中加入持久授權書（Durable Power of Attorney）和預先醫療指示（Advance Healthcare Directive），以避免在您無行為能力時，家人不得不經過耗時又昂貴的法院程序。

保護您家庭的未來

一份完善的遺產規劃不僅僅是財富轉移，更是確保家庭安全、減少壓力的關鍵。在新年開始之際，與經驗豐富的律師一起檢視您的計劃，確保它符合當前狀況並能有效保護您最重視的事物。

Why Everyone Needs a Living Trust in Estate Planning

The New Year is a perfect time to review and strengthen your estate plan. A critical aspect of this is understanding why a living trust is often a better choice than relying solely on a will.

Why Not a Will Alone?

A will requires probate—a court-supervised process to handle a decedent’s estate. In California, probate is complex, lengthy (1-2 years), and expensive. Probate fees are calculated on the gross value of your estate—not the net value. For example, if you own a $1 million home with $800,000 in mortgage debt, fees are based on $1 million, not the $200,000 equity. This can result in probate fees of $50,000 or more.

Additionally, a will is a public document, meaning anyone—including creditors—can view it. Probate court notifies creditors, giving them first claim on your estate. This transparency can diminish what’s left for your beneficiaries.

The Advantages of a Living Trust

A trust bypasses probate, offering several benefits:

Privacy: Trusts are not public, so creditors and others cannot access your asset details.

Efficiency: A trustee can distribute assets without court approval, avoiding delays and reducing costs.

Minimized Disputes: Unlike wills, trusts are less prone to legal challenges, as they don’t require court approval.

Proper Funding is Key

A living trust only works if it’s properly funded. This means transferring ownership of assets—like real estate, bank accounts, business interests, and valuable personal property—into the trust. Without this step, assets remain subject to probate, rendering the trust ineffective.

Common Pitfalls

Many people use online tools or non-lawyers to set up trusts, only to discover later that assets weren’t transferred properly. This oversight leads to unnecessary probate, increased costs, and potential family disputes. An experienced estate planning attorney can ensure your trust is correctly funded.

Additional Estate Planning Considerations

Tax Planning: With federal and state laws impacting estates, proper planning can mitigate tax burdens. For 2025, the federal estate tax exemption increases to $13.99 million. However, this could drop to $3.5 million in 2026 unless Congress acts, which may affect many Californians given high property values.

Beneficiary Updates: Regularly update beneficiary designations on accounts and policies to prevent unintended inheritances, such as assets going to an ex-spouse.

Guardianship for Minors: Ensure trusted individuals are designated as guardians for your children.

Incapacity Planning: Include a Durable Power of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directive in your estate plan to avoid costly and time-consuming court proceedings if you become incapacitated.

Protecting Your Family’s Future

A well-structured estate plan is about more than wealth transfer; it’s about ensuring your family’s security and reducing stress during difficult times. Start the New Year by reviewing your plan with an experienced attorney to ensure it reflects your current circumstances and protects what matters most. 

Should you omit your children’s names in your trust if you don’t want to leave anything to them?

 

如何利用信託避免灣區渣男重演?

識法有方-信託Q&A (廣東)

信託 Q & A (國語)

Medicaid's Asset Transfer Rules

In order to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot have recently transferred assets. Congress does not want you to move into a nursing home on Monday, give all your money to your children (or whomever) on Tuesday, and qualify for Medicaid on Wednesday. So it has imposed a penalty on people who transfer assets without receiving fair value in return.

This penalty is a period of time during which the person transferring the assets will be ineligible for Medicaid. The penalty period is determined by dividing the amount transferred by what Medicaid determines to be the average private pay cost of a nursing home in your state.

Example: If you live in a state where the average monthly cost of care has been determined to be $5,000, and you give away property worth $100,000, you will be ineligible for benefits for 20 months ($100,000 / $5,000 = 20).

Another way to look at the above example is that for every $5,000 transferred, an applicant would be ineligible for Medicaid nursing home benefits for one month. In theory, there is no limit on the number of months a person can be ineligible.

Example: The period of ineligibility for the transfer of property worth $400,000 would be 80 months ($400,000 / $5,000 = 80).

A person applying for Medicaid must disclose all financial transactions he or she was involved in during a set period of time -- frequently called the "look-back period." The state Medicaid agency then determines whether the Medicaid applicant transferred any assets for less than fair market value during this period.  The look-back period for all transfers is 60 months (except in California, where it is 30 months).  Also, keep in mind that because the Medicaid program is administered by the states, your state's transfer rules may diverge from the national norm.  To take just one important example, New York State does not apply the transfer rules to recipients of home care(also called community care).

The penalty period created by a transfer within the look-back period does not begin until (1) the person making the transfer has moved to a nursing home, (2) he has spent down to the asset limit for Medicaid eligibility, (3) has applied for Medicaid coverage, and (4) has been approved for coverage but for the transfer. 

For instance, if an individual transfers $100,000 on April 1, 2017, moves to a nursing home on April 1, 2018, and spends down to Medicaid eligibility on April 1, 2019, that is when the 20-month penalty period will begin, and it will not end until December 1, 2020.

In other words, the penalty period would not begin until the nursing home resident was out of funds, meaning there would be no money to pay the nursing home for however long the penalty period lasts.  In states that have so-called "filial responsibility laws," nursing homes may seek reimbursement from the residents' children. These rarely-enforced laws, which are on the books in 29 states, hold adult children responsible for financial support of indigent parents and, in some cases, medical and nursing home costs.  In 2012, a Pennsylvania appeals court found a son liable for his mother's $93,000 nursing home bill under the state's filial responsibility law.

Exceptions

Transferring assets to certain recipients will not trigger a period of Medicaid ineligibility. These exempt recipients include the following:

• A spouse (or a transfer to anyone else as long as it is for the spouse's benefit)
• A blind or disabled child
• A trust for the benefit of a blind or disabled child
• A trust for the sole benefit of a disabled individual under age 65 (even if the trust is for the benefit of the Medicaid applicant, under certain circumstances).

In addition, special exceptions apply to the transfer of a home. The Medicaid applicant may freely transfer his or her home to the following individuals without incurring a transfer penalty:

• The applicant's spouse
• A child who is under age 21 or who is blind or disabled
• Into a trust for the sole benefit of a disabled individual under age 65 (even if the trust is for the benefit of the Medicaid applicant, under certain circumstances)
• A sibling who has lived in the home during the year preceding the applicant's institutionalization and who already holds an equity interest in the home
• A "caretaker child," who is defined as a child of the applicant who lived in the house for at least two years prior to the applicant's institutionalization and who during that period provided care that allowed the applicant to avoid a nursing home stay.

Congress has created a very important escape hatch from the transfer penalty: the penalty will be "cured" if the transferred asset is returned in its entirety, or it will be reduced if the transferred asset is partially returned. However, some states are not permitting partial returns. Check with your elder law attorney.

More Reasons Why You Need a Will

“Truly, nearly every legal question depends on a host of facts and circumstances that make it impossible to guarantee a particular outcome … except in the case of my favorite question: ‘Do I need a will?’”

It doesn’t take very long for any newly-minted attorneys in the trusts and estates practice area to see what happens when there is no will, says the Daily Memphian in a to-the-point article titled “Five reasons you need a will (and one reason you don’t).” The stress on families, unnecessary expenses and assets going to the wrong people, can easily be prevented with an estate plan and a will. However, in case you still aren’t convinced, here are the top five reasons:

You have a family. For those who are married with children, the laws of intestacy take over, if you don’t have a will. Assets are divided between the surviving spouse and the children in most states (check with a local estate planning attorney for your state’s laws). In theory, that sounds fine. But there are three situations where not having a will can make a mess of things:

• Minors and developmentally delayed heirs. Minors and individuals with special needs may not legally contract or represent themselves in court. Therefore, they cannot agree to the disposition of assets. When a minor or individual with special needs inherits assets directly, the court must appoint a neutral person, often an attorney, to oversee that person’s best interests. It may also require the appointment of a guardian, so the court can monitor the use of the assets in the child’s best interest, until they are of age.
• Bad relationships between surviving spouse and children. Under intestate law, the spouse inheriting reduces the amount the children inherit. If the spouse is a second wife, this can make a bad situation worse. A will can plan out the distribution of assets to care for the spouse and ensure that the children receive the assets, as determined by their parent.
• Extramarital children. Children who are not born to legally wed parents have the right to inherit, regardless of whether their parents were married. What if an unknown offspring shows up and demands his share? This does happen.

You hate your next-of-kin. Not every family is as happy as their Facebook photos. If you don’t want your lawful next of kin inheriting your assets, you need a will. Remember that as time passes and people enter and exit the family, through birth, death, marriage and divorce, the person who is your next-of-kin will likely change over time.

Do you want to give specific gifts? Under the intestacy laws, your relatives (next-of-kin) inherit your property in percentages that are based on their degree of relationship to you and the number of other relatives at that same degree. Outside of designating a beneficiary or joint owner of an assets, having a will that is properly prepared under the laws of your state, is the only way to ensure that you can determine who gets what.

You know how you want things to work after you die. If you want to have any control over what happens to your assets, how you want your funeral to be paid for, what you want to happen to personal property, etc., a will may be the best way to do this. The person named to be your executor is legally responsible to carrying out your wishes, unless it’s impossible, impractical or illegal for them to do so.

You have a living trust. If you took the trouble to have a living trust, then you should also have a will. You need, specifically, a “pour-over” will. This ensures that any assets not titled in the name of the trust at the time of your death, are transferred into the trust. Otherwise, your non-trust assets are subject to intestacy law.

The ONLY reason you may not need a will? If every single asset you own has either joint ownership or beneficiary designations. That’s very unusual, in part because it takes a lot of detail to make sure that every asset is titled correctly. You can leave real property to another person through a joint ownership deed, which establishes that person as the co-owner of the property. Accounts can be left to a person of choice, by naming a person as beneficiary.

Joint ownership and beneficiary designations do supersede the intestacy laws. However, what happens if a beneficiary dies before you do and you neglect to change the name on the asset? There are also gift and tax implications.

A will can be as complex or as simple as you want. Speak with an experienced estate planning attorney, who can make sure that your will and any other documents are prepared to achieve your wishes for your estate, protect your family, and don’t leave anything to chance.

Reference: Daily Memphian (March 8, 2019) “Five reasons you need a will (and one reason you don’t)”

Do I Need a Living Trust or a Will? Or Both? 我需要信託還是遺囑？還是兩者都需要？ (中英對照)

“In some states, clients are charged court costs and attorney’s fees, based on the worth of their probate assets. Thus, the cost of the administration of the estate increases, as the value of the probate estate increases.”

This is just one of the reasons people think they want a trust: to ensure that the value of their overall estate will not decrease, because of the cost of probate. The most common way to do that is with a trust, says The Houston Chronicle in the article “Elder Law: Which should I have—A Living trust or a will?”

In some states, probate is not an expensive or overly time-consuming issue. Texas, for example, has what is called an independent administration. Executors handle the tasks involved in settling an estate and distributing assets to beneficiaries. As a result, there’s very little court involvement. However, that’s not the case everywhere.  In California,   the Probate Court closely supervises the entire probate process and no assets can be distributed without the Court’s approval.  Further, in California, probate costs are 5% to 7% of the gross value of the estate.  For instance, if your estate is $1 million, the probate costs can be as high as $50,000.  If you want to avoid probate costs, you should hire an estate planning attorney.  An experienced estate planning attorney can tell you whether a trust is right for your estate.  He or she can also explain the difference between different types of trusts.

The trust most frequently used to avoid probate, is known as a revocable management trust, living trust or an “inter vivos” trust.

Selecting the best type of trust for each situation is different. Here are some advantages of living trusts:

Avoiding probate. The cost of probate alone is not reason enough to use a trust. However, if your assets are in trusts, you may not need to file an inventory listing your assets with the court. That’s not always required in every jurisdiction, but if it is required where you live, a trust can help keep your asset list private, by ensuring that it is only seen by beneficiaries.

Asset management for incapacity. A living trust goes into effect, while you are alive. If you become incapacitated, an alternate trustee can step in to manage assets, pay bills and ensure that finances are taken care of.

Avoiding probate in another state. If you own out-of-state property, your estate may need to be probated in your home state and in the other state. If you have a living trust, out-of-state parcels of land can be deeded into the trust during your lifetime, thus avoiding the need for probate in another state. After your passing, your trustee can handle the out-of-state property in the living trust.

Administrative ease. There are, unfortunately, instances when Power of Attorney can be challenged by financial institutions. The authority of a trustee is more likely to be recognized, by banks, investment companies, etc.

There are some questions about whether it’s better to have a living trust or a will. The most complex part of having a living trust, is the process of funding the trust. It is imperative for the trust to work, that every asset you own is either transferred into the trust or retitled into the name of the trust. If assets are left out or incorrectly funded, then probate will probably be necessary. This can occur, even if only one single asset is left out.

If an asset is controlled by beneficiary designation, then the trust may not need to be named a beneficiary, should you want it to pass directly to one or more beneficiaries.

Funding the trust becomes complicated, when retirement accounts are involved. Consult with an experienced estate planning attorney, if you want to make the trust a designated beneficiary of a retirement account. This is because very specific and complex rules may limit the ability to “stretch” the distributions form the account.

Using a trust instead of a will-based plan is growing in popularity, but it should never be an automatic decision. An estate planning attorney will be able to explain the pros and cons of each strategy and help you and your family decide which is better for you.

Reference: The Houston Chronicle (Feb. 15, 2019) “Elder Law: Which should I have—A Living trust or a will?”

“在某些州，客戶需要按資產的價值去支付法庭費用和律師費。因此，隨著資產增值, 遺囑認證費用亦隨著增加。”

這是人們認為他們需要信託的其中一個原因：確保他們的財產總值不會因為遺囑認證的費用而減少。The Houston Chronicle在“Elder Law: Which should I have—A Living trust or a will?”

一文中說，最常見的方法就是建立信託。

在某些州，遺囑認證並不花費及耗時。例如，德州擁有所謂的獨立的遺產程序。執行人員處理解決遺產和向受益人分配資產。因此，法院很少參與。但不是到處都是這樣。在加州，遺囑認證法院密切監督整個遺囑認證過程，未經法院批准，不得分配任何資產。此外，在加州，遺囑認證費用佔遺產總值的5%至7%。例如，如果您的遺產是100萬美元，那麼遺囑認證費用可高達50,000美元。如果您想避免遺囑認證費用，您應聘請資產規劃律師。經驗豐富的資產規劃律師可以告訴您信託是否適合您。也可以跟您解釋不同類型的信託之間的差異。

最常用於避免遺囑認證的信託稱為生前信託。

因著不同的情況選擇最合適的信託。以下是生前信託的一些好處：

避免遺囑認證。遺囑認證的費用不是使用信託的唯一原因。另一個原來是，如果您把資產放到信託中，您便可能無需向法院提交資產清單。並非每個司法管轄區都要求這樣做，但如果您所在的地方需要，可以通過信託確保只有受益人才看到您的資產清單。

失去能力管理資產。當你還在世的時候，生前信託便生效。如果您失去能力，替代受託人可以介入管理您的資產，支付賬單並確保財務得到妥善處理。

在另一個州避免遺囑認證。如果您在外州擁有財產，您的遺產可能需要在您所居地和其他州認證。如果你有一個生前信託，那麼可以把在外州的地放到信託中，這樣便可避免在另一個州進行遺囑認證。在您去世後，您的受託人可以處理在信託中的於外州的物業。

容易管理。不幸的是，有很多情況下，財務授權書可被一些金融機構質疑。而受託人的權力更有可能被銀行，投資公司等承認。

關於擁有生前信託還是擁有遺囑好一些這問題。擁有生前信託最複雜的部分是把資產注入信託的過程。如果要令信託有效，您擁有的所有資產都要轉移到信託中或是重新命名為信託名下。如果忘了轉移資產或不正確地轉移，則可能需要進行遺囑認證。即使只剩下一個資產，也可能發生這種情況。

如果資產有指定受益人，而您希望把資產直接留給指定受益人，那麼, 信託就不需要成為指定受益人。

當涉及退休賬戶時，為信託注入資金會變得複雜。如果您想將信託作為退休賬戶的指定受益人，請諮詢經驗豐富的資產規劃律師。因為當中涉及複雜的規則。

以信託來取代遺囑的做法越來越受歡迎，但這並不是理所當然的。資產規劃律師將能夠解釋每種策略的利弊，並幫助您和您的家人決定哪種方案更適合您們。

參考: The Houston Chronicle (Feb. 15, 2019) “Elder Law: Which should I have—A Living trust or a will?”