There are many reasons why a Generation-Skipping Trust may be a good fit for you and your Estate Plans. Anytime you do not want to transfer your property and assets to your children, but hope to leave something for your grandchildren or great-grandchildren, setting up a Generation-Skipping Trust could be a good option.
However, before you make the decision to start a Generation-Skipping Trust, be sure to discuss your financial needs and goals with a Generation-Skipping Trust attorney at The Law Office of David S. Schleiffarth, LLC.
Contact our office for an initial consultation today and learn more about how Generation-Skipping Trusts work and whether they make sense for you and your family.
What Is a Generation-Skipping Trust?
A Generation-Skipping Trust is an opportunity for the Grantor to set up a Trust that transfers their assets to a skipped generation. Instead of passing on your assets to your children or grandchildren, you can pass them to your grandchildren or great-grandchildren.
When one generation hopes to protect their assets for the use of future generations, setting up a Generation-Skipping Trust may be in their best interests. You may also want to avoid leaving your estate to your children and instead set up a Generation-Skipping Trust that will pay out assets and distributions to your grandchildren or great-grandchildren at specific points throughout their life as described in the Trust instructions.
However, Generation-Skipping Trusts can be used for anyone who is at least 37.5 years younger than the Grantor. There are many tax advantages that come with generation-skipping trusts, which give you an opportunity to reduce potential tax implications to your beneficiaries down the line.
The Benefits Of Generation-Skipping Trusts
Some of the advantages of Generation-Skipping Trusts include:
- Creating opportunities to pass your wealth on for generations
- Help minimize your estate taxes when transferring assets to beneficiaries
- The opportunity to provide income to multiple beneficiaries across decades
- Avoid the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax by utilizing a Generation-Skipping Trust
The Disadvantages Of a Generation-Skipping Trust
One of the biggest disadvantages of a Generation-Skipping Trust is the fact that they are considered Irrevocable Trusts. This means you do not have the power to amend or cancel them. The assets contained within the Trust will also no longer be under your control, and will instead be administered by a Trustee.
How Generation-Skipping Trusts Work
You can create a Generation-Skipping Trust when you are designating beneficiaries who are two or more generations below you. However, the amount of assets that can be placed into a Generation-Skipping Trust may be limited to a maximum amount that will be adjusted annually for inflation. Anything greater than this amount may be subject to federal taxation.
Generation-Skipping Trusts allow you to avoid separate estate taxes, which will allow your beneficiaries to inherit your assets tax-free. You also have the opportunity to place assets in the Generation-Skipping Trust that can generate income over time. For instance, if you originally placed assets at a rate of 10% annually, this could grow to over $1 million over time.
Are Generation-Skipping Trust Distributions Taxable?
The distributions from a Generation-Skipping Trust are not taxable. However, if the distributions are used to generate additional income, the income generated would be considered taxable income.
How Much Are Generation-Skipping Taxes?
You might be expected to pay a Generation-Skipping Tax if you attempt to leave money to beneficiaries by skipping a generation. However, you can avoid the Generation-Skipping Tax by creating a Generation-Skipping Trust.
You may also be expected to pay estate taxes for estates worth more than $12.7 million, and gift tax if your gifts exceed your lifetime exclusion.
Contact a Generation-Skipping Trust Lawyer for Help
If you are interested in learning more about whether a Generation-Skipping Trust is the right option to transfer your property and assets to your grandchildren or great-grandchildren, you may need the legal support of an experienced Estate Planning attorney.
Reach out to a Generation-Skipping Trust attorney at The Law Office of David S. Schleiffarth, LLC in St. Louis, Missouri for the guidance you need to decide how to proceed with your estate plans.
Fill out our quick contact form, or text or call our number to schedule your initial consultation as soon as today.
Can Generation-Skipping Trusts Be Broken or Contested?
Generally, Generation-Skipping Trusts are considered irrevocable, which means they cannot be amended, dissolved, or revoked. However, if the Generation-Skipping Trust was created fraudulently or the grantor was not of sound mind when creating it, the court has the authority to dissolve the Trust and render it invalid.
How to Create a Generation-Skipping Trust
If you are interested in creating a Generation-Skipping Trust, you must first work with your Estate Planning attorney to decide whether it is a good fit for the rest of your Estate Plans. If you want to provide income to generations down the line, making sure to construct your Generation-Skipping Trust with taxes in mind will be essential.
Be sure to go over your assets with your attorney to determine which ones should be transferred to the Generation-Skipping Trust to find it. Once the Generation-Skipping Trust has been created, it cannot be amended or changed. For your lawyer to draft your Generation-Skipping Trust documents, you will need to decide who your beneficiaries are going to be.
You can go over all of the details contained within your Generation-Skipping Trust, so your Trustee, Successor Trustee, Co-Trustees, and Trust Protectors understand your instructions as described and follow them accordingly. Next, your Trust documents need to be signed, and your Trust needs to be funded for the Generation-Skipping Trust setup to be complete.
When to Hire a Generation-Skipping Trust Attorney
Having a Generation-Skipping Trust attorney working for you is a good option if your goals are to preserve your assets for your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or further generations.
These types of Trusts are often complex and understanding how they work can help to ensure you plan accordingly and with all family members in mind.
Your Generation-Skipping Trust attorney can ensure the rest of your Estate Plan works well with your plan to create a Generation-Skipping Trust.
It’s best to have an experienced attorney draft your legal documents for you.
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