Current federal tax laws have eliminated most of the need to use trusts to transfer assets because inheritance tax exemptions currently stand at $11,180,000. Although wealthy families in South Carolina might have few concerns about federal taxes at this point, trusts still offer significant benefits to people who want to exert control over the distribution of funds and keep wealth within a family.
Trusts serve many purposes but require competent management
Common estate planning errors to avoid
South Carolina residents who are creating estate plans should watch out for several common errors. For example, some estate owners forget to leave information where it can be easily found by executors or beneficiaries. It is best to make a complete list of all assets and their locations. This includes mortgage paperwork, information on bank accounts and paperwork associated with insurance policies. There are also sentimental assets that a person might want to identify. Furthermore, estate owners should not neglect digital assets.
What to do when trustees do not cooperate
Some trust beneficiaries in South Carolina may find themselves dealing with trustees who seem to be uncooperative. For example, one person who was left money in a trust by grandparents to be received at certain ages could not get any information about the trust or distributions although the distributions were supposed to be made at certain ages.
