Gift Some of Your Success, But Do It Thoughtfully
Say you’ve had a really good year financially and want to share it with loved ones for the holidays. How wonderful! Many people don’t realize that gifting can affect them long after the property has been given away or that they can have some say in how that gift is used by the recipient. So […]
UTMA Account Belongs to Adult Beneficiary
The Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) is a popular choice for making gifts to minor children. A UTMA account is easy to set up, essentially free to administer, and does not involve lawyers, courts or even (usually) accountants. But UTMA accounts continue to be the source of confusion. Who actually owns a UTMA account? […]
Estate Planning Involving Your Minor Children
If you have minor children, your estate plan will obviously revolve around their care and upbringing. You need to make sure you have the right people involved, and the right tools in place. Guardianship and custody Here’s your first planning question: who will take care of your child (or children) if you die before they […]
What Preparation Do I Need For My Son’s 18th Birthday?
APRIL 4, 2011 VOLUME 18 NUMBER 12 My son will be 18 in a little more than a year. He is in high school, in the special education program. What do I need to do to prepare for his eighteenth birthday? Excellent question. Assuming it is limited to legal matters (those are the only ones […]
Uniform Transfers to Minors Act Accounts in Arizona: A Primer
JANUARY 31, 2011 VOLUME 18 NUMBER 4 One question we are frequently asked: isn’t it a good idea to set aside money for a child or grandchild, and isn’t a UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) account a simple way to do that? OK — that’s really two questions. Our answers: Yes, it is a […]
UTMA Custodian Accountable After Beneficiary’s Majority
FEBRUARY 8 , 2010 VOLUME 17, NUMBER 4 A recent case out of Kentucky deals with a fairly arcane legal question, but it gives a chance to remind people about UTMA accounts and the rules governing them. The issue in that case: what duties does a UTMA custodian have to account to the minor beneficiary […]