Category: Estate Planning

Common Estate Planning Scams Targeting Seniors – Guest Post

  

Estate Planning

In this guide, we’re exploring some common estate planning scams targeting elderly people. Estate planning is a hot topic when people reach a certain age, and this can be a way for scammers and con artists to try and gain someone’s trust and take advantage.

Why Are The Elderly Frequently The Targets of Scams?

Adults over the age of 50 are the most common victims of estate planning scams, especially those who have no close relatives. Financial fraud victims over the age of 50 are estimated to lose an average of $34,200 to opportunistic con artists, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. People in this group may be particularly vulnerable to certain frauds for a number of reasons, including:

  • Adults over the age of 50 are more likely to have significant assets and higher net worth.
  • Many people in this age group are unfamiliar with the estate planning process, making them easy prey for scammers.
  • Many older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation, leading to poor decision-making and making the elderly vulnerable to dangerous situations.

What is Estate Planning?

Estate planning is making a plan for what will happen to your belongings, including your property when you die. This way, you can distribute your assets using an estate planning attorney to ensure you don’t pay more taxes than you have to and that your family gets access to your belongings as you had hoped and intended.

Common Estate Planning Scams

Let’s look at some common scams that can occur in the estate planning area and the ways in which con artists are looking to catch the elderly out.

Living Trust Mill Scams

Some scams called living trust mills became very popular in recent years. Fraudsters created events offering free meals, and they’d give presentations in which they used aggressive sales tactics and scare tactics to try and force them to make a living trust.

The con artists would then usually make those at the event pay large sums of money to them to submit forms relating to a living trust. Living trusts themselves are real and may help, but you need the help of an attorney.

Cold Calls Offering to Prepare Estate Plans

If you receive a call offering to prepare your estate plan, be wary. There are many scams that don’t do what is best for your money or try to dupe elderly people into making bad financial decisions.

IRS Scams

IRS scams come in many different forms. Individuals may impersonate members of government to try and get you to pay something related to your estate, or intimidate elderly people into paying fees they aren’t actually liable for. They may also target your private information.

Fake Charities Asking For a Charitable Bequest

This is when a sob story is sold to an elderly person to try and get a charitable bequest for once they have passed away, and some of the people scamming in this way can be forceful or even use scare tactics.

Fake Insurance Scams

Someone offering you a fake life insurance policy is an example of this, claiming that there will be a huge payout when you pass away. Usually, they will not call from a legitimate company and the policy may be completely bogus. Never work with a company you can’t verify.

How to identify and prevent an estate planning scam

There are some methods you can use to try and identify an estate planning scam and to spot when someone is trying to catch you out.

Don’t Give Out Personal Information Over The Phone

You shouldn’t be asked for private personal information over the phone. If a supposed government employee or other professional is asking for this it is a red flag. Never give private information out over the phone.

Ask About Qualifications

Feel free to ask those who are trying to sell to you where they are from, what ID they have, and their qualifications.

Don’t Sign Documents You Do Not Fully Understand

Never sign a document that you haven’t read and understood. Always read things thoroughly before agreeing to them.

You should always be comfortable refusing to sign a document and getting an attorney you trust to talk you through it.

If You Are Pressured to Take Action, it’s Probably a Scam

Pressure selling is one of the telltale signs of a scam. If someone is putting short timescales on a decision or trying to pressure you into saying yes to their offer then it is probable that they don’t have your best interests at heart.

Be cautious of Paying Exorbitant Legal Fees

If the legal fees are huge and seem disproportionate then make sure you check before paying them, and get legal advice on the sort of costs involved in estate planning.

Watch Out For Deals That Are Too Good to be True

It is one of the oldest sayings when it comes to scams, but if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t get suckered in by an offering that is unrealistic, or promises to save or make you huge sums of money. Always check the legitimacy of the company in question.

Five Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes -Guest Post

   

Estate planning lawyer

When it comes to financial planning, most people think about retirement, debt repayment, and saving money for their child’s education. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it seems. There are many misunderstandings regarding estate planning, and if you don’t understand how it works, you’re setting yourself up for some very costly mistakes. However, Estate Planning Attorney West Palm Beach can help you in making a profitable and secure plan. 

Estate planning is one of the things that often gets urged to the backburner. The worst mistake you can make is not having an estate plan. Even those who do build a plan can get into problems if they don’t grasp how estate plans work. We’ve compiled a list of five estate planning mistakes that you can avoid by reading this post.

1:- Not having an estate plan

Wills are not the alternative estate planning thing, but they are one of the most important strategies that you should adopt in your life. A will permits you to appoint particular guardians for your minor children and determine who will get your possessions following your death. For example, if you die without a will, your property will be dispersed according to your state’s intestate rules (which are unlikely to reflect your desires), and a court will appoint a guardian for your minor children.

2:- Poor Financial Planning

Estate planning is more than just drafting a will and establishing a trust. After someone dies, cash flow is critical. How will your heirs cover the costs of your burial, administration, and estate or income taxes? You might have residential real estate or a retirement plan with beneficiaries. But, real estate does not pay bills, and retirement plan distributions are taxed at the time of distribution. A small joint account with a trustworthy family member who understands the account’s purpose might assist reduce an estate’s early administrative costs. In addition, life insurance can offer much-needed cash flow to cover greater administrative expenditures, court fees, and taxes.

3:- Poor Selection of Agent, Trustee, or Representative

It is not always advisable to pick a family member or a child who lives nearest to you. It’s critical to choose someone who is well-liked by other family members who has the time, talent, and willingness to serve. Appointing co-fiduciaries makes sense in many cases. However, in cases where family members rarely agree with each other, are geographically dispersed, or the assets are complex, opting for a professional trustee may be ideal.

4:- Not Updating Your Plan

It would help if you didn’t undertake estate planning once and then forget about it. People often ignore updating their beneficiary designations to reflect their estate planning goals. Your estate plan should adapt to match your current requirements as your finances and living circumstances change. Getting married, having kids, and acquiring a home are all crucial events that need adjustment. It is especially true if you and your spouse wind up divorcing. You should regularly examine your strategy to ensure that it still suits your needs and makes any required changes.

5:- Not leaving an inventory of assets

Even if you’ve correctly funded your assets into your trust, your estate plan will be useless if your heirs can’t locate them. Right present, the United States’ coffers contain more than $58 billion in lost assets. That is why your West Palm Beach Estate Planning Attorney produces a thorough inventory of assets, including your burial plot deed, bank and credit statements, mortgages, securities papers, and safe deposit box/keys.

These are major five mistakes that you must avoid during estate planning. In today’s time, Estate Planning Attorney West Palm Beach is the most efficient and smart way you can opt for estate planning.