Estate Planning and Administration: Protecting Your Legacy 

Estate planning and administration are critical in protecting your legacy and ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes after death.

Estate planning involves a detailed plan for managing and disposing of your assets, including properties, liabilities, and personal preferences related to healthcare decisions. Meanwhile, estate administration refers to managing and settling a deceased person’s estate according to the will or inheritance laws.

More than half of American adults do not have a will or estate plan. According to a survey, only 43% of U.S. adults have a will or living trust, which is even lower among younger Americans. Only about 18% of those ages 18 to 34 have a will, while about a third of those ages 34 to 44 have one in place.

This lack of preparation can lead to significant legal and financial complications for surviving family members, often resulting in lengthy and expensive probate proceedings. Additionally, without a clear estate plan, the distribution of assets may not align with the deceased’s wishes, leading to potential conflicts between heirs and beneficiaries. This is not a situation anyone would want.

Estate planning includes drafting a will, creating trusts, designating beneficiaries for life insurance policies and retirement accounts, and creating durable powers of attorney and healthcare directives. These steps allow individuals to decide how to distribute their assets and make crucial decisions regarding their personal care and financial affairs if incapacitated.

One of the most significant benefits of a well-crafted estate plan is minimizing taxes and legal fees, thus maximizing the inheritance passed on to your beneficiaries. For example, creating a trust can offer tax benefits and protect assets from creditors, ensuring that more of your inheritance is passed on to your loved ones. Additionally, estate planning allows individuals to make charitable contributions, further extending the impact of their legacy beyond their immediate family.

Estate administration often requires the assistance of professionals who pay meticulous attention to detail and have in-depth knowledge of probate law. In cases where the deceased has left behind a clear and legally valid estate plan, the administrative process can be significantly simpler and quicker, once again underlining the importance of proactive estate planning.

Creating a comprehensive estate plan and understanding the administrative process can provide peace of mind for people and their families, avoid potential conflicts, and leave a lasting impact that extends well beyond their lifetime. In the following sections, we will explore a simple way to administer your estate and how to incorporate your philanthropic wishes into your plan.

A Simple Guide to Estate Administration

Estate administration is a process that occurs after an individual’s death. It involves the management and settlement of the deceased’s estate according to their will or state laws if they died intestate (without a will). 

That’s crucial to ensuring that the deceased’s assets are distributed to the intended beneficiaries in a manner consistent with their wishes or, in the absence of a will, the state’s laws. Here, we present a simple guide to estate administration, drawing key insights from various authoritative sources and highlighting the crucial connection between estate planning and administration.

Estate planning and administration involve several key steps, including appointing an executor or administrator. If the deceased left a will, an executor is usually appointed and responsible for carrying out the will’s wishes. The court may appoint an administrator when there is no will. This individual plays a critical role in the process, from collecting the deceased’s assets to paying debts and taxes and distributing the remainder to the legal heirs.

Another aspect of estate administration involves the probate court. “Probate” is the legal process through which a deceased person’s will is validated and their estate is administered. Not all assets pass through probate; for example, assets held in joint tenancy, retirement accounts, and life insurance policies typically pass directly to the named beneficiary without probate.

These are the key steps in estate administration:

1. Filing of the Will and Petition for Probate: The process begins with the filing of the deceased’s will, if one exists, with the probate court in the county where the deceased lived. Alongside this, a petition to open the probate estate must be filed, requesting the appointment of an executor (if named in the will) or an administrator (if no will exists).
2. Appointment of Executor or Administrator: The court appoints an executor (a personal representative in Kansas) to oversee the estate’s administration. If no will is in place or the will does not name an executor, the court will appoint an administrator.
3. Notification of Heirs and Creditors: Kansas law requires the executor to notify heirs, beneficiaries, and known creditors of the probate proceedings. Unknown creditors must also be given public notice, allowing them to make claims against the estate.
4. Inventory and Appraisal of the Estate: The executor must inventory the deceased’s assets and, if necessary, appraise them. This inventory includes everything from real estate and personal property to stocks, bonds, and other financial assets.
5. Paying Debts and Taxes: The estate’s debts, including funeral expenses, outstanding bills, and taxes, must be paid. If the estate lacks sufficient liquid assets, this activity might involve selling estate assets to cover debts.
6. Filing Estate and Income Taxes: The executor is responsible for filing any required estate tax returns (federal and state) and final income tax returns for the deceased.
7. Distribution of Assets to Heirs and Beneficiaries: After paying debts and taxes, the remaining assets are distributed to the heirs and beneficiaries according to the will or, if no will exists, according to Kansas’s intestacy laws.
8. Final Accounting and Closing the Estate: The executor must provide a final accounting to the court detailing all income to the estate, expenses paid, and distributions to beneficiaries. Once approved, the estate can be officially closed.

By preparing a detailed estate plan, including a will, trust, and other estate planning tools, individuals can ensure a smoother transition of their assets after death, potentially minimizing the need for probate and reducing the chance of disputes among heirs. A well-conceived estate plan can also significantly lighten the administrative burden on the executor, making the estate administration process more efficient and less stressful for everyone involved.

Following a structured approach to estate administration ensures that a comprehensive estate plan is effective. The administration of an estate is a critical step in fulfilling the deceased’s final wishes and ensuring that their legacy is preserved and passed on to the intended heirs. By connecting the concepts of estate planning and administration, citizens can take control of their inheritance, ensuring their assets are distributed according to their wishes and with minimal legal complications.

Join us in shaping a better tomorrow for Miami County. Your support is more than just a donation. It’s an investment in our community.

How To Incorporate Philanthropic Giving and Estate Planning 

Incorporating philanthropic giving into your estate planning can be a thoughtful way to leave a lasting legacy in your community while enjoying some tax advantages. Estate planning and administration form the basis for ensuring your estate is distributed according to your wishes after your death. 

When philanthropy is part of this plan, it can reflect a commitment to causes and organizations that are important to you, with an impact that extends beyond your lifetime. This guide explores how to effectively integrate philanthropic goals with estate planning and administration.

In Kansas, estate planning costs can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the estate and the specific services required. Estate planning attorneys typically charge between $200 and $500 per hour. However, some attorneys offer flat fee services for particular tasks, such as preparing an essential will or trust. For these flat fee services, the charges can range from $350 to $3,450 or more, depending on the complexity of the estate planning needs.

Incorporating philanthropic giving into estate planning can be accomplished through various methods, such as bequests, creating charities, or naming charities as beneficiaries of retirement accounts or life insurance policies.

1. Bequests: One of the easiest ways to include philanthropy in your estate plan is to create a charitable bequest in your will. This option specifies a gift to a charity, which can be a fixed amount, a percentage of your estate, or specific assets.
2. Charitable Funds: Creating a charitable fund, such as a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) or a Charitable Lead Trust (CLT), allows for a more complex but flexible approach to philanthropy. These trusts can provide tax benefits to the donor or their heirs while supporting charitable causes.
3. Life Insurance and Retirement Accounts: Naming a charity as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement account is an effective way to make a significant charitable gift. These assets are transferred directly to the charity upon the donor’s death, avoiding the probate process.

There are lots of benefits to philanthropic estate planning:

• Tax Benefits: Philanthropic giving through estate planning can offer substantial tax benefits. For example, charitable bequests can reduce your estate tax burden, while charities can provide income, gift, and estate tax benefits.
• Legacy Building: Including charitable giving in your estate plan allows you to support the causes and organizations that matter most to you, creating a lasting legacy that reflects your values and commitments.
• Estate Administration Considerations: When incorporating philanthropy into your estate planning process, it is critical to consider the implications for estate administration. The executor or trustee must be aware of the charitable elements of the estate plan to ensure proper distribution according to the deceased’s wishes.

By carefully selecting the best mechanisms for charitable giving and working with experienced professionals, you can preserve and execute your philanthropic legacy according to your wishes. 

Whether through simple bequests, charitable trusts, or designating charities as beneficiaries of life insurance or retirement accounts, philanthropic estate planning options are diverse and can be customized to meet each individual’s specific needs and goals.

Estate Planning and Administration: Partner With MICOCF

The Miami County Community Foundation (MICOCF) stands out in Kansas for its dedication to improving community well-being through various initiatives. We have achieved notable successes in education, healthcare, and community development and have had a significant impact through grants and scholarships funded by philanthropic efforts.

Since 2007, we have been working with donors to benefit the greater Miami County, Kansas community through grants and scholarships. In 2017, the Foundation awarded the community over $50,000 in scholarships and gifts.

The Foundation assists donors in achieving their philanthropic objectives by establishing restricted and unrestricted endowments during their lifetimes or through planned giving. Income from these endowments and donations provides grants to nonprofit organizations in greater Miami County, Kansas, that positively impact the community.

Previous grants have supported organizations such as the Miami County Historical Museum, Paola Community Garden of HOPE, Lakemary Center, American Legion Riders, Cops for Tots, Salvation Army, United Way, Paola Senior Center, USD #367, and many more.

Incorporating MICOCF into your estate planning can be accomplished in several ways, such as:

• Make a charitable bequest in a will or trust to benefit the community foundation. Leaving a charitable bequest is a powerful way to support Miami County, KS, a place known for its history and community spirit. Including a charity in your will can ensure your values and dreams contribute to the area’s growth and address its challenges even after you’re gone. It’s a way to leave a lasting legacy, helping shape the county’s future and support its residents for generations.
• Designate the MICOCF as the beneficiary of retirement accounts or life insurance policies. By making the Miami County Community Foundation the owner and permanent beneficiary of your life insurance, you can get a tax deduction. If your policy is fully paid, you get an immediate deduction. Otherwise, you can deduct the payments you continue to make. You can also list the Foundation as a beneficiary to keep control of the policy and change beneficiaries if you wish. After your death, the Foundation will use your gift to create a fund in your chosen name, supporting community projects forever.
• Establish a charitable trust that supports the MICOCF while providing tax benefits to the donor or their heirs.

For the donor, it reduces their taxable income by the value of the gift. If heirs are involved, it can minimize estate taxes since assets in the trust are no longer part of the donor’s estate. This setup financially benefits the donor and their heirs while supporting a chosen cause.

MICOCF’s work has sparked a lot of positive change through community initiatives and scholarships that have directly improved people’s lives. When you team up with MICOCF through your estate planning and administration, you’re not just leaving behind a legacy but actively choosing to be part of something bigger that benefits Miami County for the long haul. 

It’s a smart way to align your financial planning with meaningful community support, ensuring that your contributions help sustain the community’s growth and resilience. This partnership is about making strategic philanthropy work for your objectives while contributing to the broader story of community enhancement.

Are you interested in learning more or contributing to our cause? Reach out with any questions you may have. With just one click, you can transform lives. Your donation has the power to create a significant change.