Suggestions for Grandma setting up inheritance

[G]

My mom is asking about setting up inheritance logistics for maximal benefit of her only grandbaby.  (I'm FI and my kid has a well-monetized 529.)  Gifting money now isn't an option, she is planning for anything leftover.

Is it best to set up her IRAs to go to me or the kid?  Logistics seem complicated: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/forums/topic/kids-inherited-ira-questions-about-rmds/

How about bequeathing property/real estate?

I suggested that she set up an living trust, but would it be better to have me or the kid be the beneficiary?  If I'm the trustee, how much of a hassle is it to manage vs just rolling the assets into my own?

What else should I be asking?

[StarTrekDoc]

First question - how is probate in her State?  If significant - Trust for that reason alone

If it's a large estate, would consider a living trust and with whatever direction she wants to give it.   But if it's really to a single person and smaller estate (assumption since gifting at this time not an option), a Will with Last Testament may be good enough if not special stipulations/situations with the little one.

[G]

StarTrekDoc wrote:

First question – how is probate in her State?  If significant – Trust for that reason alone

If it’s a large estate, would consider a living trust and with whatever direction she wants to give it.   But if it’s really to a single person and smaller estate (assumption since gifting at this time not an option), a Will with Last Testament may be good enough if not special stipulations/situations with the little one.

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Thanks for that advice, I agree with trust to avoid probate.  Any suggestions on who should be beneficiary--me or kid?

[RetiredERdoc]

if You are fi, I don’t see any advantages to leaving you the IRA. You would have to take rmds at a high tax bracket. Setup the estate plan as a trust for the grandchild. As to real estate, would this be an income producing property, or personal residence?

[G]

RetiredERdoc wrote:

if You are fi, I don’t see any advantages to leaving you the IRA. You would have to take rmds at a high tax bracket. Setup the estate plan as a trust for the grandchild. As to real estate, would this be an income producing property, or personal residence?

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For the real estate, there would be the house she is living in (this assumes she doesn't downsize/move sooner) which would be sold, and an income producing farm which we would probably keep at this point.

[StarTrekDoc]

Interesting and would be fun to have that done with the Farm -- Trust for the Grandkid IMHO with you and clear path on administration of the Trust that you and grandma should review.

 

[FIREshrink]

google IRAs left to trust. it’s the right answer if it is of any size, but there are a few quirks to understand.

[jfoxcpacfp]

• In some states, minors cannot own real estate.
  
  
  
  • Real estate should pass at death for the stepped-up basis factor.
  
  
  • If you don't plan to sell the farm, you might keep it until your death and then pass for more step-up in basis.
  
  
  
  


• IRAs should go to the grandchild for stretch distributions.
  
  
  
  • If pre-tax, she should be looking into annual Roth conversions.
  
  
  • If she leaves anything to charity, it should come from pre-tax IRAs.
  
  
  
  


• A RLT provides anonymity and avoids probate only for the assets that are retitled to it. If your state has simple probate, I'd probably skip this step.
  
  
  
  • Not much hassle to manage an RLT but I think she would have to be the trustee. At her death, the assets would pass to the beneficiaries.
  
  
  • You can have multiple beneficiaries and have the appropriate assets go to the appropriate beneficiary.
  
  
  
  

I'm sure you're working with a good E&T attorney, right?