Asset Protection in Arizona

Posted on August 31, 2022 | Comments Off on Asset Protection in Arizona

Exemptions
Arizona allows various exemptions, protected by Arizona law, from most or all creditors after a judgment or bankruptcy filing.  These exemptions are different from corporate or limited liability company protection from creditors after a judgment or bankruptcy filing.

Some exemptions under Arizona law are:

  • Homestead Exemption – Up to $250,000 of equity in a primary residence either by a single person or a married couple – not $250,000 each if married. The exemption is automatic.
  • Household Goods – Household goods up to $6,000 in value.  This includes furniture and furnishings, appliances, and personal items.   
  • Personal Property – $300 cash, clothing up to $500, musical instruments up to $400, pets, a wedding ring up to $2,000, books up to $250, a bicycle, a firearm or a computer, all up to $1,000 each, a car up to $6,000 and a wheelchair.  Also an exemption of up to $5,000 for tools of the trade.           

Life Insurance

What about life insurance? Yes, as long as it is a whole life policy.  During the policy owner’s life the cash value of the insurance policy is fully protected after the policy has been in force for two years.  A.R.S. 33-1126(A) (6).  The policy must name a surviving spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, or any other dependent family member as beneficiary.  The death benefit is also fully protected from the insured’s creditors in Arizona.  A.R.S. 20-1131(A).  But, if the estate of the insured is insolvent, the surviving spouse and children are given up to $20,000 of claim-free insurance proceeds only.  A.R.S. 33-1126(A)(1).    

Annuity contracts are treated much the same way as life insurance. 

IRA and Deferred Compensation Accounts

Federal law protects the assets in a qualified retirement plan.  This includes all 401(k), 403(b), and TSA accounts.  Arizona law also protects assets in an Individual Retirement Arrangement (“IRA”) by statute.  A.R.S. 33-1126(B).   Since this is the case, putting an IRA into a trust is unnecessary if the objective is to protect the IRA from creditors. 
 
Under Arizona law, an inherited IRA has additional protection in the context of bankruptcy court.  Under various cases in Arizona and the US Supreme Court, (In re Thiem, Bktcy Ct AZ 1/19/2011, 107 AFTR 2d 2011-529), partly overruled in Clark v. Rameker (June 12, 2014), an Arizona statute appears to protect an Arizona resident’s inherited IRA assets from bankruptcy creditors.  Only Arizona, Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Missouri, Ohio, North Carolina, and Texas offer this extended protection.

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Is Your Will Valid Under Arizona Law?

Posted on July 20, 2022 | Comments Off on Is Your Will Valid Under Arizona Law?

Recently, the law has changed in Arizona as to the validity of a Will. Arizona also allows electronic Wills under certain circumstances.  

For any Will executed on or after October 1, 2019, unless it is self-proved as prescribed in Arizona Revised Statutes Section 14-2504 or 14-2519, a person may not act as a witness to a Will if that person is a devisee under that Will or is related by blood, marriage or adoption to a devisee under that Will.  “Devisee” means a person who is designated in the Will to receive a devise (distribution) or who is a beneficiary of a trust that is designated in the Will to receive a devise.

A Will is self-proved if both the will maker and the witnesses have signed after proper attestations — dictated by statute — and had their signatures notarized. 

Arizona requires two witnesses.  Who is competent to be a witness? ARS Section 14-2505 says that a person who is generally competent to be a witness may act as a witness to a will.  Who is that?  A person at least 18 years of age and of sound mind is competent to be a witness.  

As to Electronic Wills:

In addition to the requirements of section 14-2504, to be self-proved, an electronic Will must meet all the following requirements:

1. Contain the electronic signature and electronic seal of a notary public placed on the Will in accordance with applicable law.  

2. Designate a qualified custodian to maintain custody of the electronic will.

3. Before being offered for probate or being reduced to a certified paper original, be under the exclusive control of a qualified custodian at all times.

Also, the journal to record the notary act must be in a tamper-evident electronic journal; no recording in a paper journal.  The electronic journal and the audio-visual recording are public records upon proper request to the notary.

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Posted in Arizona enacted legislation, Arizona Law, Wills and Revocable Trusts

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TITLE CHOICES – REAL PROPERTY IN AZ

Posted on June 23, 2022 | Comments Off on TITLE CHOICES – REAL PROPERTY IN AZ

Arizona is a community property state so property acquired by a married couple is presumed to be community property unless legally specified otherwise. Title may be held as “sole and separate.” If a married person acquires title as sole and separate, his or her spouse must execute a disclaimer deed to avoid the presumption of community property. Parties may choose to hold title in the name of an entity, such as a corporation; limited liability company; a partnership, or a trust. Following are the most common examples of holding title.  How title is held has significant consequences so please consult a professional for further information.

COMMUNITY PROPERTY

Requires a valid marriage between two persons.

Each spouse holds an undivided one-half interest in the estate.

One spouse cannot partition (divide) the property by selling his or her interest.

Requires signatures of both spouses to convey or encumber.

Each spouse can devise (will) one-half of the community property.

Upon death the estate of the decedent must go through probate, affidavit or adjudication.

Both halves of the community property are entitled to a “stepped up”* tax basis as of the date of death.

JOINT TENANCY WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP

Parties need not be married; may be many joint tenants.

Each joint tenant holds an equal and undivided interest in the estate, unity of interest.

One joint tenant can partition (divide) the property by selling his or her interest.

Requires signatures of all joint tenants to convey or encumber the whole.

Estate passes to surviving joint tenants outside of probate.

No court action required to clear title upon the death of joint tenant(s).

Deceased tenant’s share is entitled to a “stepped up”* tax basis as of the date of death.

COMMUNITY PROPERTY WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP

Requires a valid marriage between two persons.

Each spouse holds an undivided one-half interest in the estate.

One spouse cannot partition (divide) the property by selling his or her interest.

Requires signatures of both spouses to convey or encumber.

Estate passes to the surviving spouse outside of probate.

No court action required to clear title upon the first death.

Both halves of the community property are entitled to a “stepped up”* tax basis.

TENANCY IN COMMON

Parties need not be married; may be many tenants in common.

Each tenant in common holds an undivided fractional interest in the estate. Can be disproportionate, such as 20% and 80%; 60% and 40%; etc.

Each tenant’s share can be conveyed, encumbered (mortgaged) or devised (willed) to a third party.

Requires signatures of all tenants to convey or encumber the whole.

Upon death the tenant’s proportionate share passes to his or her heirs by will, trust or intestacy.

Upon death the decedent’s share must go through probate, affidavit or adjudication.

Each share has its own tax basis.

*Stepped up tax basis. Under this rule, an heir receives a basis in inherited property equal to its date-of-death value. If your uncle bought XYZ stock in 1940 for $500 and it’s worth $5 million at his death, the basis is stepped up to $5 million in the hands of his heirs and all of that gain escapes federal income tax forever.

This rule applies to inherited property that’s includible in the deceased’s gross estate and to property inherited from foreign persons who aren’t subject to U.S. estate tax. It also applies to the inherited portion of property owned by an inheriting taxpayer jointly with the deceased, but not the portion of jointly held property that the inheriting taxpayer owned before inheritance. This rule does not apply to reinvestments of estate assets by fiduciaries.

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IF AN HEIR TO AN ESTATE CANNOT BE FOUND — ARIZONA LAW

Posted on May 4, 2022 | Comments Off on IF AN HEIR TO AN ESTATE CANNOT BE FOUND — ARIZONA LAW

Under Arizona law, there is a statute (law) that deals with the problem of a missing beneficiary. Arizona Revised Statute §14-3914 states what is to be done if an heir, a beneficiary where there is no Will, or a devisee, a beneficiary where there is a Will, cannot be found. 

What does this statute say? If such a person cannot be found, the personal representative (executor) of the estate can distribute the share of the missing person to his or her conservator, if there is one.  Otherwise, the cash must be deposited to the Arizona Department of Revenue into the permanent school fund.  In short, the government gets it. 

If a person later appears and claims to be the missing heir or devisee, that person  makes a claim to the escheated property.  “Escheated” is the legal term for reversion of property to the state or some agency of the state.  

If the person shows up within seven (7) years, the person files a claim to the money with the Arizona Department of Revenue.  Thereafter, the department can hold a hearing and “receive evidence,” if they like.  If there is a hearing, the department issues a decision which is in the public record.  If the claim is granted, the department issues payment immediately.  If the claim is denied, the aggrieved party can then file an action in Superior Court to adjudicate the claim in court.

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ARIZONA – NEW LAWS IN 2022

Posted on January 7, 2022 | Comments Off on ARIZONA – NEW LAWS IN 2022

New laws taking effect on January 1, 2022 include an increase in minimum wage, a change in income taxes and the chance for some adopted Arizonans to access their birth certificates. 

Minimum wage increase

The state minimum wage will increase from $12.15 per hour to $12.80 per hour on January 1. Voters initially approved a yearly minimum wage increase in 2016, with the increases to be based on cost-of-living after minimum wage reached $12 per hour in 2020. The minimum wage in Arizona in 2016 was $8.05 per hour. 

Income tax

Arizona’s four tax brackets will be replaced by two.  The tax rates for single people and married people filing separately will be 2.55 percent for those making $27,272 and less. The tax rate will be 2.98 percent for single filers making more than $27,272 and joint filers with incomes over $54,544. 

Arizona’s previous rates ranged from 2.59 percent for single filers with income up to $26,500 to 4.5 percent for single filers with income more than $159,000, with monetary thresholds doubled for those filing jointly. 

Birth certificates for adoptees

Anyone born on or before June 20, 1968 andadopted in Arizona can access their original birth certificate upon request.  For those born after that date, the release of an Arizona birth certificate requires a court order — as was the case for all Arizona adoptees prior to Jan. 1. 

Homestead exemption increase

Arizona’s homestead exemption will increase from $150,000 to $250,000. This means that homeowners can protect more of the equity in their homes when in bankruptcy. However, while judgement liens previously did not apply to homestead property, as of the start of 2022, now they do. This means that homeowners would not have access to homestead equity until they pay those lien holders. 

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2022 Estate & Gift Tax – Federal & Arizona

Posted on December 23, 2021 | Comments Off on 2022 Estate & Gift Tax – Federal & Arizona

The federal estate and gift tax exemption rises to $12 million per individual for 2022 deaths, up from $11.7 million in 2021, according to Internal Revenue Service.  The gift tax annual exclusion will be $16,000 for 2022, up from $15,000. The new numbers mean that wealthy taxpayers can transfer more to their heirs tax free during life or at death. 

In 2022, an individual can leave $12 million to heirs and pay no federal estate or gift tax, while a married couple is exempt up to $24 million.  In 2025 this is scheduled to reduce to $5 million but is indexed to inflation, so the number will probably be $6.5 million or more — if Congress does nothing to change this.  Keep in mind that Arizona has no estate tax and no gift tax.

Someone can give away $16,000 to as many individuals—kids, grandkids, their friends or spouses—as that person would like with no federal gift tax consequences.  Spouses can each make $16,000 gifts, doubling the impact.  A series of $16,000 annual exclusion gifts can add up, and they don’t count toward the $12 million exemption amount.  Please note that gifts made from one spouse to the other are gift tax-free under separate marital deduction rules.

Even gifts that aren’t covered by the exclusion and are therefore taxable may not result in a tax liability. This is because a tax credit wipes out the federal gift tax liability on the first taxable gifts that you make in your lifetime up to the estate tax exemption limit.  However, to the extent you use this credit against a gift tax liability, it reduces or eliminates the credit available for use against the federal estate tax at your death.

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The Small Business Reorganization Act

Posted on August 28, 2020 | Comments Off on The Small Business Reorganization Act

The Small Business Reorganization Act became effective on February 19, 2020. The new law added Subchapter V to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, allowing businesses to reorganize rather than liquidate. It streamlines the process for small businesses. Only individuals or entities engaged in commercial or business activities with non-contingent liquidated debts below $2.7 million, adjusted for inflation, may file under this code section. However, the CARES Act temporarily increased this amount to $7.5 million, but that expires on March 26, 2021. Only the debtor may file a plan in Subchapter V; consequently, there are no creditor competing plans. No financial documents need be filed.

The debtor must complete detailed schedules and a Statement of Financial Affairs to provide the court and creditors with information as to its assets, liabilities and financial condition. Additionally, 50% of the total debt must have arisen from the commercial or business activities of the debtor. The debtor remains in control of its business although it can be removed for cause. The trustee will then step in. A trustee is appointed in every case, but the trustee has limited powers.

Some of the more burdensome requirements of Chapter 11 are eliminated. The debtor is not required to pay fees to the United State Trustee. The debtor is not required to obtain or write a Disclosure Statement, unless ordered by the court. There are no Creditor’s Committees unless the court allows it. There is no requirement that at least one class of impaired creditors vote to accept the plan; only the debtor files a plan.

The administrative expenses must be paid as soon as the plan is confirmed. There is no absolute priority rule. Thus, equity owners may retain their interest in the company even if they do not pay creditors in full and do not provide any new value. Instead, the debtor projects its disposable income for a period of 3 to 5 years and this income must be paid to creditors. Provided the debtor can satisfy these requirements, reorganization under this new code section is preferable.

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Posted in Bankruptcy, New Law, Subchapter V of Chapter 11

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The SECURE ACT – now law

Posted on December 23, 2019 | Comments Off on The SECURE ACT – now law

President Trump signed the SECURE Act as part of the government’s spending bill at the end of 2019 and it will inevitably affect most retirement savers, for better or worse.  Most of the bill takes effect in 2020.  The SECURE Act  — SECURE stands for “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement” — puts into place numerous provisions intended to strengthen retirement security.  Here is a brief summary of the Act’s most important features: 

Annuities in 401(k) plans

The SECURE Act allows employers to offer annuities as investment options within 401(k) plans. Currently, employers hold the fiduciary responsibility to ensure these products are appropriate for employees’ portfolios, but under the new rules, the onus falls on insurance companies to offer proper investment choices. 

Increasing the required minimum distribution age and contribution age 

Previously, account holders with a 401(k) or IRA had to withdraw required minimum distributions (RMD) in the year they turned age 70.5. The SECURE Act increases that age to 72. The bill also eliminates the maximum age for traditional IRA contributions which was previously capped at 70.5 years old. 

No more stretch IRAs

Required minimum distributions have also changed for non-spousal account inheritors. Under the current law, beneficiaries who did not inherit their accounts from a husband or wife are in some cases allowed to withdraw required minimum distributions for their life spans.  This could be a few years or a few decades.  

The SECURE Act requires beneficiaries to withdraw all assets of an inherited account within 10 years. There are no required minimum distributions within those 10 years but the entire balance must be distributed after the 10th year. 

Multiple employer plans for small businesses

The Act broadens access to multiple employer plans for small businesses. Previously, companies may have avoided participating in that type of program because of the so-called “one bad apple” rule that stated if one employer did not meet the plan requirements, the plan would fail for all others involved. 

Under the SECURE Act, employers no longer have to share “a common characteristic,” such as being in the same industry. Employer-sponsored retirement plans would also be available to long term part time workers with a lower minimum number of hours worked.  The SECURE Act drops the threshold for eligibility down to either one full year with 1,000 hours worked or three consecutive years of at least 500 hours worked.

Encouraging auto-enrollment 

Finally, the SECURE Act encourages employers to automatically enroll workers into their retirement plans by offering tax incentives. Auto-enrollment is a simple but effective means to get people saving more for their futures. Under the SECURE Act, small employers will get a tax credit to offset the costs of starting a 401(k) plan or SIMPLE IRA plan with auto-enrollment, on top of the start-up credit they already receive. 

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NEW LAWS ARIZONA 2019

Posted on January 10, 2019 | Comments Off on NEW LAWS ARIZONA 2019

Various new laws are now in effect in Arizona and across the country now that the year is 2019. Here is a summary of the most important new changes:

A state law that’s sparked some controversy: the public safety fee for drivers. They’ll have to pay $32 when they renew their vehicle registration. There is controversy about this because the Legislature only authorized $16.

In an effort to get children more fresh air and exercise Arizona will also require public schools to provide at least two recess periods per day for those in kindergarten through 5th grade.

In healthcare, patients will soon get some protection from those surprise hospital bills. Under the new law, patients can dispute the bill through the Department of Insurance, if they receive an unexpected bill after receiving treatment at an in-network hospital, but with an out-of-network specialist. Those who are struggling to pay for their medical bills may want to consider crowdfunding, using platforms like GoFundMe, as a method of raising the necessary funds to cover them.

When speaking of transparency when it comes to hospital bills, hospitals not just in Arizona but across the country, will be required to post prices online for all of their procedures, services and medications.

The farm bill that President Donald Trump signed made hemp and the CBD oil industry legal, meaning that people can get products like those from BROWN’S CBD in a 100% legal and safe manner. Research shows CBD can help with seizures and arthritis pain plus much more. America isn’t the only country or location to legalize the production and consumption of CBD products, as an example read this article overviewing CBD legal in Germany and their law reform. Interestingly, the leading cannabis researchers BDS Analytics and Arcview Market Research project that the collective market for CBD sales in the U.S. will surpass $20 billion by 2024. Because of this, there are probably many entrepreneurs and CBD enthusiasts currently researching tips for marketing cbd business with the intentions to use this growth to their own advantage. We can probably expect an influx of CBD businesses over the next few months and years.

Another revision that will affect the whole country: the way alimony (or spousal support) is handled under the tax law. For those who get divorced in 2019 and beyond, the payment will no longer be tax deductible and the alimony received will no longer be considered taxable income. Some are estimating this new law will raise $6.9 billion for the government over the next decade.

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Marijuana and the Midterm Election Results

Posted on November 9, 2018 | Comments Off on Marijuana and the Midterm Election Results

After the 2018 midterm elections, Michigan became the 10th state, along with the District of Columbia, which voted to legalize marijuana. If you would like to purchase a grinder for your marijuana then you may want to check out weed grinders reviews. Michigan residents can now purchase marijuana legally through a Lansing MI marijuana for the first time in the state’s history. Although South Dakota voted down a measure to legalize pot, Missouri and Utah voters supported legalizing it for medicinal use. An initiative in North Dakota failed. Recreational marijuana is now legal in 10 states; medical marijuana is legal in 33. Medical and recreational marijuana is also making positive advancements in other locations too, such as Canada for example – you might want to Read more about different strains that Canadian dispensaries can offer their patients. For those American states that it is legal for right now, they can freely roam around with cannabis related paraphernalia (as this used to be a crime itself, especially if it had cannabis residue left over) such as bongs, dab rigs and vaporizers like from Hamilton Devices.

In June, Oklahoma voted to legalize medical marijuana, joining numerous other states that have such laws on the books. In January, Vermont became the first state to legalize marijuana through its legislature rather than a ballot initiative. The governor signed the bill into law.

Marijuana prohibition began 80 years ago when the federal government banned the sale, cultivation, and use of the cannabis plant. It remains illegal at the federal level. Overturning prohibition is one of the few hot-button topics with widespread support. A recent poll by the Pew Center found that 62% of Americans, including 74% of millennials, said they supported legalizing marijuana.

In October, Canada legalized marijuana nationally, becoming the first G7 country to do so. Mexico’s Supreme Court also ruled last month that marijuana prohibition is unconstitutional, paving the way for the country’s new leader, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to possibly follow Canada’s lead.

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