Case study 1

Inheritance partially lost in equitable distribution settlement

Frank and Patricia have a daughter, Mel, who marries Harry. While Harry is attractive and likeable, he has difficulty holding a job, and he is a poor money manager. Harry also likes to spend money lavishly, mostly on himself, rather than on Mel and the children. Mel’s parents die, and their estate is left to her. After several years of marriage, Mel and Harry divorce. Under the rules of equitable distribution, Harry receives half of Mel’s inheritance. Harry moves to another state and refuses to pay any child support for Frank and Patricia’s grandchildren.

Case study 2

Preserving your inheritance through Bloodline Trust

Sharon and Dave have a daughter, Lilly, who marries her high school sweetheart, Michael. Lilly and Michael have two children, Sandy and Kitty, and Michael has two children from a previous marriage. Michael is emotionally and physically abusive to Lilly, Sandy and Kitty. Sharon and Dave die.  Two years later, Michael and Lilly divorce. Sharon and Dave had established a bloodline trust for Lilly’s benefit. Lilly is the trustee and is permitted to use the money for the health, education, maintenance, and support of herself and her children. When Michael files for divorce, Lilly automatically is removed as trustee, and her brother Don assumes that role. When the divorce ends, Lilly is reinstated as a trustee. The monies in the trust can be used only for Lilly and her blood descendants. Michael is unable to reach the assets in the trust.

Considering a Bloodline Trust

The old saying, We can pick our friends, but we can’t pick our family, is particularly applicable in the case of sons- and daughters-in-law. Often, our children choose wonderful, trustworthy spouses with whom we get along very well. But occasionally, they choose partners who cannot be trusted, leaving us concerned for the emotional and financial well-being of our children and grandchildren. A child’s poor choice of spouse can translate into a parent’s estate planning headache, particularly when there is a divorce. With 50% of all marriages and 60% of second marriages ending in divorce,1 this is not an uncommon dilemma. ​ If you want to protect your child’s inheritance from an irresponsible spouse or ex-spouse, consider establishing a bloodline trust. A bloodline trust should always be considered when the son- or daughter-in-law:

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• Is a spendthrift and /or poor money manager.
• Has difficulty holding a job.
• Is a gambler.
• Has an addictive illness such as alcoholism or drug addition.
• Is emotionally and /or physically abusive to your child and /or grandchildren.
• Has children from a previous marriage.
• Is unfaithful.
• Is not close to and /or not on good terms with children from your child’s previous marriage.

Without a Bloodline Trust, what can happen?

Without a bloodline trust, a number of circumstances can put your child’s inheritance at risk.

• The inheritance can be squandered by your son- or daughter-in-law
• If the inheritance is commingled with the assets of your son- or daughter-in-law during marriage, it will be subject to equitable distribution during divorce proceedings.
• Grandchildren from your child’s first marriage could be disinherited by a son- or daughter-in-law from a second marriage.
• Your grandchildren could effectively be disinherited if your son- or daughter-in-law receives part of the inheritance and squanders it through misuse or poor money management.

​Benefits of the Bloodline Trust?

A bloodline trust is designed to keep money in the family, protecting the inheritance of your children and their descendants.  Bloodline trusts offer a number of important benefits:

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• Trust assets can be used only for blood descendants – your children and grandchildren. Specifically, assets in the trust can be used only for your children’s or grand- children’s health, education, maintenance, or support.
• Trust assets are never available to a son- or daughter-in-law, either during the marriage or in a divorce through equitable distribution or alimony.
• Trust assets are protected from your children’s creditors and those of your sons- or daughters-in-law.
• Your child may be given control over the trust.
• Your child, acting as trustee, can distribute principal to or for the benefit of himself/herself or to his or her descendants.
• The trust terminates at your child’s death, and the remaining principal can be paid only to your child’s descendants.
• The trust is revocable during your lifetime, but only by you.

Who Serves as Trustee of the Bloodline Trust?

Your child can serve as initial trustee of the bloodline trust or can share this responsibility with an independent co-trustee. At any time, your child can resign from the role of trustee. He or she will be removed from the role automatically in the event of a divorce or lawsuit and will be reinstated only when the divorce is complete, the divorce action is terminated, or the lawsuit is resolved. An independent successor trustee can be appointed by you in your will or trust, or can be nominated by your child. That successor trustee may be a financial institution or another child in the family.