Estate planning should encompass much more than simply creating a roadmap for the distribution of your estate assets when you are gone. In fact, one of the most important goals of a comprehensive estate plan is protecting those assets while you are still here. As your estate grows, the need to protect your assets from a wide variety of potential threats will increase as well. Consequently, your estate plan should include an asset protection component that includes techniques and strategies for protecting your hard-earned assets. To get you started with your asset protection strategies, the team at Amen, Gantner & Capriano has put together an “Asset Protection Worksheet” that can be used to get a clear picture of your estate assets and many of the potential threats to those assets. If you have specific questions about incorporating asset protection strategies into your estate plan, please feel free to contact our office to discuss your options.
Asset Protection Worksheet
- What is your marital status? ________________________________________.
- If you are married, what is your spouse’s name and age? ____________________________________________________.
- If you are married, is your spouse a U.S. citizen? ____________.
- If no, what is his/her status (permanent resident etc.) ________________________________________________________________.
- Have you ever been divorced? ___________.
- If yes, do you pay child support? ____________.
- If yes, to whom, how much, and for how long? _____________________________________________.
- If yes, do you pay alimony? ________________.
- If yes, to whom, how much, and for how long? _____________________________________________.
- Do you have children? ______________.
- If yes, please provide names and ages: ________________________________________________________________.
- Are you currently employed? ______________.
- If yes, who is your employer? ________________________.
- Is your spouse employed? ____________________
- If yes, who is his/her employer? ______________________.
- Are you retired? ________________.
- Are you a veteran? _______________.
- If employed, what is your annual income? _____________________________________.
- If your spouse is employed, what is his/her annual income? _______________________.
- Do you receive any government benefits such as Social Security retirement benefits? ____________.
- If yes, please explain what type and the monthly amount _____________________________________________.
- Are you, or will you be, entitled to veteran’s benefits? ________________.
- If yes, what type? _______________________________.
- Does your spouse receive any government benefits? _____________.
- If yes, what type and what is the monthly amount? _________________________________________________.
- If you are married, is there a pre-marital, or post-marital, agreement in place? _________.
- Do you, or your spouse, expect to receive inheritance at any point in the future? _______.
- Are you, or a spouse, the beneficiary of a trust? _______________.
- Do you own a business or interest in a business? _______________
- If yes, what type of business? ______________________.
- What is your ownership interest and your participation level? _____________________________________.
- What is the current value of your interest in the business? __________________.
- Are you personally liable for the debts of the business? __________________.
- Have you ever filed a gift tax return? _______________.
- If yes, when and for what amount? _____________________________.
- Are you and/or your spouse currently making annual gifts using the annual exclusion? ____________.
- If yes, to whom and in what amounts ________________________________________________________________.
- Do you have a child with special needs? _________________.
- Do you provide primary support to adult children or anyone other than a spouse? ______.
- If yes, to whom? _______________________________________.
- Do you own any life insurance policies? ___________.
- If yes, what is the total value of all policies? ___________________________.
- If yes, who are the beneficiaries? _____________________________________.
- Do you and/or your spouse own real property? ________________.
- If yes, what is the current fair market value of all property _________________.
- If yes, how is the property titled? _______________________.
- What is the value of all funds held in financial accounts owned by you and/or a spouse? ________________________.
- Do you and/or a spouse own securities? ________________.
- If yes, what is the total value of all securities? __________________.
- What is the value of all vehicles, boats, RVs etc. that you and/or your spouse own? ______________________________________.
- Do you own jewelry, art, collectibles, or other personal property of substantial value? ________.
- If yes, please describe and provide the current value. _______________________________________________________.
- Do you own an IRA, 401(k), or other retirement account? _______________.
- If yes, are you already taking disbursements? _____________.
- If yes, what is the value of all retirement accounts? _______________.
- If yes, who is the beneficiary? _____________________________.
- Do you have a pre-paid funeral plan? _____________________.
- If yes, with whom and what is the value? ____________________________.
- Have you ever filed bankruptcy? _________________________
- If yes, when and which chapter? ___________________________.
- Are you currently involved in any lawsuits that could result in financial liability on your part? ______________.
- If yes, please explain _______________________________________________.
Contact Us
If you have additional questions or concerns about asset protection, contact the experienced Missouri estate planning attorneys at Amen, Gantner & Capriano, Your Estate Matters, LLC by calling (314) 966-8077 to schedule an appointment.