The Importance of Updating Your Sweetheart Will

Answer: In our practice, we see a lot of Last Will & Testaments that were executed when a couple was younger that were appropriate when drafted but outdated.  Your Last Will & Testament probably leaves everything to each other and then to your children.  This is referred to as a “Sweetheart Will.”  While this was appropriate when you were younger, it is not the best estate plan for you and your husband now.  As you get older, there is more of a need to do additional planning in order to protect your assets in the event that you or your husband require long term care, either at home or in a nursing facility.

Planning for a Supplemental Needs Trust

If there comes a time when you or your husband require care, you may be able to rely on Medicaid to pay for some or all of the care.  In order to qualify for Medicaid, you must meet certain asset and income requirements.  There is planning you can do within your Last Will & Testament in order to protect assets.  One provision that should be incorporated into your new Last Will & Testament is a trigger “Supplemental Needs Trust.”  This is a trust for the benefit of a beneficiary who is disabled in order to preserve their inheritance so that the disabled beneficiary can continue to receive their Medicaid or SSI benefits.  The trustee can use the trust assets to provide for the needs of the beneficiary which will supplement, but not supplant their government benefits.  This is crucial if one spouse is receiving government benefits when the other spouse passes away.  You do not want all of the assets going to the surviving spouse outright as it would disqualify your spouse for the benefits.  If a spouse inherits assets in a Supplemental Needs Trust, they will not become ineligible as a result of that inheritance.  Having the trigger Supplemental Needs Trust is important for your surviving spouse or any of your beneficiaries that may rely on government benefits.