A limited liability company (LLC) exists structurally between a partnership and a corporation. Most small business owners are aware this hybrid legal entity is beneficial for financial management, yet an LLC is also a powerful estate planning tool for much the same reason. In the case of estate planning, a Family LLC permits the transfer of assets to children, grandchildren, and other family members at discounted rates without being heavily burdened by gift or estate taxes. As part of your estate plan, an LLC can protect assets during your lifetime, keep them in the family, and reduce taxes you and your family owe.
Why Do I Need a Family LLC?
All fifty states recognize a Family LLC as a legal entity, although each state has regulations governing its formation, running, and taxation. LLC owners (members) receive protection from personal liability in the event of lawsuits, debt, or other claims. This protection shelters personal property like a home, bank account, investments, and even vehicles. An LLC is subject to fewer state formalities and regulations than a corporation, so members can manage in nearly whatever manner they prefer.
A financial threshold defines the need for an LLC to help lower estate taxes if the estate is more than $12.06 million in 2022. If your estate is below this threshold, your estate planning attorney can help craft an estate plan that focuses on trusts to limit the probate process and estate taxes. While there is no legal reason you cannot create an LLC with fewer means, a trust will not require Family LLC’s initial and annual fees and more intensive reporting procedures.
Establishing an LLC in conjunction with your children permits you to:
- Maintain control over your assets while alive
- Effectively reduce estate taxes due to your children upon inheritance
- Distribute inheritance to your children with less gift tax during your lifetime
How is a Family LLC Structured?
The parents manage a Family LLC. The children or grandchildren hold shares in the LLC’s assets without management or voting rights. The parents can distribute, buy, sell, or trade the LLC’s assets but other members have restrictions regarding the sale of LLC shares, company withdrawal, or membership transfer. While gifting shares to younger members come under the gift tax, significant benefits permit you to gift more while lowering the tax value of your estate.
Upon establishing a family LLC following your state’s legal process, you can transfer assets into the LLC. The management will decide how best to translate the market value of these assets into LLC units of value in much the same manner as stock in a corporation. You are now ready to transfer ownership of LLC units to your children or grandchildren as you desire.
The value of units transferred to non-managing members becomes discounted because the LLC units become less marketable without management rights which is where tax benefits come into play. The manager of the LLC can often reduce the value of transferred units by as much as forty percent of their market value. In essence, non-managing members may receive an inheritance advance at a lower tax burden than otherwise due to their personal income taxes. Additionally, the overall value of your estate is reduced, lowering estate tax when you die.
What assets can be Transferred to a Family LLC?
You can transfer almost any asset into a family LLC, but typically they include:
- Property – Titles to land and structures built on that land are transferable; however, check with any mortgage holder before such a transfer if you need their approval.
- Cash – It is permissible to transfer money from personal bank accounts into the LLC and distribute it among members.
- Personal possessions – You may transfer ownership of stocks, precious metals, automobiles, boats, jewelry, artwork, or other significant collections or belongings into the family LLC.
Upon the death of an LLC owner, some states require the dissolution of the LLC if there is no specific succession plan. A transfer to another individual upon death as defined in the operating agreement creates a joint tenancy membership, avoiding the LLC’s dissolution. This transfer builds a revocable trust to hold the LLC membership or a probate process if the LLC goes through court to determine a succession plan.
Asset Protection with Your Family LLC
The key benefit of a business LLC is that the owner is not liable for the company’s debts. The Family LLC also provides the heirs’ protection from creditors in the event of a parent’s default, bankruptcy, or other family obligations. It is not permissible for creditors to go after these assets.
A family LLC can be a powerful tool to manage your assets and pass them to your heirs. You can maintain control over your estate as an LLC manager while providing significant tax benefits to you and your children. Creating a Family LLC for estate planning purposes is complex and requires legal expertise from an Estate Planning Attorney and a financial advisor before formalizing your limited liability company plan. Give us a call at (207)848-5600 or check out our CONTACT page for more ways to reach out.
