While employer-provided legal insurance plans frequently cover estate planning, the scope is often basic. This is because the fees paid to attorneys by the insurance are significantly less than their standard market rates—a discrepancy reflected in the low premiums paid by employees. As a result, expect the included estate planning services to cover only fundamental needs.
Take estate planning services as an example, a typical legal insurance policy covers the following services on an annual basis:
•Living Trust
•General Power of Attorney
•Last Will
•Health Care Directive & Living Will
•Transfer Deed for 1 property
And our estate planning services usually cover the above plus the following:
•Certificate of Trust
•Assignment of Personal Property
•HIPAA Waiver
•Final Disposition Instructions
•Transfer of Business Interest
•Transfer of multiple properties and record those transfer deeds with counties
•Funding Instructions and Guidance
•Assembly and Notary Services
•Minor Seamless Care®
•Follow up and review every five years, or upon major life events
There are times when, depending on the creator’s own immigration status, and assets, more complex trust structures need to be used, such as those listed below. Legal insurance does not cover these complex types of trusts.
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Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT):
CRTs are suitable for philanthropic individuals with highly appreciated assets who want to generate income while supporting a charity. This trust is ideal for grantors who wish to reduce their tax burden, diversify their portfolio, and leave a lasting charitable legacy. -
Special Needs Trust (SNT):
SNTs are essential for parents or guardians of individuals with disabilities who want to provide financial support without jeopardizing government benefits. They’re also useful for individuals who receive a personal injury settlement and need to maintain eligibility for Medicaid or SSI. -
Bypass Trust / Credit Shelter Trust:
This trust is beneficial for married couples with substantial estates who want to minimize estate taxes. It’s particularly useful for grantors in high-net-worth families seeking to maximize the use of their estate tax exemptions. -
Asset Protection Trust:
Grantors who work in high-risk professions or own businesses with potential liability issues might consider this trust. It’s also suitable for individuals concerned about future creditors or potential lawsuits. -
Insurance Trust:
This trust is ideal for grantors with large life insurance policies who want to keep the proceeds out of their taxable estate. It’s particularly useful for business owners or high-net-worth individuals seeking to provide liquidity for estate taxes. -
Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT):
QDOTs are crucial for U.S. citizens married to non-citizen spouses who want to ensure their spouse receives estate tax benefits similar to those available to U.S. citizen spouses. This trust is particularly relevant for international couples with significant assets. -
Qualified Terminable Interest Property Trust (QTIP):
QTIP trusts are suitable for grantors in blended families who want to provide for their current spouse while ensuring that assets ultimately pass to children from a previous marriage. It’s also useful for those who want to maintain control over the final distribution of their assets. -
Blind Trust:
Blind trusts are particularly relevant for public officials, politicians, or high-profile business leaders who need to avoid potential conflicts of interest. They’re also useful for individuals who want to maintain privacy regarding their financial holdings.
Therefore, to achieve a more complete estate plan using employer legal insurance, you’ll likely need to purchase add-on services offered by the attorney beyond the basic included benefits.
（中文翻译参考）
虽然雇主提供的法律保险计划经常涵盖遗产规划，但其范围往往是基本的。这是因为保险支付给律师的费用远远低于他们的标准市场费率——雇员支付的低保费反映了这种差异。因此，所包含的遗产规划服务只能满足基本需求。
以遗产规划服务为例，典型的法律保险单每年涵盖以下服务：
-生前信托
-一般授权书
-生前遗嘱
-健康护理指示和生前遗嘱
-1处房产的转让契约
而我们面向其他客户的遗产规划服务一般还另外涵盖：
-信托证书
-个人财产转让
-HIPAA豁免
-最终处置指示
-商业利益转让
-转让多处房产，并在各县登记这些转让地契
-筹资指示和指导
-装订和公证服务
-未成年子女的无缝照护指示
-每五年跟进和审阅，或在发生重大生活事件时进行审阅
有些时候，取决于设立人本身的移民身份、资产情况，较为复杂的信托结构需要被使用，比如下文所列出的这些。而法律保险并不包含这些复杂的信托类型。
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慈善剩余信托:
适合拥有高度增值资产、希望产生收入同时支持慈善事业的慈善家。这种信托适合那些想减轻税务负担、分散投资组合并留下持久慈善遗产的委托人。 -
特殊需求信托:
对于有残疾子女的父母或监护人来说至关重要，他们希望提供经济支持而不影响政府福利。也适用于获得人身伤害赔偿金并需要保持医疗补助或社会保障收入资格的个人。 -
遗产税避税信托 / 信用庇护信托:
这种信托有利于拥有大量资产的已婚夫妇，他们希望最小化遗产税。特别适合希望最大化利用遗产税豁免的高净值家庭的委托人。 -
资产保护信托:
从事高风险职业或拥有潜在责任问题的企业的委托人可能会考虑这种信托。也适合担心未来债权人或潜在诉讼的个人。 -
保险信托:
这种信托适合拥有大额人寿保险单的委托人，他们希望将保险收益排除在应税遗产之外。特别适用于寻求为遗产税提供流动性的企业主或高净值个人。 -
合格国内信托 (QDOT):
对于与非公民配偶结婚的美国公民来说至关重要，他们希望确保配偶获得与美国公民配偶类似的遗产税优惠。这种信托特别适合拥有大量资产的国际夫妇。 -
合格可终止权益财产信托 (QTIP):
QTIP信托适合重组家庭的委托人，他们希望为现任配偶提供支持，同时确保资产最终传给前婚姻的子女。也适用于那些希望保持对最终资产分配控制权的人。 -
盲目信托:
盲目信托特别适合需要避免潜在利益冲突的公职人员、政治家或高知名度的商业领袖。也适用于希望保持财务持有隐私的个人。
因此，要利用雇主法律保险实现更完整的遗产计划，您很可能需要购买律师提供的基本福利之外的附加服务。