what type of lawyer do i need to refuse an inheritance

by Shirley Thompson 6 min read

Before you decide to refuse and disclaim your inheritance, you should consult with a New York City probate and estate attorney. The attorney can prepare the disclaimer to help you with other estate planning needs.

If you are considering disclaiming your inheritance, it is important to discuss your intentions with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney because the disclaimer must meet strict statutory and timing requirements in order to avoid adverse tax consequences.Nov 18, 2013

Full Answer

Can I refuse to accept an inheritance?

Sep 03, 2020 ¡ IRS Requirements for Refusing an Inheritance. Under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, to refuse an inheritance, you must execute a written disclaimer that clearly expresses your "irrevocable and unqualified" intent to refuse the bequest. This disclaimer should be signed, notarized, and filed with the probate court and/or the executor of the ...

How to decline a gift or inheritance?

Jan 11, 2021 ¡ You can sign and file an inheritance disclaim statement in person or a representative can file it statement above on your behalf by means of a Power of Attorney. If you do it by means of a Power of Attorney (PoA), there will be also PoA costs. It is important to take into consideration also as follows:

Can a person accept a gift/inheritance and disclaim the rest?

If a person does choose to renounce an appointment that's given to them, Idaho statutes provide the specific instructions on what they need to do. According to Idaho Code 15-3-203(b)(2)(c) all they need to do is file an appropriate writing with the …

How do I disclaim an inheritance from a will?

Mar 12, 2022 · How to Disclaim Inheritance Rights. If you feel that refusing an inheritance is the right thing to do, for whatever reason, you need to know what’s required to do so. First, there are certain guidelines you need to follow to satisfy the IRS and ensure that you’ve properly disclaimed an inheritance. Specifically, the IRS requires that:

How do you reject an inheritance?

How to Make a DisclaimerPut the disclaimer in writing.Deliver the disclaimer to the person in control of the estate—usually the executor or trustee.Complete the disclaimer within nine months of the death of the person leaving the property. ... Do not accept any benefit from the property you're disclaiming.

Can you opt out of an inheritance?

The answer is yes. The technical term is "disclaiming" it. If you are considering disclaiming an inheritance, you need to understand the effect of your refusal—known as the "disclaimer"—and the procedure you must follow to ensure that it is considered qualified under federal and state law.

What happens if someone doesn't want their inheritance?

If you refuse to accept an inheritance, you will not be responsible for inheritance taxes, but you'll have no say in who receives the assets in your place. The bequest passes either to the contingent beneficiary listed in the will or, if that person died without a will, according to your state's laws of intestacy.Sep 3, 2020

Can a beneficiary reject an inheritance?

You can also disclaim an inheritance if you're the named beneficiary of a financial account or instrument, such as an individual retirement account (IRA), 401(k) or life insurance policy. Disclaiming means that you give up your rights to receive the inheritance.Mar 11, 2022

Do you have to report inheritance money to IRS?

No, but your mother may be required to report this transaction to the IRS as a taxable gift. Generally, the transfer of any property or interest in property for less than adequate and full consideration is a gift.Nov 4, 2021

Can you partially disclaim an inheritance?

The beneficiary can disclaim only a portion of an inherited IRA or asset, allowing some to flow to the contingent beneficiary(s). Partial disclaiming is either a specific dollar or percentage amount as of the date of death.Jan 25, 2019

Can inheritance be paid to someone else?

What is a Deed of Variation? If you have recently received an inheritance, you may be able to redirect all or part of that inheritance to other people. This can be achieved through a Deed of Variation. You can redirect your inheritance to anyone you want.

Can an executor override a beneficiary?

Yes, an executor can override a beneficiary's wishes as long as they are following the will or, alternative, any court orders. Executors have a fiduciary duty to the estate beneficiaries requiring them to distribute estate assets as stated in the will.

Why do you decline an inheritance?

Tax Reasons for Declining an Inheritance. Sometimes, the costs of receiving a gift may be greater than the benefits of the gift, as a result of tax implications. In these cases, refusing the gift may be the tax-efficient thing to do.

What is the technical term for disclaiming an inheritance?

The technical term is "disclaiming" it. If you are considering disclaiming an inheritance, you need to understand the effect of your refusal—known as the "disclaimer" —and the procedure you must follow to ensure that it is considered qualified under federal and state law.

How to disclaim an asset?

According to the IRS, the person disclaiming the asset must meet the following requirements to use a disclaimer: 2 ďťż 1 Provide an irrevocable and unqualified refusal to accept the assets. 2 Make the disclaimer in writing. 3 Disclaim the asset within nine months of the death of the assets' original owner (one exception: if a minor beneficiary wishes to disclaim, the disclaimer cannot take place until after the minor reaches the age of majority, at which time they will have nine months to disclaim the assets). 4 The person disclaiming cannot have benefited from the proceeds of the disclaimed property. 5 The person disclaiming cannot have the assets indirectly passed to them. 6 The person disclaiming must have no influence over who is the contingent beneficiary.

How long do you have to disclaim assets after death?

Disclaim the asset within nine months of the death of the assets' original owner (one exception: if a minor beneficiary wishes to disclaim, the disclaimer cannot take place until after the minor reaches the age of majority, at which time they will have nine months to disclaim the assets).

How long does a spouse have to decide how much to put in a trust?

Assets up to the amount of your available exemption amount can transfer to the trust after your death, but the surviving spouse has nine months to decide how much to put in the trust, depending on their situation and the inheritance-tax laws at that time. 6 ďťż.

How long does it take Tim to withdraw his inheritance?

Although Tim is due to receive the inheritance, he would have to withdraw the funds over the following 10-year period. After speaking to an attorney, he decides to disclaim the inheritance so the funds can go to his mother.

Can a person who disclaims assets be passed to them?

The person disclaiming cannot have the assets indirectly passed to them. The person disclaiming must have no influence over who is the contingent beneficiary. Some states require the disclaimer to include a statement that says the person disclaiming the assets is not subject to any bankruptcy proceedings.

What happens if you refuse to inherit?

Once you sign off on a refusal to inherit, the assets you would have received are passed on to the next person in line. That’s important to remember if you plan to disclaim an inheritance so that your child or another family member can receive it instead.

What does "disclaim inheritance" mean?

In a nutshell, it means you’re refusing any assets that you stand to inherit under the terms of someone’s will, a trustor, in the case of a person who dies intestate, the inheritance laws of your state.

How long does it take to disclaim an inheritance?

You disclaim the assets within nine months of the death of the person you inherited them from.

Can you pass an inheritance to someone else?

Allowing the inheritance to pass to someone else would allow for the wishes of the deceased person to be more accurately fulfilled. Receiving an inheritance would affect your ability to qualify for certain types of federal benefits, such as student loans or Medicaid.

Can you refuse an inheritance?

Yes, you can refuse an inheritance or a part of an inheritance. Here's how the process works - and why someone would want to do so. Menu burger. Close thin. Facebook.

Can you inherit an IRA?

Inheriting an IRA, for example, can help you add to your retirement savings but it can trigger tax liabilities that you need to be prepared for. It may also be a good idea to review your own estate plan if you stand to inherit from someone else to determine how it could affect your estate and gift tax planning.

Can you reverse an inheritance disclaimer?

It’s also important to keep in mind that disclaiming an inheritance is permanent. If you change your mind down the line and decide you do want the assets you would have inherited, you can’t reverse your original disclaimer. But you could avoid disclaimer’s remorse by only refusing part of an inheritance.

How to decline a gift?

To decline a gift or inheritance, you need to execute a disclaimer. In order for the disclaimer not to have any effect on you for estate or gift tax it must be a “qualified disclaimer”. A Qualified Disclaimer must be done within nine months of date of the gift and you must not have exerted any control over the property. By doing the qualified disclaimer, you will have been deemed to have predeceased the gift and the gift goes to the next person in line to inherit under your parents’ estate plans. By only doing a disclaimer, the government will count the inheritance as going to you and then you made the gift to the next person in line.

What happens if you do a qualified disclaimer?

By doing the qualified disclaimer, you will have been deemed to have predeceased the gift and the gift goes to the next person in line to inherit under your parents’ estate plans. By only doing a disclaimer, the government will count the inheritance as going to you and then you made the gift to the next person in line.

What happens to a gift when the inheritor dies?

What this means is that once the inheritor dies, they will have to pay additional federal taxes on their estate and they may not want to, so they disclaim the gift in order to shift that responsibility to someone else. In addition, there are two important things to bear in mind about gift disclaimers:

What is a disclaimer in estate tax?

This refusal is known as a “disclaimer.”. In other words, a disclaimer is the legal term for an unconditional refusal to accept a gift or inheritance. For gift and estate tax purposes, once a person makes ...

What is a disclaimer in writing?

The disclaimer must be in writing and that writing needs to: Identify the property being disclaimed (e.g., $5,000); Be written in terms that demonstrate a clear and unconditional refusal; and. Be signed by the person refusing the interest in property (or their legal representative).

What is a valid disclaimer?

In general, a valid disclaimer must include the following elements: Be signed by the person refusing the interest in property (or their legal representative).

Can you disclaim part of an inheritance?

Generally speaking, a person who receives a gift or inheritance cannot disclaim part of it and then accept the rest. For instance, returning to the example from above about the $5,000 from an aunt, the inheritor could not accept half of the money (i.e., $2,500) and deny or disclaim the other half of it. However, a person may be able ...

Who is Jaclyn from LegalMatch?

Prior to joining LegalMatch, Jaclyn was a paralegal and freelance writer.

When do you have to deliver a written refusal?

Delivery must occur within 9 months of the date of the creation of the interest (or if the inheritor is a minor, then no later than 9 months after they turn 21 years of age).

How to refuse inheritance?

There are two methods of refusing an inheritance – by disclaiming it or by creating a deed of variation in the Will. It should be noted however for the refusal of a gift to be effective, it must be declined in writing and executed within two years of the date of death of the testator of the will.

Why do people refuse to give inheritance?

Refusing your Inheritance. For many people the prospect of receiving a gift in a Will is much appreciated but for others it can be unwelcome. There are a whole host of reasons why you are refusing your inheritance some personal, some practical and some to benefit others. Whatever the reason, a beneficiary is under no obligation to accept any gift ...

What does it mean when a beneficiary disclaims their inheritance?

Where a beneficiary ‘disclaims’ their inheritance, this simply means they refuse to take it. When refusing your inheritance in this way the disclaimer must apply to the whole gift. The beneficiary can’t accept part of the gift and decline what they don’t want.

What is the benefit of refusing inheritance?

The refused section of inheritance bypasses the intended beneficiary completely and therefore there is no tax implications on their estate. Another benefit is that the refused inheritance can be redirected to whoever they choose, which can include someone who was not mentioned in the Will as beneficiary.

Can a beneficiary accept a gift left in a will?

Whatever the reason, a beneficiary is under no obligation to accept any gift left to them in a Will and has the right to refuse or disclaim it. Here are some points to consider in respect of declining a gift. There are two methods of refusing an inheritance – by disclaiming it or by creating a deed of variation in the Will.

Can a beneficiary redirect their inheritance?

However it is important to note that there could be tax implications by doing this method and it may not be appropriate under certain circumstances. Professional legal advice should be sort when a beneficiary wishes to redirect their inheritance in this way.

Can a beneficiary choose who their section will be distributed to?

The beneficiary that refuses the inheritance cannot choose who their section will be distributed to. Professional legal advice should be sort before refusing your inheritance by disclaiming it, every beneficiary’s circumstances are different and disclaiming may not be the most efficient way of achieving the outcome you are looking for.

Gary Todd Dupler

I agree with my colleagues. You should hire an attorney who is not only versed in probate procedure, but also is experienced in litigation. Many probate filings are not adversarial or contested, but your situation is shaping up to be a contest.

Christopher Irvin Simser

A Probate Attorney familiar with the County and the courts where the property is located

Joseph Michael Pankowski Jr

Attorney McMahon is correct. You need to consult with an experienced probate litigation attorney to provide you with your options going forward. Good luck to you.

Ruth Elaine McMahon

Please consult an estate litigation attorney in the county where the property is located.

Colin Lansford Guy

Without knowing the name of any of the potential parties I cannot provide any specific legal advice, as it is possible that a conflict of interest could exist. Generally, you should consult with an attorney with experience in this area, who may be able to provide an initial assessment after checking to ensure there are no conflicts...

Craig F. Young

While I agree with most of the observations of the other attorneys, one important consideration is producing the will or a copy thereof. It will be very hard to prove any specific rights under the will if you cannot prove what it says. Without the will, you may be forced to proceed as though your mother died without one. More

Steven John Clausen

Whether you want the will probated or have property pass by intestacy will depend on what will provides for you. Hire a Texas probate attorney to advise you. More

Maria Sara Lowry

The four-year deadline is to open an administration. You may not need one. You DO need to pay for a consultation with s probate lawyer and probably need to hire a probate lawyer.

John Gus Zgourides

You can still apply for probate, but you have lost some of your options by allowing more than 4 years to pass. The will can still serve to pass title to real property. See a probate attorney immediately.

Can You Refuse An Inheritance?

Image
The answer is yes. The technical term is "disclaiming" it. If you are considering disclaiming an inheritance, you need to understand the effect of your refusal—known as the "disclaimer"—and the procedure you must follow to ensure that it is considered qualified under federal and state law. A qualified disclaimer c…
See more on investopedia.com

Requirements For Using A Disclaimer

  • For tax purposes, disclaiming assets is the same as never having owned them.3 However, it's also possible to disclaim only a percentage of the inherited assets. For these reasons, it's important to follow the precise requirements of a qualified disclaimer. If the primary beneficiary does not follow these requirements, the property in question will be considered a personal asset that the…
See more on investopedia.com

What Becomes of The Assets?

  • The person disclaiming the assets does not get to choose who is next in line to receive the disclaimed property. Instead, the assets will pass to the contingent beneficiary selected by the original owner, as if the first beneficiary had died prior to inheriting the assets.3ďťż
See more on investopedia.com

Additional Requirements For Ira Heirs

  • 2019 and Prior
    Before the SECURE Act went into effect in December 2019, beneficiaries of IRAs had the ability to "stretch" IRA distributions over multiple generations.5 It was an effective wealth transfer method that minimized taxes. Inherited IRAs had required minimum distributions(RMDs) that ha…
  • 2020 and Later
    The SECURE Act has modified the rules around inherited retirement plans considerably for any plan owner who died on Jan. 1, 2020, or later. Under the new legislation, beneficiaries are classified as one of three different categories: eligible designated beneficiaries (EDBs), designat…
See more on investopedia.com

Example of Disclaiming An Inheritance

  • For example, assume that Julio designated his adult son, Tim, as his retirement beneficiary. Julio passes away in February 2020. Julio's wife (and Tim’s mother) Priya is still alive, and she is the contingent beneficiary listed in Julio's plan documents. Although Tim is due to receive the inheritance, he would have to withdraw the funds over the following 10-year period. After speaki…
See more on investopedia.com

Planning Ahead

  • If you have an IRA and you wish to give your primary beneficiary this added flexibility when they inherit the IRA, you need to plan ahead. You should ask yourself these two questions: 1. Do I have a current will? 2. Did I or my lawyer include a contingent beneficiary in my will? To answer these questions, you'll have to find your will and double-check its contents. Also, don't forget the IRA b…
See more on investopedia.com

Leaving An Income

  • Another estate planning tool that relies on disclaimers is a disclaimer trust. You can use this type of trust to make sure your beneficiary will have an income from the disclaimed property. Assets up to the amount of your available exemption amount can transfer to the trust after your death, but the surviving spouse has nine months to decide how much to put in the trust, depending on t…
See more on investopedia.com

Tax Reasons For Declining An Inheritance

  • Sometimes, the costs of receiving a gift may be greater than the benefits of the gift, as a result of tax implications. In these cases, refusing the gift may be the tax-efficient thing to do. Trusts, as just described, and qualified disclaimers are used to avoid federal estate tax and gift tax, and to create legal intergenerational transfers that avoid taxation. As noted above, if an individual make…
See more on investopedia.com

Other Reasons to Disclaim Inherited Assets

  • In addition to reducing federal estate and income taxes, there are a few more reasons why a beneficiary may want to disclaim inherited assets: 1. To avoid receiving undesirable real property, such as an eroding beachfront property or property with high real estate taxes that may take a long time to sell 2. To avoid subjecting the assets to creditors in case the primary beneficiary is i…
See more on investopedia.com

The Bottom Line

  • Trusts can be used in estate planning to give individuals and couples greater control over how assets are transferred to heirs with the fewest tax consequences. Sometimes, however, disclaiming assets makes the most sense. No special form or document must be completed to disclaim inherited assets. A letter usually suffices, providing it meets the requirements listed ab…
See more on investopedia.com