The New Tax Plan and You

WHAT THE TAX REFORM BILL MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALS (in digestible form).
 
With gratitude to the Journal of Accountancy….  We will be posting over the next three days how your economic life will be changed by the new tax act. 
 
Today we are posting WHAT THE TAX REFORM BILL MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALS.
 
Tomorrow we will move to Small and Family Businesses.
 
We have received calls from financial planners about things that their clients heard on the radio yesterday which were old news and WRONG.
 
The name of the game is still, and even more so now, living within your means.  However, as Ben Franklin would say from his place on the “C” note: A penny saved is a penny earned.”  So let tax savings be icing on the cake, not the cake itself.
 
And remember, all this goes away automatically in 2025 unless the Congress… unless the Congress….  Never mind.  Good Luck.


https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2017/dec/tax-reform-bill-changes-for-individuals-201718070.html

SCOTUS goes 5-4 for Obergefell; Impact on planning for same-sex couples

On June 26, 2015 the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges, the name assigned to a series of consolidated cases on same-sex marriage rights. The Court ruled 5-4 in favor of the petitioners, holding that same-sex married couples are entitled to equal protection under the laws, and that their marriages must be recognized nationwide.

Case background

Jim Obergefell & his longtime partner, John Arthur, sought to enter into a legal marriage. They were residents of Ohio and Mr. Arthur was terminally ill with ALS. They wanted to solemnize their relationship before Mr. Arthur’s death. They chartered a plane to Maryland, where same-sex marriage is legal, and they were married on the tarmac at a Baltimore airport. They then returned to Ohio as a married couple.

Soon after, Mr. Arthur died. The State of Ohio issued a death certificate that did not identify Obergefell as surviving spouse. Mr. Obergefell sued the state (naming Hodges, director of the Ohio Department of Health) to have himself named as Mr. Arthur’s surviving spouse, arguing that Ohio’s state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage – including nonrecognition of marriages solemnized in other states –violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment[1]. Obergefell’s case was consolidated with a series of other related same-sex marriage cases to resolve two specific issues under the 14th Amendment.

Issues resolved by Obergefell Opinion

  1. The 14th Amendment requires states to issue marriage licenses to individuals of the same gender.
  2. The 14th Amendment requires states to formally recognize same-sex marriages of that state’s residents, when those residents entered into a same-sex marriage in another state where the marriage was legally valid.

Impact of Obergefell for same-sex married couples

State laws banning same-sex marriage are effectively invalidated. Same-sex spouses will now enjoy all state tax benefits and other spousal benefits that other couples enjoy. (Including marriage, divorce, adoption & child custody, separation agreements & QDROs, marital property, survivorship spousal death benefits, inheritance through intestacy, priority rights in guardianship proceedings, contract rights, etc., as referenced above.)

After Obergefell, same-sex couples are afforded the same spousal rights that other couples enjoy. Some of these occur independent of proactive planning, like:

  • Adoption or child custody proceedings, even in states that previously did not recognize two persons of the same gender as a child’s parents (at issue in some of the cases that were consolidated with Obergefell);
  • Divorce proceedings, if necessary, now that states must recognize the validity of the marriage wherever solemnized;
  • Spousal priority in matters concerning an incapacitated spouse’s care, or recognition in the event guardianship or conservatorship proceedings are necessary;
  • Spousal survivorship rights under state pension or other retirement benefits, even in states that previously did not recognize same-sex marriage;
  • Spousal inheritance through intestacy (when a spouse dies without a valid will or trust);
  • Spousal identity or priority in the event will or trust proceedings are contested after death;
  • The ability to file taxes jointly as a married couple;
  • Spousal privilege in criminal proceedings where a spouse is a defendant;
  • Any other spousal contract right where the contract is construed under the laws of a state that did not recognize the marriage.

Couples absolutely should still proactively plan. Just because states recognize marriage doesn’t mean couples should not take control of their will and trust planning, and clearly set forth their wishes in enforceable legal documents. All the good reasons to plan apply just as much to same-sex married couples as well as opposite-sex couples:

  • Proactively expressing their wishes concerning their medical care during periods of incapacity (through durable powers of attorney);
  • Structuring the distribution of their property – ideally in protective trusts – for the benefit of their surviving spouse and children after death;
  • Establishing trusts to preserve privacy, and to avoid the delay and expense of guardianship or probate proceedings during incapacity and after death;
  • Providing mechanisms that allow flexibility in administering those trusts to account for changes in the law, or changes in beneficiary circumstances after death (through carefully-tailored choice of law, decanting, or trust protector provisions);
  • Providing clarity and discretion to a trustee to make strategic tax decisions through trust administration after death (through various investment powers, and accounting and tax provisions);
  • Providing for family members other than a spouse or child through their estate plans;
  • Making gifts to religious or other charitable organizations through their estates;
  • Allowing orderly operation and transition of businesses or professional practices through incapacity or death

Obergefell likely represents the last word on same-sex marriage, elevating these relationships to equal stature with other marriages. While same-sex married couples are now entitled to equal protection under the laws of every state, the efficacy of those laws in ensuring dignity in disability and death, and orderly and structured distribution of property after death is very limited for all couples. Families should always take control of their planning and leave as little to state law interpretation as possible. That is best done through careful planning with experienced professionals who can intelligently guide the family through the process.

WealthCounsel is a nationwide association of trust & estate attorneys. WealthCounsel provides its members with everything they need to elevate their law practice — best-in-class legal drafting technology; virtual and live education forums with an extensive online legal library; and practice development and law firm management programs.

__________________________________________

[1] The 14th Amendment applies the 5th Amendment equal protection clause to the states. (Note: Same-sex couples already receive equal treatment under federal law after U.S. v. Windsor. For all federal tax purposes and other benefits under federal law (ERISA, etc.), same-sex couples are treated the same as any other married couple.)

Estate Planning in 2013 and Beyond under the New Tax Law

The recent tax legislation dealing with the “fiscal cliff” included significant revisions to the estate tax law that will affect estate planning for the foreseeable future. These revisions include:

  • The federal gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax provisions were made permanent as of December 31, 2012. This is great news because, for more than ten years, we have been planning with uncertainty under legislation that contained expiration dates. And while “permanent” in Washington only means that this is the law until Congress decides to change it, at least we now have some certainty with which to plan.
     
  • The federal gift and estate tax exemption will remain at $5 million per person, adjusted annually for inflation. In 2012, the exemption (with the adjustment) was $5,120,000. The amount for 2013 is expected to be $5,250,000. This means that the opportunity to transfer large amounts during lifetime or at death remains, so those who did not take advantage of this in 2011 or 2012 can still do so. Also, with the amount tied to inflation, more assets can be transferred each year.
     
  • The generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemption also remains at the same level as the gift and estate tax exemption ($5 million, adjusted for inflation). This tax, which is in addition to the federal estate tax, is imposed on amounts that are transferred (by gift or at death) to grandchildren and others who are more than 37.5 years younger than you; in other words, transfers that “skip” a generation. Having this exemption now be “permanent” allows for planning that will greatly benefit future generations.
     
  • Married couples can take advantage of these higher exemptions and, with proper planning, transfer up to $10+ million through lifetime gifting and at death.
     
  • The tax rate on estates larger than the exempt amounts increased from 35% to 40%.
     
  • The “portability” provision was also made permanent. This allows the unused exemption of the first spouse to die to transfer to the surviving spouse, without having to set up trust planning specifically for this purpose. However, there are still many benefits to using trusts, especially for those who want to ensure that their estate tax exemption will be fully utilized by the surviving spouse.
     
  • Separate from the new tax law, the amount for annual tax-free gifts has increased to $14,000.
Therefore, for most Americans the 2012 Tax Act has removed the emphasis on estate taxplanning and put it back on the real reasons to do estate planning: taking care of ourselves and our families the way we want. Those who might be tempted to skip estate planning because their estates are less than the $5 million range should remember that proper estate planning provides peace of mind by allowing Americans to:
  • Avoid state inheritance/death taxes that have lower exemptions than federal taxes;
     
  • Avoid probate, which can be quite expensive and time-consuming in some states; 
     
  • Ensure their assets are distributed the way they want;
     
  • Protect an inheritance from irresponsible spending, a child’s creditors, and from being part of a child’s divorce proceedings;
     
  •  Provide for a loved one with special needs without losing valuable government benefits;
     
  •  See that control of their assets remains in the hands of a trusted person;
     
  • Provide for minor children or grandchildren; 
     
  •  Help protect assets from creditors and frivolous lawsuits (especially important for professionals);
     
  • Protect themselves, their family and their assets in the event of incapacity; and
     
  • Help create meaningful charitable gifts.
For those with larger estates, ample opportunities remain to transfer large amounts tax-free to future generations. But with the increase in estate and income tax rates, it is critical that professional planning begins as soon as possible. Also, with Congress looking for more ways to increase revenue, many reliable estate planning strategies may soon be restricted or eliminated. Thus, it is best to put these strategies into place now so that they are more likely to be grandfathered from future law changes.
 
For those who have been sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see what Congress would do, the wait is over. Now that we have some certainty with “permanent” laws, there is no excuse to postpone planning any longer.

How Should Non-Traditional Partners Hold Title to Property

In my July 2009 article in the WealthCounsel Quar­terly entitled Special Considerations in Planning for Non-traditional Families, I briefly addressed the topic of how non-traditional partners should hold title to property. This article takes an expanded look at the ways non-traditional partners can take and hold title to property, and some of the advantages, disadvantages, tax conse­quences and potential pitfalls of each.
 
Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship
As stated in my previous article, non-traditional partners typically come to the table with the assumption that joint tenancy with right of survivorship (JTWROS) is the obvi­ous and best way for them to hold title to their shared property to ensure efficient transfer of the property at their death. Frequently, a real estate or title agent will suggest the partners choose this form of ownership because of the survivorship benefit, but seldom have the partners consid­ered the implications of this type of ownership beyond the right of survivorship.
 
Most non-traditional partners are aware that JTWROS al­lows property to pass to the surviving owner by operation of title, thereby avoiding probate. This can be particularly beneficial when one or both non-traditional partners have family members who may not agree with their choice of partner, since this method of passing property at death is not subject to challenge.
 
JTWROS, however, is not a complete answer to avoid­ing probate and passing property at death. This method of planning only looks one step ahead to when the first partner dies. When the second partner dies, if no additional plan­ning has been done, the property will be subject to probate. The property will also pass through probate if both partners die simultaneously.
 
If no additional planning has been done, JTWROS can also pose a problem if one partner becomes incapacitated. Since this method of ownership requires the signature of both partners to transfer the property, the property cannot be sold while one partner is incapacitated. Absent a du­rable power of attorney, the incapacity of one partner could necessitate time consuming and expensive guardianship or conservatorship proceedings if the property is to be sold while the partner remains incapacitated.
 
JTWROS can also be unilaterally severed by one partner without consent of the other by transfer or encumbrance of that owner’s separate share. Such action automatically converts the JTWROS to tenancy in common, and the other partner has no recourse to prevent this conversion.
 
JTWROS also exposes the property to the creditors of each individual partner. With JTWROS, each partner is consid­ered to own a separate share of the property. Thus a credi­tor of one partner may attach that partner’s portion of the property to recover that partner’s individual debt.
 
Another potential pitfall is that when one owner of property that is held JTWROS by unmarried partners dies, §2040 of the Internal Revenue Code requires inclusion of 100% of the fair market value of the property in the estate of the first partner to die, unless the surviving partner can prove contribution to the acquisition of the property. To overcome this presumption, the surviving partner must provide evi­dence as to his or her contribution to both the down pay­ment and the mortgage payments.
 
JTWROS is also only available to partners who wish to own equal percentages of the property. If one partner contributes a greater share to the down payment, mort­gage payments, or improvements, that partner has made a taxable gift to the other. A taxable gift also occurs when one partner adds the other partner to the title of the first partner’s existing property – a commonly overlooked is­sue among non-traditional partners. It is very important to counsel non-traditional partners who wish to add their
partner to the title of their existing property that doing so creates a permanent gift that cannot be revoked if they later have a parting of the ways.

Tenancy in Common
Non-traditional partners may choose to hold property as tenants in common (TIC) to avoid some of these potential pitfalls. As TIC, partners can own different percentages of the property, and that percentage can be defined and can change over time by separate agreement. For example, one partner can gift a share of the property equal to his or her annual exclusion amount each year until one half of the property has been gifted. The value of the gifted shares may be reduced by a fractional share discount, due to the reduced marketability of undivided interests in real proper­ty. Use of a fractional share discount can allow the partners to equalize their ownership more quickly without exceed­ing their annual gift exclusion amount.
 
One partner can also sell a percentage of his or her exist­ing property to the other partner as TIC, either in install­ments or in contract for proceeds of a future sale. The sale of shares to the partner need not be for fair market value; however, if the shares are sold at an egregious discount, a taxable gift may be inferred. If the sale of shares of proper­ty to the second partner reflects an appreciation in property value from the selling partner’s initial acquisition cost, the selling partner may incur capital gains tax. If the property in question is the selling partner’s principal residence, the selling partner may exclude capital gains up to the allow­able amount (currently $250K). The partners must keep in mind, however, that when the property is eventually sold, whatever capital gains exclusion the original selling partner previously claimed on that property will have been already used up to the extent of the previous exclusion amount. The partners should still be able to claim the unused balance of the then available capital gains exclusion at the time of the later sale.
 
With TIC, on the death of the first partner, only that part­ner’s share of TIC property will be included in his or her estate. A fractional share discount should also be allowed, since §2040 does not apply to TIC property. Compare Ellie B. Williams v. Com’r, 75 T.C.M. 1758 (1998) (fractional discount allowed for estate tax value of share of TIC prop­erty) with Estate of Young v. Com’r, 110 T.C. 297 (1998) (no fractional discount allowed for estate tax value of JTWROS property under §2040).
Unlike JTWROS, with TIC, some estate planning is required to pass title upon death of the first partner. How­ever, probate can still be easily avoided by placing the TIC shares in the partners’ revocable living trusts.
 
Tenancy By the Entireties
Tenancy by the entireties (TBE) is a form of joint own­ership with survivorship benefits plus additional asset protection benefits. TBE is not available in all states, and it is only available to married couples. However, with same-sex marriage laws constantly evolving, TBE is available to same-sex married couples in Massachusetts and presum­ably now in Vermont, with other states likely to come on board in the future.
 
Unlike JTWROS, where each partner is considered to own a separate share of the property, with TBE, the spouses as a spousal entity own the entire property, thus one TBE owner cannot unilaterally sever his or her property interest. In Massachusetts, creditors may still attach TBE property for the debts of one spouse; however, if the non-debtor spouse survives the debtor spouse, the creditor takes nothing. Creditors may attach TBE property for any debt which is the joint debt of both spouses. Keeping this in mind, to the extent that the spouses are careful to keep their debt sepa­rate, TBE affords a level of asset protection that JTWROS does not.
 
One Partner’s Name Only
Depending on the partners’ circumstances, there may be situations where it is advantageous for only one partner to hold legal title to the partners’ shared property. Some examples include where one partner may own the entire property to begin with and the relationship may be too new for joint ownership to be appropriate. Or one partner may have credit problems that the property may be needlessly subjected to by adding that partner to the title. Or perhaps one partner may earn most or all of the income and thus the partnership would benefit from that partner taking the entire income tax deduction.
The danger of this method of ownership is that if the sec­ond partner contributes to the acquisition or improvement cost of the property and there is no documentation of this contribution, the second partner will have no way to recoup his or her contribution in the event of a break up.

Shared Property Agreements
Regardless of how non-traditional partners hold title to property, a shared property agreement is always a good idea. Such an agreement can detail what percentage each partner owns, what each has contributed and will contribute in the future to the acquisition, maintenance and improve­ment of the property, and whether and how the ownership percentage will change over time. For the purposes of documentation or equalization of contribution, the value of non-monetary consideration – such as labor to improve the home – can be detailed in the agreement. (Practitioners should take care not to draft any phraseology that could possibly be interpreted as using sex for consideration.)
 
Non-traditional partners should expressly document their agreed understanding in writing at the time they take title to shared property, or as soon thereafter as possible. While there is a great body of family law that has created known precedent for the disposition of property in a dissolution of marriage, the law regarding disposition of property in a break up of non-traditional partners is sparse and unpredict­able. If issues of disagreement about the partners’ shared property arise, these issues are much more easily resolved at the time the partners take title to property together, while the relationship is good and minds are not clouded by the emotions of a break up.
 
Other Considerations
When re-titling property, it is important to look to the laws of your state to determine how issues such as documentary stamp tax, property tax assessment and homestead laws ap­ply. In some instances, these issues are a mild to moderate annoyance. In other instances, these issues have the poten­tial to defeat the goals of the partners’ plan. For example, in Florida, persons having minor children are prohibited from devising their homestead property. Thus, if a partner has a minor child from a past relationship or marriage and now has a new partner, the first partner may not devise his or her homestead property to the new partner, even if the minor child is living full time at the other parent’s homestead property. Thus, if the first partner wishes to ensure that the second partner receives the first partner’s homestead property upon the death of the first partner, then a vehicle of devise, e.g. a will or a revocable living trust, would not be an appropriate choice to achieve the partners’ goal as to that specific property.
 
Conclusion
There are many options available to non-traditional partners when deciding how to take or hold title to shared property. The most important concept to take away from this article is that, contrary to popular misconception, there is no one right way for non-traditional partners to hold title to their shared property. What is best for any particular partners depends on their unique circumstances, including their finances, their goals, their family situation, and the laws of their state.

Young Adults Need Estate Planning Too

Most young adults think they are invincible. But the reality is that anyone, at any time, can become seriously ill or be injured in an accident or a random act of violence. And far too many of us know the tragedy of a promising young life that was abruptly cut short.
 
Once a child turns 18, parents lose the legal ability to make decisions for their child or even to find out basic information. Learning you will not be able to see your college student’s grades without his/her permission can be mildly frustrating. But a medical emergency can take this frustration to a completely different level. The parents (or a sibling or another person) will probably have to go to court and ask for permission to obtain information about the student’s medical condition, be able to make decisions about treatment, and have access to the student’s financial records and accounts.
 
The following legal documents, prepared by an estate planning attorney, allow you to name another person to make medical and financial decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself. The person(s) you select should be someone you know and trust, and a candid discussion should occur now so they know what your wishes would be. These documents are not expensive, and everyone over the age of 18 should have them.
 
Parents should consider scheduling a visit with their estate planning attorney after each child’s 18th birthday, and encourage other parents to do the same with their young adults. Having these documents in place does not mean anyone expects to use them, but everyone will be glad to have them should they be needed.
 
In the Event of Incapacity
  • A Durable Power of Attorney for Heath Care gives another person legal authority to make health care decisions (including life and death decisions) if you are unable to make them for yourself.
  • A Durable Financial Power of Attorney gives another person legal authority to manage your assets without court interference. (A “regular” power of attorney ends at incapacity; a “durable” power of attorney remains valid through incapacity.) Your attorney can write it in such a way that it does not go into effect until you become incapacitated.
  • HIPPA Authorizations give your doctors permission to discuss your medical situation with others, including family members and other loved ones.
In the Event of Death
Most young adults do not have substantial assets, so a simple will is probably all that is needed at this time. It will let the young adult designate who should receive his/her assets and belongings in the event of death. Otherwise, the laws of the state in which the young adult lives will determine this, and that may not be what anyone would want.
 
After the Documents Have Been Signed
A little housecleaning may be in order. It is important that the designated person knows where to find financial records and passwords if needed. Tidy up your computer’s desktop. Make a list of accounts and passwords (including your computer’s password), print the list and put it in a safe place; a hard copy is important in case your computer is lost or stolen. If you use an online back-up system, be sure to include it. Don’t forget online accounts and social media. If there is anything you don’t want someone (think, parents) to see, either get rid of it now or ask a friend to delete files or remove things if something happens to you. Finally, update your documents as your life changes.

Estate Planning for Young Families

Many young families put off estate planning. If asked, they may say they are too young, healthy or can’t afford it. Some have trouble just thinking about what could happen if they should die while their minor children and spouse are depending on them. But even a healthy, young adult can be taken suddenly by an accident or illness, and those with young families need estate planning precisely because others are depending on them.
 
Of course, you are not expecting to die while your family is young, but planning for the possibility is being prudent and responsible, and it shows your family how much you care.
 
A good estate plan for a young family will include naming someone to administer the estate (a trustee or executor), naming a guardian to care for minor children, providing instructions for the distribution of your assets, and naming someone to manage the inheritance for the children until they become adults. It will also include reviewing your insurance needs and planning for disability.
 
Naming an Executor or Trustee for Your Estate
This person will be responsible for handling your final financial affairs—locating and valuing assets, locating and paying bills, distributing assets, hiring an attorney and other advisors—so it should be someone who is trustworthy, willing, able, knows you and will carry out your wishes.
 
Naming a Guardian for Minor Children
If something happens to one parent, the other parent will continue to raise the children (unless he or she is physically or emotionally unable to do so). But who will raise them if something happens to both of you? This is often a difficult decision for parents, but it is very important because if you have not named a guardian, the court will have to appoint someone without knowing your wishes, your children or your family members.
 
Providing Instructions for Distribution of Your Assets
Most married couples want their assets to go to the surviving spouse if one of them dies. If both parents die and the children are young, they want their assets to be used to care for their children. Some assets will transfer automatically to the surviving spouse by beneficiary designations and how title is held. However, an estate plan is still needed in the event this spouse becomes disabled or dies, so that the assets can be used to provide for the children.
 
Naming Someone to Manage Your Children’s Inheritance
Unless you include this in your estate planning, the court will appoint someone to oversee your children’s inheritance. This will likely be a friend of the judge and a stranger to your family. It will cost money, which will be paid from the inheritance. Also, the children will receive their inheritance (in equal shares) when they reach legal age, usually age 18. Most parents prefer that their children inherit when they are older and to keep the money in one “pot” so it can be used to care for the children’s different needs. Establishing a trust for your children’s inheritance lets you accomplish these goals and select someone you know and trust to manage it.
 
Reviewing Insurance Needs
Part of the estate planning process is to review the amount of life insurance on both parents. Income earned by one or both parents would need to be replaced; also, one or more people would probably be needed to take over the responsibilities of a stay-at-home parent. Additional coverage may be needed to provide for your children until they are grown; even more if you want to pay for college.
 
Planning for Disability
There is the possibility that one or both parents could become disabled due to injury, illness or even a random act of violence. This should be planned for, as well. Both parents need medical powers of attorney that give someone else legal authority to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so. You would probably name your spouse to do this, but one or two others should be named in case your spouse is also unable to act. HIPPA authorizations will give your doctors permission to discuss your medical situation with others (parents, siblings and close friends). Disability income insurance should also be considered because life insurance does not pay at disability.
 
Putting Your Plan in Place
Estate planning will require you to think about family relationships and some decisions may be difficult. But an experienced estate planning attorney will be able to help you through the process, provide valuable guidance and make sure your plan will do what you want when it is needed. If finances are tight, as they usually are for young families, start with the most essential legal documents and term life insurance, then update and upgrade your plan as your financial situation improves. The most important thing is to not put this off. Once your plan is in place, you will have peace of mind that your family will be protected if something should happen to you.



Originally published November 28, 2012 by our friends at  EstatePlanning.com

President of Troy, MO Bank nabs masked robber from St Louis Post Dispatch

Story by

TROY, MO. • Maybe the bank robber couldn’t see very well through the holes in his mask — the face of Chucky from the “Child’s Play” horror movies — as he walked into Peoples Bank & Trust Tuesday afternoon.

After all, it says right on the door that concealed weapons are allowed in the bank. They’re practically encouraged by the sign: “Management recognizes the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as an unalienable right of all citizens.”

So when the robber walked out of the bank a short time later with a red bank bag full of cash, maybe he shouldn’t have been surprised that bank president David W. Thompson followed him out to the parking lot. Thompson watched the masked robber get in a Ford pickup parked in a handicapped spot up front, then pulled his Colt .380 handgun and pointed it at the man.

“Sir, get out of the truck,” Thompson, 58, recalled demanding. “You’re not going anywhere.”

And when the man put his hand in his jacket pocket, as if he had a weapon, Thompson scolded him again.

“You don’t want to go there,” Thompson said. “This will end badly.”

Fortunately the robber listened. It turned out the man had no weapon of his own. Thompson and another bank official who also carries his own weapon pulled the man from the truck and held him at gunpoint until police arrived.

“I didn’t have time to get scared,” said Thompson, a life member of the National Rifle Association who supports concealed-carry laws. “I was excited. Your adrenaline pumps. He robbed a bank, he menaced my employees, and I don’t allow that.”

‘A GUTSY CALL’

On Wednesday morning, authorities charged Donald Ray Lee, 58, of Lincoln County, with first-degree robbery in the bank heist. He was being held Wednesday in lieu of $50,000 cash-only bail.

Nabbing Lee made Thompson, who was born and reared in Lincoln County, the talk of the town. His office line rang nearly nonstop after news spread Wednesday morning. Co-workers thanked him. A customer who was vacationing in Singapore heard about it on the news and chimed in with congratulations. The local priest stopped by the bank to tell Thompson he did a good job.

At one point, Thompson opened an envelope marked inter-office mail. He laughed when he saw what an employee had put inside as a joke: a .38-caliber bullet and a message that it was a “donation to the cause.” Thompson put it in his drawer with the rest of his ammunition.

As Thompson sat behind his desk at the bank Wednesday and fielded questions from a reporter, one of his longtime friends and customers, Billy D. Phillips, stood in the doorway and struck a pose reminiscent of Dirty Harry. Phillips pointed his finger as if it were a gun and pulled the imaginary trigger. He smiled broadly and said he was proud of Thompson, who has been with the family-operated bank 36 years.

“That’s David,” said Phillips, 76. “I’ve known him his whole life. He’s quite a guy.”

Jerry Sage, executive director of the Kansas City-based Missouri Independent Banking Association, said there was no protocol for bankers regarding using a firearm, as Thompson did on Tuesday. Sage’s group represents more than 200 community banks throughout the state of Missouri, including Thompson’s bank. Thompson is past president of the association.

“We stress in our safety training that safety is the most important thing,” Sage said. “He took it outside the bank so no one was in jeopardy. If he pulls a gun and he has a permit, that would certainly be his call.

And, Sage added: “It was a gutsy call.”

Troy Police Chief Jeff Taylor also commended Thompson.

“He’s a very level-headed man,” the chief added. “It worked out really well.”

But while he doesn’t second-guess Thompson’s actions, Taylor said he generally advises that people don’t take matters into their own hands like that.

“In general, I would suggest they lock that door, get a good description of the robber and call police immediately,” Taylor said.

But that just wasn’t Thompson’s instinct during the robbery.

NO HESITATION

Lee walked into the bank about 2:40 p.m., according to police, a few minutes before the lobby was to close for the day. There were about 60 employees in the three-story building and a few customers in the bank, Thompson said.

He brushed past two bank employees who told him to take off the Halloween mask, Thompson said. The teller also told him he had to remove the mask, but according to Thompson, Lee said, “No, you gotta give me all your money.”

The tellers then saw the masked man put his hand in his coat pocket, indicating he had a gun.

Thompson credits his tellers for their handling of the situation.

“They did exactly what they were supposed to do,” he said. “They stayed calm and nobody caused a stink.”

Thompson, meanwhile, was in his office talking with a salesman about advertising when his receptionist buzzed him with an emergency. Thompson said he looked out his office door into the bank lobby and saw that his tellers looked fearful. And he saw a man wearing a heavy jacket and a ghoulish Halloween mask calmly walk away from the tellers, carrying one of the bank’s red money bags.

He didn’t hesitate. Thompson followed the man outside, and the bank door was locked behind him to keep his employees safe.

Thompson said he never worried he’d be hurt in a confrontation with the robber. Not only was Thompson armed, but he’s a black belt. The robber “was frail enough and slow-moving enough that I’d already ascertained I could physically handle him,” he said.

After drawing down on the robber and getting backup from the other bank worker, Thompson pulled the man from the truck and waited for police.

Police arrived quickly, forced the man to the ground and pulled the mask off his face, Thompson said. The officers opened the man’s wallet, and Thompson saw a debit card for Peoples Bank.

“That’s when I realized he was one of our customers,” Thompson said.

Thompson didn’t recognize the man, but one of his tellers later said she did. Turns out Lee had opened an account with the bank in April, Thompson said.

He had $4,779 in the bank bag, according to court documents. Lee told police he’d gone to the bank only to trick or treat.

Lee lives in the first block of Ruby Drive, near Cuivre River State Park, with his daughter and grandchildren. A neighbor, Hazel Schone, said Lee came from Oklahoma about a year ago to live with his family.

Schone said she thought that Lee might be suffering from dementia and that his relatives were talking about getting him tested for Alzheimer’s disease.

“He’d be nice one minute and mean the next,” Schone said. “Here lately, he had changed and was being nicer. He’d wave ‘Hi,’ I’d wave ‘Hi.’”

The Chucky Halloween mask, she said, belonged to Lee’s granddaughter, who is about 8 years old. The girl had been to Schone’s house a few days earlier to show off her costume.

Gun Law Planning – Gun Trusts

Today’s hot button is the acquistion of National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms.  These are silencers, machine guns, short-barreled rifles or short-barreled shotguns, destructive devices, “any other weapons” category regulated under federal and state law.  Use of an entity, such as a corporation, LLC, partnership or a trust simplifies the process by eliminating the requirement to seek Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) approval prior to making application to the ATF.  Such approval is denied in many if not a majority of U.S. jurisdictions..

Living Trusts are in high demand as perhaps the best, most flexible way to help gun owners acquire, use, share, and bequeath NFA firearms.  In fact, a gun trust can serve as a complete estate plan for ALL your firearms… if they are important to you.

Guns are are not like stock certificates, a bank account, or a parcel of land.  Gun ownership and/or transfer can expose an owner or a transferee such as an estate heir, fiduciary, or even a beneficiary to possible criminal exposure!  It is important to know the law and to not make new law with YOUR name on it!

A “real” gun trust should be more than a document; it should be a complete management system for client gun collections, one that can be designed for each need, within a budget, and that can grow with a collection or help distribute it as the case may be.  Your gun trust should be a roadmap for lawful enjoyment of firearms to help reduce the chance that you or your loved one might commit an “accidental” felony.

To help you in your planning, we have answered a few questions for you that we get asked all the time.  Let us know what you would like to hear more about and we’ll find an attorney to answer them for you…

CAN I WRITE MY OWN TRUST OR EVEN DOWNLOAD A “FREE” ONE?

SURE.  It’s America!

BUT THE QUESTION IS… SHOULD YOU?  I mean, what could happen…

Consider that gun law is pretty complex, and it is inconsistent.  Federal law provides the minimum requirements of gun law… and then each state adds to it.  Gun law varies from state to state… and sometimes within a state.  Trust law is also complex, and just printing out a document, even if it is “approved” for transfer of an NFA firearm, does not mean that the trust is valid or that you or a friend will not get jammed up.

Free trusts do not have the word “gun” or “firearm” in them.  Often, they are found to be incomplete or invalid.  There are a number of websites detailing BATFE horror stories about trusts approved that where later found invalid… risking seizure of the very firearms the trust was created to own!  They contain trustee instructions that, if followed, would likely violate the law.  So, what about a “conventional”trust done by your lawyer… same result although the trust is more likely to be legally valid!  And equally problematic.

Let’s illustrate with some questions…

What if you are out shooting an NFA firearm with a friend… you share… and law enforcement stops by to inquire?  Can you even do that with your “gun trust”?

What if you are sick, or you pass away… and your spouse innocently decides to mail your prized but tiny .22 cal silencer to her brother to have… what could go wrong?  Wait, isn’t that a felony for both of them?

The scary truth is that it is easy to be accused of a felony without even firing a gun!  The “accidental” felony can occur from simple possession or transfer to the wrong person, being in the wrong locale, or having the wrong firearm in either case.  Possession or transfer of ANY firearm can create risk depending on the facts.

Not convinced? 

What if you are involved in a gun event… you pull your gun when threatened or you hear a noise; you shoot someone in self-defense; somebody in a store or on the street calls the police as they are “scared” of your “concealed” pistol when your coat rides up?

Do you carry concealed?  Do you transport a firearm in your car?  Do you have a gun in your home for self-defense?  Who would you call in the middle of the night…

 Just sayin’

Doesn’t it make sense to work with an attorney who took his or her time to get educated about gun law?  Better, to know an attorney who uses a nationally available gun trust system… who can handle most if not all of your legal needs… who is part of the GunDocx™ Lawyers community… who can refer you, your friends, and family to a colleague throughout the US?  Most important, an attorney who can provide you with a tested, time-proven solution that works… and is constantly being improved?

All of this is really about your safety and peace of mind.  That’s why GunDocx™ was created… and why the lawyers who developed it and all those who now use it are building a community of gun owners AND attorneys.  Their GunDocx™ System is the only comprehensive solution that gives attorneys specific gun law training, the ability to draft custom gun trusts that match client needs and goals to budget, and a way to reach out to local gun owners… throughout the United States.

Give it a look… and talk to a trained GunDocx™ Lawyer at The Singer Law Firm