Did you know that most of the property you own has an account title? The basic way to determine out how property is titled is by asking these questions:
Who owns the property, and what will happen to it when the owner dies?
As we dive into the types of accounts, take a look at your recent banking, investment, mortgage, and other property statements to see how they align with the following descriptions.
You will see the terms ‘will’ and ‘probate’ tossed around in this article. Let’s quickly clarify what these mean:
A will is a drafted estate document that lays out your wishes for the direction of guardianship and personal property after your death, and it is often partnered with powers of attorney (medical and financial POA), advance medical directives, directive to physicians (living will), and HIPAA authorization. Consult a licensed estate attorney in your state to help set up or discuss these legal documents.
Probate is the public process by which your state court system administers the direction of your gross estate (what you owned when you died). Your will is submitted to the court and validated, and an executor/executrix is assigned to act out your wishes as directed. If you die without a will, your wishes may not be accurately addressed as you would have liked. The probate process can be long, stressful, and expensive – depending upon the complexity of your estate and family dynamics. As described below, it is best to bypass/avoid this process by setting up your property with appropriate titles and beneficiary designations.
If you own an individual account under your name alone, it is likely titled fee simple. This is complete ownership by one person. Since the property is not shared, the owner has full rights to use, sell, gift, transfer, or bequeath (pass to an heir) the property at their discretion. At death, 100% of the property’s fair market value is included in the owner’s gross estate and the probate estate. Since this is an after-tax account outside of retirement, it has the benefit of receiving a step (usually up) in cost basis on the date of death – this means that the cost basis (usually the purchase price) of the property is reset, eliminating any previous gains or losses.
If you own an account with at least one other person, it may be titled TIC. Each owner holds an undivided interest in the whole property, but they do not necessarily own equal interest. Each owner’s interest can be severed (ended) without the other owners’ consent. At death, the fair market value of the deceased owner’s interest is included in their gross estate and passes through probate. This type of after-tax account also receives a stepped-up basis at death, but only on the deceased owner’s interest in the property.
If you and your spouse opened up a bank or other investment account together, it is likely titled JTWROS. Like TIC, this is interest in property owned by two or more people. Each owner holds an undivided interest in the whole property, and ownership is equal. For example, if a property is titled JTWROS with three people, they each own 33.3% of the property, regardless of their individual contributions. Each owner shares the income and expenses equally. The survivorship feature of this account title means that ownership at death passes directly to the other owners, achieving privacy and avoiding probate. Only the deceased owner’s contribution will be included in their gross estate unless owned jointly with a spouse (deemed 50%/50% ownership). If you own an account with your spouse, verify that the account is titled JTWROS instead of TIC. This allows your share of the property to be immediately available upon your death, and vice versa. This type of after-tax account also receives a steeped-up cost basis at death, but only on the deceased owner’s interest in the property in most states.
This titling is like JTWROS, but only for married couples. The right of survivorship is implied (avoiding probate), and ownership is deemed 50/50 between spouses.
Make an effort to review your account titles and beneficiary designations every few years, especially if there is a significant life change – such as a new child, marriage, or divorce. You won’t be around to see the result of your planning, but you can ensure that your intended wishes are directed as intended.
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