Q My parents are both in their seventies and have begun setting their financial affairs in order. They have put whatever assets they own, such as cars, stocks and bonds, into their family trust in order to simplify their estate and avoid probate.

They own a co-op in New York that they also want to put in a trust. I am told this is a common process that is recommended all the time. What would be the benefits and disadvantages to following this course of action? I look forward to your reply.

—Concerned Son of New York Shareholders

A According to Mindy H. Stern, Esq., an attorney at Schoeman Updike & Kaufman, LLP, “The decision to transfer a residence to a trust should be made as part of a comprehensive estate plan with the assistance of an experienced trusts and estates attorney and perhaps a financial advisor as well. Depending upon how the transaction is structured, the type of trust that is involved, the value of the co-op, the size of the co-op owner’s estate and the co-op owner’s domicile, there may be income, estate, gift and transfer tax implications. In addition, the transfer of the co-op to a trust may render the owner ineligible to receive Medicaid benefits for years. These tax consequences and other consequences should be evaluated carefully before any transfer is made.

“The transfer of a co-op to a trust is usually contemplated with two main goals in mind: to permit a trustee to manage the financial aspects of the co-op if the owner becomes disabled and to be able to transfer the co-op to another family member or to sell it after the owner’s death without having to probate a will or have a court appoint an estate administrator if there is no will. If the trust is a standard revocable living trust, there is no estate tax advantage, because the assets in the trust are still considered part of the trust creator’s estate. If the trust is a QPRT (Qualified Personal Residence Trust) the owner transfers the co-op to the trust for a specified term, during which the original owner may continue to reside in the co-op. After the term ends, the trust terminates and the co-op would either be transferred directly to the beneficiaries designated in the trust, or to another trust for their benefit. The original co-op owner is deemed to have made a gift to the beneficiaries, but the value of the gift is discounted, if the owner survives the trust term, because of the original owner’s right to use and occupy the co-op during the trust term. In addition, any appreciation on the value of the co-op is not part of the original owner’s estate. So depending upon the value of the co-op and the age of the owner, there may be significant estate tax advantages to using the QPRT. Under current QPRT rules the trust cannot require the beneficiaries of the trust to continue to allow the original co-op owner to reside in the apartment after the trust terminates, but the beneficiaries can do so if they wish, under a lease with arms-length terms.

“In addition, in the case of an irrevocable trust such as a QPRT, the trust is a considered a separate taxpayer requiring separate income tax returns and separate bookkeeping and accounting. So while there may be some cost savings if probate or estate administration is avoided, those savings may be outweighed by the initial costs incurred to create the trust, transfer assets into it and the annual expense of administering it.

“Not all cooperative corporations permit transfers to trusts. They are concerned about who will occupy the apartment, and who will pay the maintenance, especially if the sole or primary asset of the trust is the apartment. These concerns can be addressed through maintenance guarantees and occupancy agreements, but some cooperative corporations are too risk adverse to consider them.

“In summary, transferring a co-op apartment to a trust can, under some circumstances, reduce estate tax or achieve other financial management or personal goals. However, in order to decide if such a trust is the best way to accomplish those objectives in individual situations, a comprehensive estate plan which evaluates all of the owner’s assets, liabilities and objectives should be established with the assistance of knowledgeable professionals.”