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Writer's picturePortia M. Wood, Esq.

Avoid the Tax Trap: Why Adding Your Kid to Your Home Deed Can Be a Big Mistake & What to Do Instead

Updated: May 29, 2023



As a parent, it's natural to want to do everything you can to protect and provide for your children. One option that some people consider is adding their children to the deed of their home. However, while this may seem like a good way to ensure that your children inherit your home after you pass away, it can actually create a number of tax problems and complications.


One major issue with adding your children to your home deed is that it can trigger a tax event known as a "gift tax." Essentially, when you transfer ownership of your home to your children, the IRS considers it a gift, and gifts over a certain value are subject to tax. This means that if you add your children to your home deed, you may have to pay a significant amount of money in gift taxes.


Additionally, adding your children to your home deed may not be the best way to ensure that they actually inherit your home after you pass away. If you have a will that leaves your home to your children, they will likely have to go through the probate process to obtain ownership of the property. This can be a long, expensive, and complicated process, and it may not always result in your children getting the home.



A much better option for protecting your home and ensuring that it passes to your children after you pass away is comprehensive trust-based estate planning. With this type of planning, you can create a trust that holds your home and other assets, and you can specify exactly how and when your children will inherit those assets. Trust-based estate planning can also help to avoid probate and minimize taxes, making it a much more effective and efficient way to provide for your children.


Adding your children to your home deed may seem like a good way to protect your home and provide for your children, but it can actually create a number of tax problems and complications. Comprehensive trust-based estate planning is a much better option for ensuring that your home and other assets are passed on to your children in the way you want.



If you're considering adding your children to your home deed or are looking for a way to protect your assets and provide for your loved ones, it's important to seek the advice of a qualified estate planning attorney. A good attorney can help you understand your options and create a plan that meets your needs and goals. Don't leave the future of your assets and your family's well-being to chance – take control and plan for the future with comprehensive trust-based estate planning. Contact a qualified estate planning attorney today to learn more and get started on securing your family's future.




Take the first step towards building and protecting your family's wealth for generations to come! Join us at our Wills, Trusts and Generational Wealth Webinar today and learn how comprehensive trust-based estate planning can help you secure your family's future. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and protect the people and assets you love.



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