What Happens to My Business When I Die?

In North Carolina, generally, the answer to this question depends on (1) what type of business you own; (2) whether you have bylaws or an operating agreement; (3) whether you have a will; and (4) if you have an insolvent estate.
 
No matter what type of business, your interest in the business is an asset.  Unless there’s a contract stating otherwise, it is an inheritable asset, meaning if you have a will, you can name who the interest passes down to, or if you do not have a will, the interest will pass to your heirs (spouse, children, etc.).  If you want to pass your business interest to your son, who will run the family business, instead of it passing naturally to your spouse, you need to have a will drafted. 
 
When the individual and the business entity are interwoven, like a sole proprietorship or a partnership, it is important to note that business debts are oftentimes personal and can cause your estate to be insolvent (leaving nothing for your family).  This is an important reason to form a business entity separate from the individual.  If your business is not healthy, it may cease to operate at your death and wipe out your estate.
 
If you have a contract with other members of the business, you can state what happens to your interest when you pass. This is one of the reasons why we urge people who are going into business with non-relatives to enter into operating agreements – do you really want to be working with your business owner’s spouse after the pass away?  More importantly, what happens if the spouse has no interest in running the business?  What if she wants to sell or have you buy her out?  What if you cannot afford to do so?  In addition to recommending our clients enter into operating agreements, we recommend that they incorporate buy/sell language into these agreements.  Financial professionals can find inexpensive ways to fund these agreements so that a partner can afford to buy another out.
 
If you own stock in a corporation, that stock will be passed to your beneficiary or heirs just like any other property.  While this is not a big deal if you own stock in AT&T, for example, it is a big deal if you own 90% of the shares of a small, family owned business.  Again, maybe your business partner does not want to own the corporation with your spouse.
 
If it is your wishes to continue your business when you pass, and your family is onboard, it may be a good idea to put your business interest in the name of a revocable trust.  This way, your business interest stays out of your estate when you pass away and the trustee can manage your business interests better than the executor can.  Many attorneys will recommend to executors to liquidate business assets because there is too much potential for liability on the executor’s part if he/she attempts to continue to operate the business.
 
We recommend that all individuals get an estate plan in place.  However, as you can see, there is more planning to be considered when that individual is a business owner.  Feel free to contact Jesson & Rains if you have questions about your business or estate plan.