First and foremost it is important to understand that the payment of your superannuation death benefits are covered by the rules of your SMSF trust deed and do not automatically form part of your Estate for distribution in accordance with the terms of your Will. As trustee of your SMSF, you will need to make sure that you have read and understood your SMSF’s trust deed and that you comply with it at all times.

In the event of your death, one option is to rely on the SMSF trustee’s wide discretion to determine who, within the operation of the law, will receive your death benefit and how much each beneficiary will receive.

The alternative is to remove the trustee’s discretion which gives you greater control in deciding how your superannuation death benefits will be cashed. This may be relevant if:

• You want certainty over your estate plan;
• You have a blended family and want all family members to benefit from your superannuation upon your passing;
• It is anticipated that there will be conflict amongst your potential beneficiaries;
• There is a possibility that there may be conflict amongst the remaining trustees of your SMSF upon your passing;
• There is a risk that those controlling the SMSF post your death may not cash your death benefits in accordance with your preferences.

Subject to the specific terms of your SMSF trust deed, ways in which you could consider removal of trustee discretion include:

• Having a valid and current binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) in place;
• Specifying in your SMSF trust deed how death benefits will be distributed; or
• Nominating a reversionary beneficiary to whom your pension will automatically revert to on your death.

To ensure that your death benefits are cashed in accordance with your wishes, it is critical to ensure that your estate plans are comprehensive and that you understand the ownership and control of your assets on your death. It is also important that any superannuation death benefit advice you receive is consistent and complementary to your overall estate plans and is not in isolation to the other.

At a minimum, we recommend that you have your SMSF trust deed reviewed to ensure maximum flexibility when dealing with death benefit payments. It is also recommended this be done alongside a review of any BDBN(s) to ensure that they too are valid and provide certainty in how death benefits will be dealt with upon your death.

When considered in light of an ageing Australia, the value of assets invested in SMSFs and recent court cases, having the correct SMSF documentation and process is essential to minimise the risk of litigation from disappointed beneficiaries to allow a safe passage of death benefits to your intended beneficiaries.

So what should form part of a comprehensive SMSF estate plan?

At a minimum it should contain:

• An up-to-date Will
• An up-to-date enduring power of attorney
• An up-to-date SMSF trust deed, including prior variations
• An up-to-date death benefit nomination (if applicable)
• Up-to-date pension documentation (if applicable)
• All trustee documentation, including details of directors and any trustee changes

For more information on SMSF estate planning, please click here to review the estate planning resources available on SMSF Connect.

Gain the advice of an SMSF Specialist

Given the complex nature of estate planning, we recommend you discuss the contents of this article, or any questions you may have on this topic, with an SMSF Specialist lawyer.  A SMSF Specialist lawyer will be able to ensure that documentation regarding your estate plan is appropriate drafted and executed. If you are currently unadvised, you may use our Find a Specialist function to find a qualified SMSF Specialist lawyer in your area.