Beneficiary IRA

[thatton]

I live in North Carolina. My father passed away in 2004 and I have been left some money from his estate. Specifically, two "Beneficiary IRA's". The primary beneficiary of my father's IRA's was my mother, and his estate was named as contingent. During the probate process my mother, in consultation with an attorney, decided to disclaim certain assets including the IRA's. As the personal representative of the estate, she then passed the IRA's on to my sister and myself. The assets where held at Merril Lynch and they helped me establish the Beneficiary IRA. They advised that I would be required to take distribute all of the money from the IRA no later than Dec. 31st of the fifth year following my father's death. I thought that I would be able to stretch these payments over my lifetime. I even took an RMD in Dec. 2005 just in case this was possible. Would someone please help????

Thanks!
T

[Mr. Knowitall]

You are correct that the goal of an IRA inheritor's trust would be to stretch out payments, requiring only the minimum distributions. Perhaps an error was made in setting up the trusts. Unfortunately, to get a solid answer you'll have to get the trust instrument reviewed by a lawyer.