The Marital Deduction: An In-Depth Review With FORMS

Steven G. Siegel

January 31, 2006

Table of Contents

 

I. Introduction


II. Qualifying for the Marital Deduction
      A. The Surviving/Donee Spouse Must Be a United States Citizen
      B. Survival and Marital Status Must Be Established
      C. A Property Interest Must “Pass” to the Surviving Spouse
      D. The Interest Passing to the Surviving Spouse Must be “Deductible”
      E. Understanding Terminable Interests and Nondeductible Terminable Interests
      F. Examples of Nondeductible Terminable Interests
      G. Examples of Terminable Interests That Are Deductible
      H. Exceptions to the Nondeductible Terminable Interest Rule

III. Forms of Transfer that Qualify for the Marital Deduction
      A. Outright Transfers
      B. The Estate Trusts
      C. The Power of Appointment Trust
      D. Life Insurance or Annuity Payments with Power of Appointment in Surviving Spouse
      E. “QTIP” Provisions: Qualified Terminable Interest Property
      F. Making the QTIP Election
      G. Payment of Estate Taxes Allocable to the QTIP Trust
      H. Transfers Involving Marital Shares and Charitable Remainder Trusts
      J. The Spousal Right to “Income” Encompasses Modern Trust Theories
      K. Valuation Discounts and QTIP Property

IV. Planning for Non-Citizen Spouses: The Qualified Domestic Trust Rules
      A. General Rules-Marital Deduction Limited for Non-Citizen Spouses
      B. Exception for Persons Who Become United States Citizens
      C. Exception for Transfers to Qualified Domestic Trusts
      D. Required Elements of a QDOT
      E. Taxation of a Qualified Domestic Trust
      F. Effect of the 2001 Act on the QDOT Rules

V. Integrating the QTIP Trust and the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Exemption
      A. The QTIP Trust and the GST Rules
      B. The Reverse QTIP Election
      C. Future Use of the Reverse QTIP Election

VI. The Marital Deduction in Estate Planning
      A. Basic Planning Considerations
      B. The Taxable Estate – When to Pay the Tax
      C. Flexible Planning: Using Disclaimers in Post-Mortem Estate Planning
      D. Flexible Planning: Using Partial QTIP Election Planning as an Alternative to Disclaimer Planning
      E. Other Flexible Planning Techniques
      F. Planning for and Using the Credit for Tax on Prior Transfers
      G. Gifts of Interest in QTIP Trusts/Purchases of Remainder Interests in QTIP Trusts

VII. Choosing Between the Power of Appointment Trust and the QTIP Trust
      A. General Considerations
      B. Choosing the Power of Appointment Trust
      C. Choosing the QTIP Trust
      D. Other Trust Selection Issues

VIII. Estate Administration Expenses and the Marital Deduction: The Hubert Rules
      A. Nature of the Problem
      B. The Hubert Regulations

IX. Dealing with Dinosaurs: Planning for Pre-ERTA Wills

X. Drafting Requirements: Marital Deduction Formula Clauses
      A. Introduction: Choices to Be Made
      B. Factors to Be Considered in Making the Formula Clause Choice
      C. Pecuniary Formulas – Generally
      D. The “True Worth” Pecuniary Formula
      E. The “Minimum Worth” Pecuniary Formula
      F. The “Fairly Representative” Pecuniary Formula
      G. The Reverse Pecuniary Marital Formula
      H. Fractional Share Formulas - Generally
      I. The Pick and Choose Fractional Share Formula
      J. The Pro Rata Fractional Formula
      K. Selecting the Appropriate Formula Clause

XI. Drafting Requirements: Boilerplate Clauses and Avoiding Mistakes
      A. Avoid “Creativity” in Marital Deduction Drafting
      B. Spendthrift Clauses
      C. Inclusion of Various Powers in QTIP and Power of Appointment Trusts
      D. QTIP Election Clause
      E. Unproductive Property Clause
      F. Qualified Property Clause
      G. Effects of Repeal of the Credit for State Death Taxes



FORM ONE: Outright Marital Deduction Clause
FORM TWO: Power of Appointment Trust
FORM THREE: QTIP Trust
FORM FOUR: Sample Tax Clause to be Used with a QTIP Trust
FORM FIVE: Sample Form of Disclaimer Clause
FORM SIX: Pecuniary Formula Clauses
FORM SEVEN: Fractional Share Formula Clauses
FORM EIGHT: Pecuniary Marital Deduction Formula For Use in a Will
FORM NINE: Pecuniary Credit Shelter for Use in a Will
FORM TEN: Pick and Choose Fractional Share Marital Deduction Formula for Use in a Revocable Trust
FORM ELEVEN: Administrative Provisions Used to Determine Pecuniary Marital Shares
FORM TWELVE: Sample Form of Preamble
FORM THIRTEEN: Sample Language Addressing Possible Full Repeal of Estate Taxes
FORM FOURTEEN: Sample Form of Allocation of Basis Clause: (To Address Carryover Basis)

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