Marital Trust Planning – Making the Most of Your cash

Marital Trust planning is important for anyone couples who are concerned with protecting surviving family members, especially children, and avoiding estate taxation.


Marital Trust planning may be the utilization of trusts to offer the goals of asset preservation and family protection. The word, “Marital Trust” is utilized on this page to discuss both marital trusts and non-marital trusts

What is a Marital Trust? There are essentially three types of marital trusts. QTIP (Qualified Terminal Interest Property) Trusts, Estate Trusts and General Power of Appointment Trusts. Each has a specific targeted goal, though the good reason that someone would think about a Marital Trust is usually to give their surviving spouse and kids.

A QTIP Trust, generally, is funded upon the death of just one spouse and directs payments of great interest income on no less than an annual basis for the surviving spouse. The remainder from the trust then passes upon the death with the surviving spouse for the children of the original Grantor. The benefit for this trust is it allows someone with children from a previous marriage to make sure that those children are ship to, whilst providing for a surviving spouse. An Estate Trust essentially will the ditto, but necessitates the remainder being passed through the surviving spouse’s estate, giving the surviving spouse greater discretion from the allocation with the original asset. A General Power of Appointment Trust is correct should there be no children and provides the surviving spouse accessibility to the full amount from the trust throughout their lifetime.

The key part of a Glbt estate planning to consider is it does not shield assets from estate taxation. They simply postpone the taxation event prior to the death with the surviving spouse, as there is a unlimited marital exemption upon the death with the first spouse. Assets within a marital trust pass be subject to any applicable estate tax guidelines. This is particularly necessary for QTIP Trusts because they might have assets earmarked for your kids with the Grantor, however are potentially diminished by estate taxation. To shield assets from estate taxation, you’ll want a Glbt estate planning.

What is a Non-Marital Trust? Non-Marital Trusts tend to be termed as “Credit Shelter Trusts” or “Bypass Trusts.” These trusts enable the Grantor to provide income to their surviving spouse, while ultimately passing assets for the Grantor’s children

Bypass Trusts are irrevocable trusts which can be created during the lifetime of the Grantor or perhaps the Grantor’s Last Will and Testament. If they are made in a Grantor’s Will, they become irrevocable upon the death with the grantor. The trust is funded with an amount comparable to the annual exclusion applicable around with the Grantor’s death. In 2017, the annual exclusion amount is $5.49 million dollars. A surviving spouse can have entry to interest income from your trust plus the trust principal, only for the surviving spouse’s health, education, maintenance or support. Upon the death with the surviving spouse, the trust remainder passes for the original Grantor’s children tax-free.

An important note with Bypass Trusts could be that the IRS has a three year reminisce period for tax-free transfers. That ensures that in the event the surviving spouse dies within 3 years with the original Grantor’s death, the assets will be be subject to estate taxation. Also, if the family residence is transferred right into a Bypass Trust, it’s going to receive the stepped-up value at the time of the date with the Grantor’s death. However, in the event the price of the residence will continue to increase, any gain attributed from your date with the Grantor’s death for the distribution to beneficiaries will be be subject to capital gains tax. A Bypass Trust cannot claim the $250,000.00 personal capital gains exemption.

Surviving spouses tend to be named as trustees, making compliance with tax requirement critical in the drafting of Bypass Trusts as well as in their execution following your original Grantor’s death. That’s why it is crucial to refer to with an experienced estate planning attorney when thinking about Marital and Non-Marital Trusts. Remember which a strong basic estate plan is also a must for virtually any family.

For more information, email me at [email protected] or visit www.timeforfamilies.com.

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