Marital Deduction

Free CFP Exam lesson in Estate Planning. 15 min read, ~2,309 words.

Unlimited for citizen spouses: any amount passes estate-tax-free to a surviving U.S. citizen spouse, but it defers tax, not forgives it. Terminable interest rule: blocks the deduction when the surviving spouse's interest ends and property passes to a third party. QTIP trust: primary tool for blended families, income to spouse...