Personal Solutions

The Unlimited Marital Deduction

The Unlimited Marital Deduction is one of the most often used estate planning tools available. If the surviving spouse is a U.S. citizen, the Unlimited Marital Deduction allows one spouse to leave all of his/her assets to the surviving spouse at death with no estate tax due. In doing so, all estate taxes are deferred until the death of the surviving spouse. In essence, the Unlimited Marital Deduction puts the entire estate tax liability onto the heirs.

If a surviving spouse is not a U.S. citizen, no marital deduction is available unless the deceased's assets are placed in a Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT).

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