South Carolina Complex Will - Max. Credit Shelter Marital Trust to Children
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FAQ
Credit shelter trust (CST) (also called an AB trust or a bypass trust) is a tool used by well-off married individuals to legally maximize their estate tax exemptions. The strategy involves creating two separate trusts after one spouse passes.
This trust is irrevocable and will pass to beneficiaries other than the surviving spouse (usually their children). The surviving spouse must follow the trust's plan without overly benefiting from its operation, but this trust often passes income to the surviving spouse to live on for the rest of their life.
A 5 by 5 Power in Trust is a clause that lets the beneficiary make withdrawals from the trust on a yearly basis. The beneficiary can cash out $5,000 or 5% of the trust's fair market value each year, whichever is a higher amount.
When the credit shelter trust is initially funded upon the death of one spouse, the assets that are placed under the trust receive a step-up in basis. This is an important consideration, because any assets held in a CST don't receive a second step-up in basis upon the death of the surviving spouse.
Credit Shelter Trust vs Marital Trust - Is a Marital Trust the Same as a Credit Shelter Trust? No. A Marital Trust is a type of Credit Shelter Trust. You and your spouse can use a Marital Trust to pass assets to a surviving spouse, children or grandchildren.
Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the trust transfers to the heirs, who are exempt from the estate tax that would have resulted from a combined inheritance. Disadvantages of a CST include formation costs and the surviving spouse's lack of control.
The assets you cannot put into a trust include the following: Medical savings accounts (MSAs) Health savings accounts (HSAs) Retirement assets: 403(b)s, 401(k)s, IRAs. Any assets that are held outside of the United States. Cash. Vehicles.
The primary benefit of CSTs is that the surviving spouse can use the trust's principal and income during the remainder of their lifetime, for example, for medical or educational expenses. The remaining assets then pass to the beneficiaries and are not subject to estate taxes.
