A formula for estate planning success?

Description

Abstract: An important goal of many estate plans is to optimize use of the unlimited marital deduction, which allows one to leave any amount of assets to a U.S.-citizen spouse estate-tax free. In many cases, however, leaving too much can cause one to overpay estate taxes. To achieve the best tax result regardless of what the future holds, many people incorporate a marital deduction formula into their estate plans. But formulas aren’t right for every situation, and their impact can change over time, such as when net worth or tax laws change. This article takes a look at the distinction between pecuniary and fractional formulas, and whether it’s necessary to use any formula at all.