Don’t count out the bypass trust

Description

Abstract: To paraphrase Mark Twain, the reported demise of the bypass trust may be greatly exaggerated. In fact, this estate planning technique is still a viable option for many individuals and may actually stage a “revival” in future years. This article details the estate tax law changes that slightly reduced the necessity of using a bypass trust and explains why future tax law changes may make it once again attractive. A sidebar provides a brief history of the gift and estate tax exemption.