Advanced tax planning

Use your exemption now, while your spouse can still benefit.

A spousal lifetime access trust lets one spouse make a large gift to a trust for the other spouse and the children. The gift uses your exemption now, and all future growth is outside both of your estates, while your spouse can still receive distributions if needed.

Call (844) 544-PLAN to schedule

The short answer

A SLAT is an irrevocable trust one spouse creates for the other. It locks in today’s exemption and removes future growth from your estates, while keeping indirect access through your spouse.

Do this first

✓Identify assets you could give without needing them yourself

✓Consider the health of your marriage and the plan if you divorce

✓Talk with your financial adviser about liquidity

Why it matters

What it does, compared with doing nothing

Keeping everything

Without a plan

All growth stays in your estate and may be taxed at 40 percent.

With the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT)

Growth inside the SLAT is outside both estates.

Giving to children outright

Without a plan

You lose access to the money for good.

With the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT)

Your spouse can receive distributions, which benefits your household.

Law changes

Without a plan

Exemption amounts can change.

With the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT)

A gift made now uses today’s exemption.

How it works

How it works, step by step

You sign the trust

One spouse creates an irrevocable trust for the other and the children.

You fund it

You give assets to the trust, using part of your exemption.

A gift tax return is filed

The gift is reported so the exemption is applied.

Your spouse can benefit

The trustee can make distributions to your spouse under the terms you set.

Growth is sheltered

Everything the trust earns is outside both estates.

At your spouse’s death

The trust continues for, or passes to, your children.

Custom plans, flat fees

Advanced planning without the hourly bill.

Every advanced tax plan is custom, built around your assets, your family, and your goals, so the investment is quoted separately after we review your estate.

01Some firms bill tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of dollars in hourly fees for this kind of work.

02We do these plans for a flat rate, quoted in writing before any work begins.

03No meter running on phone calls, emails, or revisions. You know the number up front.

Questions

Common questions

Every family is different. A 15-minute call with a licensed attorney answers the rest.

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What happens if we divorce?

Your former spouse may remain a beneficiary. We plan for this when the trust is written.

Can both spouses create SLATs?

Yes, but the trusts must be different enough to avoid the reciprocal trust rule. We design them carefully.

What if my spouse dies first?

You lose indirect access through your spouse. Life insurance or other planning can address that.

Does it avoid income tax?

Usually you pay the trust’s income tax, which further shifts wealth to your family.

Ask whether Spousal Lifetime Access Trust fits your family.

In 15 minutes, a licensed attorney will tell you what your family needs and quote the flat fee in writing.

Call to schedule