Glossary of Terms

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A Trust	The surviving spouse’s portion of an A-B Trust. Also called Marital Trust or Survivor’s Trust.
A-B Trust	A Living Trust with a provision that lets you provide for your surviving spouse, keep control over who will receive your assets after your spouse dies, and leave up to $3 million (in 2004) to your Beneficiaries, estate-tax free. (This amount will increase over the next several years as the federal estate tax exemption increases. By the year 2006, an A-B Living Trust will let you and your spouse leave your Beneficiaries up to $2 million estate-tax free, and with no probate.)
Administration	The court-supervised distribution of an estate during probate. Also used to describe the same process for a Trust after the Grantor dies.
Administrator	Person named by the court to represent a probate estate when there is no Will or the Will did not name an Executor. Female is Administratix. Also called Personal Representative.
Alternate Beneficiary	Person or organization named to receive your assets if the primary Beneficiaries named in your Trust die before you do.
Ancillary Administration	An additional probate in another state. Typically required when you own real estate in another state that is not titled in the name of your Trust.
Annual Exclusion	Amount you can give someone each year without having to file a gift tax return or pay a gift tax. Currently $10,000 per recipient ($20,000 if married). Tied to inflation starting in 1999.
Assets	Basically, anything you own, including your home and other real estate, bank accounts, life insurance, investments, furniture, jewelry, art, clothing, and collectibles.
Assignment	A short document that transfers your interest in assets from your name to another. Often used when transferring assets to a Trust.
B Trust	The deceased spouse’s portion of an A-B Trust. Also called Credit Shelter or Bypass Trust.
Basis	What you paid for an asset. The value that is used to determine gain or loss for income tax purposes.
Beneficiaries	In a Living Trust, the persons and/or organizations who receive the Trust assets (or benefit from the Trust assets) after the death of the Trust Grantor.
By-Pass Trust	Another name for the "B" part of an A-B Living Trust because the assets in this Trust bypass federal estate taxes.
C Trust	See "QTIP."
Certificate of Trust	A shortened version of a Trust that verifies the Trust’s existence, explains the powers given to the Trustee, and identifies the Successor Trustee(s). Does not reveal any information about the Trust assets, Beneficiaries, or their inheritances.
Children’s Trust	A Trust included in your Living Trust. If, when you die, a Beneficiary is not of legal age, the child’s inheritance will go into this Trust. The inheritance will be managed by the Trustee you have named until the child reaches the age at which you want him/her to inherit.
Codicil	A written change or amendment to a Will.
Co-Grantors	Two or more persons who establish one Living Trust together.
Co-Trustees	Two or more individuals who have been named to act together in managing a Trust’s assets. A Corporate Trustee can also be a Co-Trustee.
Common Trust	One Living Trust established by two or more individuals (usually a married couple).
Community Property	Assets a husband and wife acquire by joint effort during marriage if they live in one of the eight community property states. (Wisconsin also has a similar law, but does not use the term "community property.") Each spouse owns half of the assets in the event of divorce or death.
Conservator	One who is legally responsible for the care and well-being of another person. If appointed by a court, the Conservator is under the court’s supervision. May also be called a Guardian. (Duties and titles can vary by state. For example, in Missouri, there is a Guardian of the person and a Conservator of the estate.)
Conservatorship	A court-controlled program for persons who are unable to manage their own affairs due to mental or physical incapacity. May also be called a Guardianship.
Contest	To dispute or challenge the terms of a Will or Trust.
Corporate Trustee	An institution, like a bank or trust company, that specializes in managing Trusts.
Credit Shelter Trust	Another name for the B Trust in an A-B Living Trust because this Trust "shelters" or preserves the federal estate tax "credit" of the deceased spouse.
Creditor	Person or institution to whom money is owed.
Custodian	Person named to manage assets left to a minor under the Uniform Transfer to Minors Act. In most states, the minor receives the assets at legal age.
Deceased	One who has died.
Deed	A document that lets you transfer title of your real estate to another person(s). Also see warranty deed and quitclaim deed.
Disclaim	To refuse to accept a gift or inheritance so it can go to the recipient who is next in line.
Discretion	The full or partial power to make a decision or judgment.
Disinherit	To prevent someone from inheriting from you.
Distribution	Payment in cash or asset(s) to one who is entitled to receive it.
Durable Power of Attorney for Asset Management	A legal document that gives another person full or limited legal authority to sign your name on your behalf in your absence. Valid through incapacity. Ends at death.
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care	A legal document that lets you give someone else the authority to make health care decisions for you in the event you are unable to make them for yourself. Also called a Health Care Proxy or Medical Power of Attorney.
Equity	The current market value of an asset less any loan or liability.
Estate	Assets and debts left by an individual at death.
Estate Taxes	Federal or state taxes on the value of assets left at death. Also called inheritance taxes or death taxes.
Executor	Person or institution named in a Will to carry out its instructions. Female is Executrix. Also called a Personal Representative.
Family Business Deduction	An additional federal estate tax exemption for family-owned businesses and farms that qualify. This has been now been phased out.
Federal Estate Tax Exemption	Amount of an individual’s estate that is exempt from federal estate taxes. This is the amount an individual can leave to heirs tax-free, to whit: $1.5 million in 2005 and eventually to $3.5 million in 2009. In 2010, it will supposedly be repealed altogether.
Fiduciary	Person having the legal duty to act primarily for another’s benefit. Implies great confidence and trust, and a high degree of good faith. Usually associated with a Trustee.
Funding	The process of transferring assets to your Living Trust.
Gain	The difference between what you receive for an asset when it is sold and what you paid for it. Used to determine the amount of capital gains tax due.
Generation Skipping Transfer Tax	A steep (55%) tax on assets that "skip" a generation and are left directly to grandchildren and younger generations. Everyone has an exemption from this tax. Prior to 1999, the exemption was $1 million. It is now tied to inflation and was increased in 1999 to $1,010,000.
Gift	A transfer from one individual to another without fair compensation.
Gift Tax	A federal tax on gifts made while you are living. Currently $11,000 per person per year is exempt from gift tax. Also see "Annual Exclusion."
Grantor	The person who sets up or creates the Trust. The person whose Trust it is. Also called Creator, Settlor, Trustor, or Donor.
Gross Estate	The value of an estate before debts are paid.
Guardianship	See "Conservatorship."
Health Care Proxy	See "Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care."
Heir	One who is entitled by law to receive part of your estate.
Holographic Will	A handwritten Will.
Homestead Exemption	Portion of your residence (dwelling and surrounding land) that cannot be sold to satisfy a creditor’s claim while you are living.
Incapacitated/Incompetent	Unable to manage one’s own affairs, either temporarily or permanently. Lack of legal power.
Independent Administration	A form of probate available in many states. Intended to simplify the probate process by requiring fewer court appearances and less court supervision.
Inheritance	The assets received from someone who has died.
Inter vivos	Latin term that means "between the living." An inter vivos Trust is created while you are living instead of after you die. A Revocable Living Trust is an inter vivos Trust.
Irrevocable Trust	A Trust that cannot be changed (revoked) or canceled once it is set up. Opposite of Revocable Trust.
Intestate	Without a Will.
Joint Ownership	When two or more persons own the same asset.
Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship	A form of joint ownership in which the deceased owner’s share automatically and immediately transfers to the surviving joint tenant(s).
Liquid Assets	Cash and other assets (like stocks) that can easily be converted into cash.
"Living Probate"	The court-supervised process of managing the assets of one who is incapacitated.
Living Trust	A written legal document that creates an entity to which you transfer ownership of your assets. Contains your instructions for managing your assets during your lifetime and for their distribution upon your incapacity or death. Avoids probate at death and court control of assets at incapacity. Also called a revocable inter vivos Trust. A Trust created during one’s lifetime.
Living Will	A written document that states you do not wish to be kept alive by artificial means when the illness or injury is terminal.
Marital Deduction	A deduction on the Federal Estate Tax Return that lets the first spouse to die leave an unlimited amount of assets to the surviving spouse free of estate taxes. However, if no other tax planning is used, and the surviving spouse’s estate is more than the amount of the federal estate tax exemption in effect at the time of his/her death, estate taxes will be due at that time.
Marital Trust	See "A Trust."
Medicaid	A federally-funded health care program for the poor and minor children.
Medicare	A federally-funded health care program, primarily for Americans over age 65 who are covered by Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.
Minor	One who is under the legal age for an adult, which varies by state (usually age 18 or 21).
Net Estate	The value of an estate after all debts have been paid. (Federal estate taxes are based on the net value of an estate.)
Net Value	The current market value of an asset less any loan or debt.
Payable-on-Death Account	See "Totten Trust."
Per Capita	A way of distributing your estate so that your surviving descendents will share equally, regardless of their generation.
Per Stirpes	A way of distributing your estate so that your surviving descendents will receive only what their immediate ancestor would have received if he/she had been living at your death.
Personal Property	Movable property. Includes furniture, automobiles, equipment, cash and stocks. Opposite of real property that is permanent (like land).
Personal Representative	Another name for an Executor or Administrator.
Pour Over Will	A short Will often used with a Living Trust. It states that any assets left out of your Living Trust will become part of (pour over into) your Living Trust upon your death.
Power of Attorney	A legal document giving someone legal authority to sign your name on your behalf in your absence. Ends at incapacity (unless it is a durable power of attorney) or death.
Probate	The legal process of validating a Will, paying debts, and distributing assets after death.
Probate Estate	The assets that go through probate after you die. Usually this includes assets you own in your name and those paid to your estate. Usually does not include assets owned jointly, payable-on-death accounts, insurance and other assets with beneficiary designations. Assets in a Trust also do not go through probate.
Probate Fees	Legal, executor, and appraisal fees and court costs when an estate goes through probate. Probate fees are paid from assets in the estate before the assets are fully distributed to the heirs.
Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT)	Allows a non-citizen spouse to qualify for the marital deduction.
Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP)	A Trust that delays estate taxes until your surviving spouse dies so more income will be available to provide for your spouse during his/her lifetime. You can also keep control over who will receive these assets after your spouse dies.
Qualifying Subchapter S Trust (QSST)	Trust that meets certain IRS qualifications and is allowed to own Subchapter S Stock.
Quitclaim Deed	Document that allows you to transfer title to real estate. With a quitclaim deed, the person transferring the title makes no guarantees, but transfers all his/her interest in the property.
Real Property	Land and property that is permanently attached to land (like a building or a house).
Recorded Deed	A deed that has been filed with the county land records. This creates a public record of all changes in ownership of property in the state.
Revocable Trust	A Trust in which the person setting it up retains the power to change (revoke) or cancel the Trust during his/her lifetime. Opposite of Irrevocable Trust.
Required Beginning Date (RBD)	The date you must begin taking required minimum distributions from your tax-deferred plans. Usually, it is April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which you turn age 70 1/2. If your money is in a company-sponsored plan, you may be able to delay your RBD beyond this date if you continue working (providing you are not a 5% or greater owner of the company).
Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)	The amount you are required to withdraw each year from your tax-deferred plan after you reach your Required Beginning Date. It is determined by dividing the value of your tax-deferred accounts by the life expectancy of you and your Beneficiary. The intent is that, by the time you and your Beneficiary are both expected to die, your tax-deferred savings will be fully withdrawn.
Separate Property	Generally, all assets you acquire prior to marriage and assets acquired by gift or inheritance during marriage.
Separate Trust	A Trust established by one person. A married couple has separate Trusts if each spouse has his/her own Trust with its own assets. In contrast, see "Common Trust."
Settle an Estate	The process of handling the final affairs - valuation of assets, payment of debts and taxes, distribution of assets to Beneficiaries - after someone dies.
Settlor	See "Grantor."
Special Gifts	A separate listing of special assets that will go to specific individuals or organizations after your incapacity or death. Also called Special Bequests.
Special Needs Trust	Allows you to provide for a disabled loved one without interfering with government benefits.
Spendthrift Clause	Protects assets in a Trust from a Beneficiary’s creditors.
Spouse	Husband or wife.
Stepped-up Basis	Assets are given a new basis when transferred by inheritance (through a Will or Trust) and are re-valued as of the date of the owner’s death. If an asset has appreciated above its basis (what the owner paid for it), the new basis is called a stepped-up basis. A stepped-up basis can save a considerable amount in capital gains tax when an asset is later sold by the new owner. Also see "Basis."
Subchapter S Corporation Stock	Stock in a corporation which has chosen to be subject to the rules of subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code.
Surviving Spouse	The spouse who is living after one spouse has died.
Survivor’s Trust	See "A Trust."
Successor Trustee	Person or institution named in the Trust document who will take over should the first Trustee die, resign, or otherwise become unable to act.
Tax-Deferred Plan	A retirement savings plan (like an IRA, 401(k), pension, profit sharing, or Keogh) that qualifies for special income tax treatment. The contributions made to the plan and subsequent appreciation of the assets are not taxed until they are withdrawn at a later time - ideally, at retirement, when your income and tax rate are lower.
Taxable Gift	Generally, a gift of more than $11,000 in one year to someone other than your spouse. The value of the gift is applied to your federal gift and estate tax exemption, and no gift tax is required to be paid until the exemption has been exhausted. (Beginning in 1999, this amount is tied to inflation. However, it did not increase in 1999 due to rounding requirements.)
Tenants-in-Common	A form of joint ownership in which two or more persons own the same property. At the death of a tenant-in-common, his/her share transfers to his/her heirs.
Tenants-by-the Entirety	A form of joint ownership in some states between husband and wife. When one spouse dies, his/her share of the asset automatically transfers to the surviving spouse.
Testamentary Trust	A Trust in a Will. Can only go into effect at death. Does not avoid probate.
Testate	One who dies with a valid Will.
Title	Document proving ownership of an asset.
Transfer Tax	Tax on assets when they are transferred to another. The estate tax, gift tax and generation skipping transfer tax are all transfer taxes.
Trust	An entity that holds assets for the benefit of certain other persons or entities.
Trust Company	An institution that specializes in managing Trusts. Also called a Corporate Trustee.
Trust Mill or Scam	A financial company selling living trust to gain access to confidential financial information.  A technique often used by insurance agents to sell high-commission annuities to senior citizens.
Trustee	Person or institution who manages and distributes another’s assets according to the instructions in the Trust document.
Trustor	See "Grantor."
Totten Trust	A "pay-on-death" account. A bank account that will transfer to the Beneficiary who was named when the account was established. The terms "transfer on death" ("TOD"), "in Trust for" ("ITF"), "as Trustee for" ("ATF"), and "pay on death" ("POD") often appear in the title.
Unified Credit	The amount each person is allowed to deduct from any federal estate taxes owed after death.
Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA)	Law enacted in many states that lets you leave assets to a minor by appointing a Custodian. In most states, the minor receives the assets at legal age.
Unfunded	Your Living Trust is unfunded if you have not transferred assets into it.
Warranty Deed	Document that allows you to transfer title to real estate. With a warranty deed, the person guarantees that the title being transferred is clear (free of any encumbrances). If the title is defective, the person making the transfer is liable. Compare to quitclaim deed.
Will	A written document with instructions for disposing of assets after death. A Will can only be enforced through the probate court.