Your shopping cart is empty
The life estate and testamentary discretionary trust in modern wills
Published on 01 Aug 12 by "THE TAX SPECIALIST" JOURNAL ARTICLE
An important early step in structuring an estate plan is to decide who is to benefit from each of the assets and to what extent. Next, it is necessary to consider the form of ownership and control of the assets.
The introduction of the capital gains tax, and the uncertainty of the tax treatment of life estates under those provisions, together with changing attitudes to the methods of control and forms of ownership of assets, has led to a shift in estate planning away from the use of life interests or testamentary trusts with specific equitable life and reversionary interests. This article examines some of the issues to be considered by an estate planner when considering the use of life estates and whether life estates still have a role in the modern will.
The article then considers some general issues relating to testamentary trusts.
Author profiles
Kevin J MUNRO
Kevin works for Munro LawyersCurrent at 22 January 2008
Emma Munro
Emma Munro is a Senior Lawyer at Munro Lawyers.
The Tax Institute is Australia's leading professional association and educator in tax providing the best resources, professional development and networks.