Glossary
Plain-language definitions connected to the deeper wills, trusts, tax, probate, beneficiary, and state-law system.
53 参考条目
A court-appointed personal representative who administers an estate when no executor is serving under a will.
核心概念： A court-appointed personal representative who administers an estate when no executor is serving under a will.
阅读完整指南A person authorized to act for another, commonly under a power of attorney; the document and governing law define the authority.
核心概念： A person authorized to act for another, commonly under a power of attorney; the document and governing law define the authority.
阅读完整指南A tax-year-specific federal gift-tax rule that can exclude qualifying present-interest gifts up to the current statutory amount per recipient; verify the current IRS figure and conditions.
核心概念： A tax-year-specific federal gift-tax rule that can exclude qualifying present-interest gifts up to the current statutory amount per recipient; verify the current IRS figure and conditions.
阅读完整指南An objectively framed distribution standard—often health, education, maintenance, and support—used in trust and tax analysis; the exact language and facts matter.
核心概念： An objectively framed distribution standard—often health, education, maintenance, and support—used in trust and tax analysis; the exact language and facts matter.
阅读完整指南A person, charity, estate, trust, or other permitted recipient entitled to receive or potentially receive property under an instrument, account, or law.
核心概念： A person, charity, estate, trust, or other permitted recipient entitled to receive or potentially receive property under an instrument, account, or law.
阅读完整指南A gift of property made by will; modern statutes and documents may use broader terms such as devise.
核心概念： A gift of property made by will; modern statutes and documents may use broader terms such as devise.
阅读完整指南A formally executed amendment to a will that must satisfy applicable execution rules and be read with the original will.
核心概念： A formally executed amendment to a will that must satisfy applicable execution rules and be read with the original will.
阅读完整指南A marital-property system that generally classifies qualifying property acquired during marriage as owned by the marital community, subject to state-specific tracing and exceptions.
核心概念： A marital-property system that generally classifies qualifying property acquired during marriage as owned by the marital community, subject to state-specific tracing and exceptions.
阅读完整指南The federal exclusion amount potentially made available to a surviving spouse through a valid portability election by the deceased spouse's estate.
核心概念： The federal exclusion amount potentially made available to a surviving spouse through a valid portability election by the deceased spouse's estate.
阅读完整指南A person who has died; tax forms and probate statutes use the term to identify the person whose property and obligations are being administered.
核心概念： A person who has died; tax forms and probate statutes use the term to identify the person whose property and obligations are being administered.
阅读完整指南A testamentary transfer under a will; depending on the statute or document, it may cover real or personal property.
核心概念： A testamentary transfer under a will; depending on the statute or document, it may cover real or personal property.
阅读完整指南A person's permanent legal home based on physical presence and intent; it can affect probate, marital property, state tax, and jurisdiction and is not always the same as residence.
核心概念： A person's permanent legal home based on physical presence and intent; it can affect probate, marital property, state tax, and jurisdiction and is not always the same as residence.
阅读完整指南Depending on context, the property and obligations associated with a person, the probate estate under court administration, or a separate tax entity after death.
核心概念： Depending on context, the property and obligations associated with a person, the probate estate under court administration, or a separate tax entity after death.
阅读完整指南Treatment of property or an interest as part of a decedent's gross estate for transfer-tax purposes; ownership title alone does not answer every inclusion rule.
核心概念： Treatment of property or an interest as part of a decedent's gross estate for transfer-tax purposes; ownership title alone does not answer every inclusion rule.
阅读完整指南A person nominated in a will and generally appointed by a court to administer the probate estate; many states use personal representative as the broader term.
核心概念： A person nominated in a will and generally appointed by a court to administer the probate estate; many states use personal representative as the broader term.
阅读完整指南A person or institution required to act under duties of loyalty, care, impartiality, prudence, and recordkeeping as applicable to the role and governing law.
核心概念： A person or institution required to act under duties of loyalty, care, impartiality, prudence, and recordkeeping as applicable to the role and governing law.
阅读完整指南A federal gift-tax election that can treat qualifying gifts by one spouse as made one-half by each spouse when requirements and consents are satisfied.
核心概念： A federal gift-tax election that can treat qualifying gifts by one spouse as made one-half by each spouse when requirements and consents are satisfied.
阅读完整指南A person treated as transferring property to a trust; settlor and trustor are common state-law synonyms, while federal tax law can use grantor in a technical way.
核心概念： A person treated as transferring property to a trust; settlor and trustor are common state-law synonyms, while federal tax law can use grantor in a technical way.
阅读完整指南The federal transfer-tax measure that can include probate and nonprobate property, certain insurance, retained interests, and other items before deductions.
核心概念： The federal transfer-tax measure that can include probate and nonprobate property, certain insurance, retained interests, and other items before deductions.
阅读完整指南A court-appointed person responsible for personal or health-related decisions for a minor or protected adult; some states use different labels or divide personal and property roles.
核心概念： A court-appointed person responsible for personal or health-related decisions for a minor or protected adult; some states use different labels or divide personal and property roles.
阅读完整指南A person or document authorizing health decisions for another when applicable conditions are met; terminology varies by state.
核心概念： A person or document authorizing health decisions for another when applicable conditions are met; terminology varies by state.
阅读完整指南A person entitled under intestacy law to inherit probate property; an heir is not necessarily the same as a beneficiary named in a will or account.
核心概念： A person entitled under intestacy law to inherit probate property; an heir is not necessarily the same as a beneficiary named in a will or account.
阅读完整指南A will written and signed in the testator's handwriting under rules recognized in some, but not all, states; requirements and treatment vary.
核心概念： A will written and signed in the testator's handwriting under rules recognized in some, but not all, states; requirements and treatment vary.
阅读完整指南Certain taxable income the decedent was entitled to but had not received before death; it generally does not receive the ordinary section 1014 basis adjustment.
核心概念： Certain taxable income the decedent was entitled to but had not received before death; it generally does not receive the ordinary section 1014 basis adjustment.
阅读完整指南The state-law system distributing probate property not effectively disposed of by a valid will.
核心概念： The state-law system distributing probate property not effectively disposed of by a valid will.
阅读完整指南A person's lineal descendants, such as children and later generations, interpreted under the document and governing law.
核心概念： A person's lineal descendants, such as children and later generations, interpreted under the document and governing law.
阅读完整指南The ability to understand and decide a particular legal matter under the applicable standard; capacity can be task-specific and may fluctuate.
核心概念： The ability to understand and decide a particular legal matter under the applicable standard; capacity can be task-specific and may fluctuate.
阅读完整指南A court-issued credential evidencing an executor's authority after appointment; terminology and electronic verification vary by jurisdiction.
核心概念： A court-issued credential evidencing an executor's authority after appointment; terminology and electronic verification vary by jurisdiction.
阅读完整指南A federal estate- or gift-tax deduction for qualifying transfers to a spouse, subject to citizenship, property-interest, and election requirements.
核心概念： A federal estate- or gift-tax deduction for qualifying transfers to a spouse, subject to citizenship, property-interest, and election requirements.
阅读完整指南A provision that may reduce or eliminate a beneficiary's gift after a covered challenge; enforceability, probable-cause exceptions, and scope vary by state.
核心概念： A provision that may reduce or eliminate a beneficiary's gift after a covered challenge; enforceability, probable-cause exceptions, and scope vary by state.
阅读完整指南A method of dividing property into equal shares among people at a specified generational level or class; document wording controls the exact method.
核心概念： A method of dividing property into equal shares among people at a specified generational level or class; document wording controls the exact method.
阅读完整指南A representation-based distribution method in which a deceased beneficiary's branch may take that beneficiary's share; state definitions and drafting variants differ.
核心概念： A representation-based distribution method in which a deceased beneficiary's branch may take that beneficiary's share; state definitions and drafting variants differ.
阅读完整指南The umbrella term in many jurisdictions for the fiduciary administering a decedent's probate estate, including an executor or administrator.
核心概念： The umbrella term in many jurisdictions for the fiduciary administering a decedent's probate estate, including an executor or administrator.
阅读完整指南The federal process by which a surviving spouse may use a deceased spouse's DSUE after a valid estate-tax-return election; GST exemption is not portable.
核心概念： The federal process by which a surviving spouse may use a deceased spouse's DSUE after a valid estate-tax-return election; GST exemption is not portable.
阅读完整指南Authority given to a power holder to designate who may receive specified property; general and limited powers can have different tax and creditor effects.
核心概念： Authority given to a power holder to designate who may receive specified property; general and limited powers can have different tax and creditor effects.
阅读完整指南The judicial process for appointing estate authority, validating a will where required, handling claims, and transferring probate property.
核心概念： The judicial process for appointing estate authority, validating a will where required, handling claims, and transferring probate property.
阅读完整指南An irrevocable refusal to accept property that can have special federal transfer-tax treatment if statutory requirements, timing, and lack-of-acceptance rules are met; state property law also applies.
核心概念： An irrevocable refusal to accept property that can have special federal transfer-tax treatment if statutory requirements, timing, and lack-of-acceptance rules are met; state property law also applies.
阅读完整指南The probate property left after specific gifts, expenses, claims, taxes, and other charges are handled under the will and law.
核心概念： The probate property left after specific gifts, expenses, claims, taxes, and other charges are handled under the will and law.
阅读完整指南The person who creates or contributes property to a trust; grantor and trustor are common synonyms, with context-specific tax meanings.
核心概念： The person who creates or contributes property to a trust; grantor and trustor are common synonyms, with context-specific tax meanings.
阅读完整指南A person or trust classified under federal GST rules as two or more generations below the transferor, or otherwise meeting the statutory definition.
核心概念： A person or trust classified under federal GST rules as two or more generations below the transferor, or otherwise meeting the statutory definition.
阅读完整指南Trust language restricting a beneficiary's transfer of an interest before distribution and limiting some creditor access, subject to state-law exceptions.
核心概念： Trust language restricting a beneficiary's transfer of an interest before distribution and limiting some creditor access, subject to state-law exceptions.
阅读完整指南A tax measure used to calculate gain, loss, depreciation, and other consequences; acquisition, gifts, death, improvements, and entity rules can change it.
核心概念： A tax measure used to calculate gain, loss, depreciation, and other consequences; acquisition, gifts, death, improvements, and entity rules can change it.
阅读完整指南The federal estate-tax base after permitted deductions from the gross estate, before application of the tax computation and credits.
核心概念： The federal estate-tax base after permitted deductions from the gross estate, before application of the tax computation and credits.
阅读完整指南Created by or taking effect under a will at death, as in a testamentary trust.
核心概念： Created by or taking effect under a will at death, as in a testamentary trust.
阅读完整指南A state-law process that may allow a trustee to distribute assets from one trust into a new trust with modified terms, subject to statutory authority, fiduciary duties, beneficiary rights, and tax review.
核心概念： A state-law process that may allow a trustee to distribute assets from one trust into a new trust with modified terms, subject to statutory authority, fiduciary duties, beneficiary rights, and tax review.
阅读完整指南A person holding a power of direction over a trustee under a directed-trust structure; fiduciary status and liability depend on governing law and the instrument.
核心概念： A person holding a power of direction over a trustee under a directed-trust structure; fiduciary status and liability depend on governing law and the instrument.
阅读完整指南Accounting categories allocating receipts and expenses between capital and current return; they are not identical to taxable principal and income.
核心概念： Accounting categories allocating receipts and expenses between capital and current return; they are not identical to taxable principal and income.
阅读完整指南A person granted specified oversight or amendment powers outside ordinary trustee duties; the title has no single universal set of powers.
核心概念： A person granted specified oversight or amendment powers outside ordinary trustee duties; the title has no single universal set of powers.
阅读完整指南The legal and administrative connection of a trust to a jurisdiction, potentially affected by governing law, trustee location, administration, assets, and court jurisdiction.
核心概念： The legal and administrative connection of a trust to a jurisdiction, potentially affected by governing law, trustee location, administration, assets, and court jurisdiction.
阅读完整指南The fiduciary holding and administering trust property under the instrument and governing law for beneficiaries or a permitted purpose.
核心概念： The fiduciary holding and administering trust property under the instrument and governing law for beneficiaries or a permitted purpose.
阅读完整指南Improper pressure that overcomes a person's free intent in making a will, trust, gift, or designation; proof is fact- and state-specific.
核心概念： Improper pressure that overcomes a person's free intent in making a will, trust, gift, or designation; proof is fact- and state-specific.
阅读完整指南A revocable document during life that directs probate property and makes nominations or testamentary trusts effective at death, subject to state execution law.
核心概念： A revocable document during life that directs probate property and makes nominations or testamentary trusts effective at death, subject to state execution law.
阅读完整指南A person who observes or acknowledges execution as required and may later attest to it; eligibility and presence rules vary by state and document.
核心概念： A person who observes or acknowledges execution as required and may later attest to it; eligibility and presence rules vary by state and document.
阅读完整指南
