Estate of Theodore J. Chamberlain - Page 26




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          with the intention of providing definitive rules for disclaimers            
          that could be uniformly applied among the States, with all three            
          of the Federal transfer taxes.  Id.                                         
               The enactment of section 2518 made compliance with State law           
          alone insufficient to establish that a valid disclaimer has been            
          made for purposes of the Federal transfer taxes.  Even if the               
          disclaimer complies with State law, it will not be a qualified              
          disclaimer for purposes of section 2518(a) unless it also                   
          satisfies the requirements of section 2518(b), (c)(3).  See                 
          Estate of Hennessy v. United States, 81 AFTR 2d 98-383, 98-1 USTC           
          par. 60,298 (S.D. Ind. 1997); sec. 25.2518-2(c)(5) Example (5),             
          Gift Tax Regs.; Bittker & Lokken, supra par. 121.7.7, at 121-63.            
               Nevertheless, a disclaimer will not be treated as a                    
          qualified disclaimer under section 2518 unless it is effective              
          under applicable local law.  This is because State law determines           
          whether or not a property interest has passed.  See Estate of               
          Bennett v. Commissioner, supra at 67.                                       
               Under Oregon law, the common-law right to disclaim has been            
          supplanted by the Uniform Disclaimer of Transfers by Will,                  
          Intestacy or Appointment Act.  See Or. Rev. Stat. sec. 112.650              
          through 112.667 (1997); Or. Rev. Stat. sec. 112.662 and Comment,            
          Uniform Disclaimer of Transfers by Will, Intestacy or Appointment           
          Act, sec. 5 ("Uniform Act").  Oregon Revised Statutes section               
          112.652 provides generally that an heir, legatee, or devisee may            





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