John B. Young and Martha H. Young - Page 6




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             A transfer of property is "incident to the divorce" if it                
          either occurs within 1 year of the divorce or is "related to the            
          cessation of the marriage".  Sec. 1041(c).  The statute does not            
          define the phrase "related to the cessation of the marriage", but           
          temporary regulations provide a safe harbor for certain                     
          transactions occurring within 6 years of the divorce.  The                  
          regulations provide that such transfers are related to the                  
          cessation of the marriage if the transfer is "pursuant to a                 
          divorce or separation instrument, as defined in section                     
          71(b)(2)".  Sec. 1.1041-1T(b), Q&A-7, Temporary Income Tax Regs.,           
          49 Fed. Reg. 34453 (Aug. 31, 1984).  A section 71(b)(2) divorce             
          or separation instrument includes a "written instrument incident            
          to * * * a [divorce] decree".  Sec. 71(b)(2).                               
             The parties agree that the 1989 Property Settlement was,                 
          pursuant to section 71(b)(2), "incident to" the divorce decree              
          because its purpose was to divide the marital property.  The 1992           
          Agreement resolved a dispute arising under the 1989 Property                
          Settlement and completed the division of marital property.  See,            
          e.g., Stevens v. Commissioner, 439 F.2d 69, 70 n.4 (2d Cir. 1971)           
          (paraphrasing "incident to" as "[implementing] the terms of the             
          decree"); Barnum v. Commissioner, 19 T.C. 401, 407 (1952)                   
          (paraphrasing "incident to" as "related to"); Hesse v.                      
          Commissioner, 7 T.C. 700, 704 (1946) (paraphrasing "incident to"            
          as "in connection with").  We conclude that the 1992 Agreement              





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