- 46 - not the other. We conclude that Georgia law enables the Item V trust to satisfy the requirement of section 2056(b)(7)(B)(ii)(I). B. No Power To Appoint We turn next to the requirement of section 2056(b)(7)(B)(ii)(II) that no person have a power to appoint trust property to any person other than the surviving spouse. In addition to the specific references to income addressed in the preceding discussion, several provisions of the Item V trust can be construed generally as granting a power to appoint trust property. Three such powers may be exercised and given effect during Mrs. Lassiter’s life: (1) The trustee may use principal for the support in reasonable comfort of the surviving spouse; (2) the trustee may use principal for the support and education of Mr. Lassiter’s children; and (3) Mrs. Lassiter may direct the trustee at any time to turn trust property over to Mr. Lassiter’s descendants or their spouses. The exercise of a fourth power, Mrs. Lassiter’s testamentary power of appointment, would be given effect at her death. With respect to the trustee’s power to distribute to Mrs. Lassiter, regulations again provide specifically that such a power is not inconsistent with the marital deduction: An income interest in a trust will not fail to constitute a qualifying income interest for life solely because the trustee has a power to distribute principal to or for the benefit of the surviving spouse. The fact that property distributed to a surviving spouse may be transferred by the spouse to another person doesPage: Previous 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011