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 A B C | D E F | G H I J K | L M N | O P Q R An ANNUITANT is an individual who receives or is qualified to receive an annuity. APPRECIATED ASSETS The ATTORNEY or lawyer is the person licensed by the state to practice law and assist the executor, trustee and guardian in the estate settlement process. It is conceivable that each could hire a separate attorney, but usually one attorney represents all three. The BASIS is the tax purpose value of the property or asset used in establishing the potential capital gains amount. A BENEFICIARY is the person and/or organization that receives the benefits (usually assets or income) of the trust. A BEQUEST is a gift of property or assets to a beneficiary as defined in a will. A BYPASS TRUST is set up to avoid or bypass the surviving spouse's estate, which enables each spouse to use the federal estate tax exemption. The CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY offered through a charity is used by many to provide income for the annuitant and a second beneficiary, if any. The annuitant (the person investing funds through the charity) receives a contract or agreement from the charity stating that the charity will pay the annuitant a fixed income for life with payments to start immediately or at some set future time. Probate or court involvement is avoided on these funds. The income paid under the annuity is secured by the assets of the charity. See Gift Annuity Benefits for more details. A CHARITABLE LEAD TRUST is almost the opposite of a charitable remainder trust (see definition below). During the term or life of the charitable lead trust, an annuity or unitrust income interest is distributed each year to the designated charitable beneficiary, and the assets are eventually transferred to the trustor's or grantor's designated non-charitable beneficiary(ies). A CHARITABLE REMAINDER ANNUITY TRUST is a trust that is set up to pay non-charitable beneficiaries a return or fixed annual percentage of at least 5 percent of the net fair market value of the assets placed in the trust. The trust assets are valued initially, at the time the property is placed in the trust. The trust assets are never revalued. After the term of the trust, a designated charity or charities receive the remainder of the trust assets. A CHARITABLE REMAINDER UNITRUST is a trust that is set up to pay a return or fixed annual percentage of 5 percent (or more) of the net fair market value of the assets placed in the trust. The trust assets are revalued annually. After the term of the trust, a designated charity or charities receive the remainder of the trust assets. A CODICIL The EXECUTOR is the person or institution named in a person's will who carries out the terms of the will. Traditionally, executor has referred to a male and executrix to a female, but this distinction is rapidly disappearing. The GUARDIAN is the person who is appointed by the court to care for the person and/or estate of a minor child or incompetent person. One can nominate a guardian in a will, and though normally the court will honor that nomination, the court has the right to agree or disagree. JOINT TENANCY is a type of ownership where any two or more persons, related or not, may own property and the property passes to the survivor or survivors on the death of one. This passing is not automatic, as some think, and the procedure for passing will depend on local law. However, this form of ownership does have the advantage of allowing property to pass to the survivor without delays of probate and court administration costs. A LIFE INSURANCE TRUST is usually set up for the purpose of excluding the proceeds of life insurance from the insured's and the spouse of the insured's estate for death tax purposes. It is an irrevocable trust. A LIVING TRUST is a trust set up to operate during the life (and can operate after the death) of the one setting up the trust. It can be revocable; in other words, the donor can change his or her mind and have some or all of the trust property returned during his or her life. An irrevocable trust may not be changed except in certain legal circumstances (fraud, unlawful agreements, merger of interests, decision of the court). See Living Trust – Advantages/Disadvantages. POOLED INCOME FUND – also called a charitable remainder pooled income fund – is an investment fund much like a mutual fund. It is made up of transfers to the fund by many persons who receive life income interests in exchange for their transfers, based on the value of the transfer into the fund and based on the income earned by the fund. PROBATE is the legal process of proving a will, appointing an executor and settling an estate. By custom, it has come to be understood as the legal process whereby a deceased person's estate is administered and distributed. A QUALIFIED TERMINABLE INTEREST PROPERTY TRUST (QTIP) is a trust often set up to avoid transfer tax on the first spouse's death. The deceased spouse establishes the ultimate disposition of the property, rather than the surviving spouse including the property in his or her estate. During his or her lifetime, the surviving spouse receives all income from the principal and, in some cases, has access to the principal. A RETAINED LIFE ESTATE is a gift plan defined by federal tax law allowing the donation of a personal residence (to include a vacation home) or farm to charity with the donor retaining the right to life enjoyment. A life estate may be retained for one or more lives or it may be retained for a term of years. All routine expenses – maintenance fees, property taxes, repairs, etc. – are the responsibility of the donor. The donor receives income tax benefits in the year of the gift (the property is irrevocably deeded to the charity) and estate tax benefits.
TESTAMENTARY TRUST - A will can have a trust written into it, called a testamentary trust, which is set into motion by the court after the will reaches a certain point of execution. It is used only after the death of the person whose estate it represents. It is possible to use a testamentary trust to fund many of the deferred gift options discussed elsewhere in these pages. In that manner, the options are referred to as a testamentary charitable gift annuity, a testamentary charitable remainder trust or a testamentary charitable lead trust. A TRUST is defined as any arrangement where property is to be held and administered by a trustee for the benefit of those for whom the trust was created. Depending on the type and how it is established, a trust may be revocable (changeable) or irrevocable (not changeable). The TRUSTEE is the person or institution named by a person making the trust, or appointed by the court, to carry out the terms of the trust. Assuming a trust has been set up through a will, when the executor's job is finished, the trustee's job begins. A TRUSTOR is the individual who establishes the trust. Also referred to as the GRANTOR or SETTLOR. A WILL is the legal expression or declaration of a person's wishes as to the disposition of the person's property, to be performed or take effect after the person's death. Planned Giving Home Page | Planned Giving Site Map | Contact Us | Frequently Asked Questions | Glossary Please note that individual financial circumstances will vary. As with all tax and estate planning, please consult your attorney or estate specialist. All material is copyrighted and is for viewing purposes only.
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is a written change or amendment made to a will.
TENANTS IN COMMON is a property ownership arrangement in which two or more persons own property jointly. It is not necessary that the ownership consist of equal shares or percentages of the property. Generally there is no right of survivorship when a co-owner dies. The share of the property belonging to the deceased co-owner passes to his or her heirs, and the shares of the remaining original co-owners do not change. 