2018 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 701. Trusts.
701.0819 Marital deduction transfers.
701.0819 Marital deduction transfers.
(1) For purposes of this section, “marital deduction transfer" means a lifetime or testamentary transfer of property that is intended to qualify for the marital deduction as indicated by the terms of the trust.
(2) In interpreting, construing, or administering a trust instrument, absent a clear expression of intent by the settlor to the contrary, a trustee shall apply the following presumptions that may only be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence:
(a) The settlor intended to take advantage of tax deductions, exemptions, exclusions, and credits.
(b) The settlor intended that any transfer made to a spouse outright and free of trust qualify for the gift or estate tax marital deduction and is a marital deduction transfer.
(c) If the trust instrument refers to a trust as a marital trust, qualified terminable interest property trust, or spousal trust, or refers to qualified terminable interest property, section 2044, 2056, 2056A, or 2523 of the Internal Revenue Code, or a similar provision of applicable state law, the settlor intended that the trust and property passing to the trust qualify for the applicable gift or estate tax marital deduction and that the transfer qualifies for the marital deduction for federal and state gift or estate tax purposes.
(3) If a trust receives a marital deduction transfer, the trust instrument shall be construed to comply with the marital deduction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
(4) If a trust receives a marital deduction transfer, the trustee has all the powers, duties, and discretionary authority necessary to comply with the marital deduction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The trustee may not take any action or have any power that may impair the availability of the marital deduction, but this does not require the trustee to make the election under either section 2056 (b) (7), 2056A (a) (3), or 2523 (f) of the Internal Revenue Code.
History: 2013 a. 92.
