A New Hampshire Qualified Domestic Trust Agreement, also known as a DOT Agreement, is a legal arrangement that allows a surviving spouse who is a non-U.S. citizen to qualify for the marital deduction under the U.S. federal estate tax laws. This type of agreement ensures that the estate of a deceased spouse can be transferred to the surviving non-citizen spouse without incurring immediate estate taxes. The purpose of a DOT Agreement is to allow the surviving non-citizen spouse to access the assets of the deceased spouse while deferring the estate tax liability until the surviving spouse dies or takes distributions from the trust. This arrangement can be especially beneficial for international couples who wish to pass on their assets to their non-U.S. citizen spouses without facing significant taxation hurdles. Key features of a New Hampshire Qualified Domestic Trust Agreement include: 1. Estate Tax Deferral: The DOT Agreement allows for the deferral of estate taxes, ensuring that the surviving non-citizen spouse does not face immediate tax burdens upon the death of their U.S. citizen spouse. 2. Qualified Trust Requirements: The trust must meet certain requirements to qualify as a DOT, including appointing a U.S. trustee or a bank to ensure proper administration and compliance with U.S. tax laws. 3. Tax Benefits: The DOT Agreement enables the surviving non-citizen spouse to benefit from the marital deduction, which allows the deceased spouse's assets to pass to the surviving spouse tax-free. However, the estate taxes are deferred until the assets are distributed from the trust or the surviving spouse passes away. 4. Distribution Limitations: The DOT Agreement usually comes with restrictions on distributions from the trust, ensuring that the assets are used primarily for the benefit of the surviving spouse. Some limitations may include allowing only income distributions and requiring principal distributions to be subject to estate tax. In addition to the general New Hampshire Qualified Domestic Trust Agreement, there are no specific types mentioned that are exclusive to New Hampshire. However, it is important to consult with an attorney or estate planning professional to determine the best version of the DOT Agreement that suits individual circumstances and meets legal requirements. To summarize, a New Hampshire Qualified Domestic Trust Agreement is a valuable estate planning tool designed to provide tax benefits and flexibility to international couples, allowing the non-U.S. citizen spouse to qualify for the marital deduction while deferring estate taxes.
Para su conveniencia, debajo del texto en español le brindamos la versión completa de este formulario en inglés. For your convenience, the complete English version of this form is attached below the Spanish version.