A Missouri Qualified Domestic Trust Agreement (MEDIA) is a legal document that allows a non-citizen surviving spouse to be the beneficiary of a trust while deferring the estate tax on assets transferred to the trust upon the death of the U.S. citizen spouse. Madras are specifically designed for couples where one spouse is a non-citizen and may not be eligible for the marital deduction, which normally allows for the tax-free transfer of assets between spouses. This trust agreement is governed by Missouri state laws and must meet certain requirements to qualify as a "Qualified Domestic Trust" under the Internal Revenue Code. The primary purpose of this agreement is to preserve the marital deduction and defer estate tax until the non-citizen spouse's death or when the trust assets are distributed. There are several types of Missouri Qualified Domestic Trust Agreements: 1. Irrevocable Qualified Domestic Trust (IDT): This type of MEDIA is made irrevocable by the granter, meaning that the trust terms cannot be changed once the agreement is executed. 2. Revocable Qualified Domestic Trust (RDT): Unlike the IDT, a Revocable DDT allows the granter to modify or revoke the trust during their lifetime. However, the trust becomes irrevocable upon the granter's death. 3. Marital Qualified Domestic Trust (MDT): This type of MEDIA is specifically designed for the non-citizen surviving spouse to receive income generated by the trust during their lifetime. After the spouse's death, the trust assets may be distributed to other beneficiaries, such as children or other family members. 4. General Qualified Domestic Trust (GDT): A General DDT is a more flexible type of trust that allows both the non-citizen surviving spouse and other beneficiaries to receive income and principal distributions from the trust. This type of MEDIA provides greater control over the trust assets and their distribution. It is essential to consult with an experienced estate planning attorney familiar with Missouri laws when creating a Qualified Domestic Trust Agreement. This ensures compliance with the specific requirements, maximizes the tax benefits, and protects the interests of both the U.S. citizen and non-citizen spouses.