A New Jersey Complex Will with Maximum Unified Credit to Spouse is a legal estate planning document designed to maximize the amount of assets that can be passed on to a spouse without incurring federal estate taxes. This type of will is especially beneficial for high net worth individuals who have significant assets and want to ensure their spouse receives the maximum allowed exemption upon their death. The New Jersey Complex Will — Maximum Unified Credit to Spouse utilizes the concept of the unified credit, which allows a certain amount of assets to be transferred estate tax-free. As of 2021, the federal estate tax exemption is $11.7 million for individuals and $23.4 million for married couples. A complex will design to maximize this unified credit ensures that the surviving spouse can claim the full exemption amount upon the first spouse's death, effectively doubling the overall exemption for the couple. By naming the specific exemption amount in the will, the deceased spouse can leave assets up to the exemption threshold to their surviving spouse without incurring any estate taxes. Any assets exceeding the exemption amount would be subject to federal estate tax at the prevailing rates. There are several variations of New Jersey Complex Wills — Maximum Unified Credit to Spouse: 1. Specific Bequest Complex Will: This type of will specifies a fixed amount or specific assets up to the exemption threshold to be transferred to the surviving spouse, while the remaining assets go to other beneficiaries. 2. Residuary Complex Will: Here, the surviving spouse is entitled to the residue of the estate after any specific bequests are made to other beneficiaries. This ensures the spouse receives the maximum unified credit of the estate. 3. Testamentary Trust Complex Will: In this variation, a testamentary trust is created upon the first spouse's death, with the surviving spouse as the primary beneficiary. The trust allows the surviving spouse to access income and principal according to the terms set forth in the will, while still preserving the maximum unified credit for estate tax purposes. 4. Generation-Skipping Complex Will: This type of complex will is used when the deceased spouse wishes to skip a generation and pass assets directly to grandchildren or later descendants. By utilizing the maximum unified credit to spouse, assets can be left to grandchildren, effectively avoiding estate taxes at the children's level. In conclusion, a New Jersey Complex Will with Maximum Unified Credit to Spouse is a powerful estate planning tool that enables high net worth individuals to transfer a significant portion of their assets to their surviving spouse without incurring federal estate taxes. By carefully crafting the will to maximize the unified credit, individuals can ensure their loved ones receive the maximum benefits while preserving wealth for future generations.