Rhode Island Marital-deduction Residuary Trust with a Single Trust or and Lifetime Income and Power of Appointment in Beneficiary Spouse is a specific type of trust established in Rhode Island that allows an individual (known as the trust or) to provide financial support for their surviving spouse while also maintaining control over the distribution of assets. This particular type of trust incorporates the concept of a marital deduction, which allows for the transfer of assets from one spouse to the other without incurring any estate or gift tax. By utilizing the marital deduction, the trust or can ensure that their surviving spouse receives sufficient income and support during their lifetime. The trust is structured in a way that the surviving spouse becomes the beneficiary and has the right to receive income generated by the trust assets for their lifetime. This income can be used to cover living expenses, medical bills, and other financial needs. The trust or can also grant the surviving spouse a power of appointment, which grants them the authority to allocate or distribute the trust assets to specific beneficiaries upon their death. There may be variations of the Rhode Island Marital-deduction Residuary Trust with a Single Trust or and Lifetime Income and Power of Appointment in Beneficiary Spouse, including: 1. Irrevocable vs. Revocable Trust: Trustees can choose to establish either an irrevocable or revocable trust. An irrevocable trust cannot be modified or revoked by the trust or once it is established, whereas a revocable trust allows the trust or to make changes or revoke the trust during their lifetime. 2. Discretionary vs. Mandatory Income Distribution: The trust or can decide whether the income generated by the trust assets will be distributed to the beneficiary spouse at the trustee's discretion (discretionary distribution) or on a scheduled basis (mandatory distribution). 3. Limited vs. General Power of Appointment: The power of appointment granted to the beneficiary spouse can be limited, allowing them to distribute assets only to certain individuals or within specific limitations, or it can be general, enabling them to distribute assets as they see fit. 4. Testamentary vs. Living Trust: Trustees can create the Rhode Island Marital-deduction Residuary Trust with a Single Trust or and Lifetime Income and Power of Appointment in Beneficiary Spouse either as a testamentary trust, which takes effect upon their death as specified in their will, or as a living trust, which becomes effective during their lifetime. In summary, the Rhode Island Marital-deduction Residuary Trust with a Single Trust or and Lifetime Income and Power of Appointment in Beneficiary Spouse is a specialized trust that offers estate planning benefits by providing lifetime income and a power of appointment to a surviving spouse while allowing the trust or control over the ultimate distribution of trust assets.