A Clark Nevada Qualified Domestic Trust Agreement (DOT) is a legal document that allows a non-U.S. citizen surviving spouse to maintain eligibility for an estate tax marital deduction upon the death of their U.S. citizen spouse. It is specifically designed to handle estate planning for couples where one spouse is a non-U.S. citizen. Under U.S. tax laws, when a U.S. citizen dies, their estate is subject to federal estate taxes. However, the unlimited marital deduction provision allows for the transfer of an unlimited amount of assets to a surviving spouse without incurring any estate taxes. This provision applies when the surviving spouse is a U.S. citizen. In situations where the surviving spouse is a non-U.S. citizen, the estate tax marital deduction is not automatically applicable. This is where a Clark Nevada DOT Agreement comes into play. It enables the non-U.S. citizen spouse to receive assets from the estate of the deceased U.S. citizen spouse while deferring the estate tax until the non-U.S. citizen spouse's death or until certain distributions are made from the trust. The Clark Nevada DOT Agreement requires the creation of an irrevocable trust, which must meet certain requirements to qualify as a DOT. Some of these requirements include appointing a U.S. trustee or executor, filing annual tax returns for the trust, and limiting distributions to the surviving spouse to only income or limited principal amounts. These restrictions ensure that the estate tax is paid upon distributions from the trust, without being completely exempted, as in the case of a U.S. citizen surviving spouse. The Clark Nevada DOT Agreement is specifically unique to the state of Nevada and is part of the larger category of DOT Agreements. There are variations of Dots in different states, each with its own set of specific requirements and regulations. However, the Clark Nevada DOT Agreement is particularly beneficial for individuals who reside in Nevada. In summary, the Clark Nevada Qualified Domestic Trust Agreement is an essential estate planning tool for couples where one spouse is a non-U.S. citizen. It allows the non-U.S. citizen surviving spouse to maintain eligibility for the estate tax marital deduction, thereby reducing potential estate tax liabilities. By meeting specific requirements, this agreement ensures compliance with U.S. tax laws and provides a structured means of transferring assets while deferring estate taxes.