Some of the most commonly-used strategies to remove assets from estates are explained below. Note that these are all irrevocable, so you can t change your mind later. This is easy and it doesn t cost anything. You can give more, but it will use up some of your estate tax exemption. That s because it s a combined gift and estate tax exemption.
Charitable gifts are unlimited.
So are gifts for tuition and medical expenses if you give directly to the institution. An easy way to remove life insurance from your estate is to make an ILIT the owner of the policies. As long as you live for three years after the transfer, the death benefits will not be in your estate. Usually the ILIT is also beneficiary of the policy. So when you die, the money can provide for your spouse, children or others according to the instructions you put in the ILIT when you set it up.