The 2026 federal estate and gift tax exemption is $15 million per person, $30 million for a married couple, and the annual gift exclusion is $19,000 per recipient. For most households in the $5M-$20M range, estate planning is therefore less about estate tax and more about control, probate avoidance, and protecting heirs from creditors and bad decisions. The structures you choose decide all three.
This hub covers the full toolkit: revocable living trusts that keep an estate out of probate, irrevocable structures like SLATs, GRATs, and ILITs for households near or above the exemption, annual and lifetime gifting strategy, step-up in basis and when not to gift appreciated assets, beneficiary designations, and asset protection. It is written for families who built the wealth themselves and want the transfer handled with the same rigor, whether the heirs are children, charities, or both.
Articles coming soon.
Browse all articlesEstate Planning: common questions
Do I need a trust if my estate is under $15 million?
Probably yes, but not for tax reasons. A revocable living trust keeps your estate out of probate, keeps the details private, and provides for incapacity, none of which the $15 million exemption addresses. Irrevocable trusts add creditor protection and control over how and when heirs receive assets, which matters at any net worth.
Should I gift assets now or let my heirs inherit them?
Inheriting is usually better for highly appreciated assets, because heirs receive a step-up in basis that erases unrealized capital gains at death. Gifting is better for cash, high-basis assets, and anything expected to appreciate past the exemption. The $19,000 annual exclusion per recipient lets couples move meaningful sums each year without touching the lifetime exemption.
What is a SLAT and when does it make sense?
A spousal lifetime access trust is an irrevocable trust one spouse funds for the benefit of the other, moving assets out of the taxable estate while the household keeps indirect access through the beneficiary spouse. It fits married couples who expect their estate to exceed the $15 million per person exemption and want appreciation to happen outside it.