Dower is a statutory provision in a common-law state that directs a certain portion of a deceased individual's estate (often one-third) to the surviving spouse. The term 'curtesy' is used if the surviving spouse is the husband.
Filing Status for tax purposes governs the form of return used and may affect the rate at which income is taxed and eligibility for various credits and deductions.
A Qualified Terminable Interest Property (Q-TIP) Trust is an estate planning tool that ensures the surviving spouse receives income from the trust's assets while retaining control for the deceased spouse over the distribution of the assets upon the surviving spouse's death.
A surviving spouse refers to a widow or widower who outlives their partner. In tax terms, a surviving spouse may file a joint return with the deceased spouse in the year of death and use joint return tax rates for two years following the spouse's death if certain conditions are met.
