QDOT

Law & Legal abbreviation · Estate and Family Law

QDOT
Stands forQualified domestic trust
CategoriesLaw & Legal

QDOT stands for Qualified domestic trust, an estate and family law abbreviation.

Trust that allows property left to a surviving spouse who is not a US citizen to qualify for the estate tax marital deduction, which is otherwise unavailable for non-citizen spouses. Estate tax is deferred until principal is distributed or the spouse dies.

Example: Because his wife is a Canadian citizen, his will directs the bulk of his estate into a QDOT.

Usage notes

Authorized by Internal Revenue Code § 2056A. At least one trustee must be a US citizen or domestic corporation, with extra security requirements for larger trusts. If the spouse later becomes a US citizen and meets certain conditions, the deferred tax may never be due.

More estate and family law abbreviations

  • PFA – Protection from abuse order
  • PINS – Person in need of supervision
  • POA – Power of attorney
  • POD – Payable on death
  • PR – Personal representative
  • PSA – Property settlement agreement
  • QDRO – Qualified domestic relations order
  • QPRT – Qualified personal residence trust
  • QTIP – Qualified terminable interest property
  • RLT – Revocable living trust
  • SAPCR – Suit affecting the parent-child relationship
  • SLAT – Spousal lifetime access trust

See all 50 estate and family law abbreviations →

This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.