CEA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CEA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What happens to an IRA with no named beneficiary if the account owner dies? → The IRA passes per the financial institution's default rules, often to the estate
2. The primary risk associated with a spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT) is known as the 'Unhappy SLAT' scenario, which occurs when: → The couple divorces, leaving the grantor without indirect access to trust assets
3. In the context of family governance, what is the primary purpose of a family retreat or family assembly? → To strengthen family cohesion, educate rising generations, and discuss shared goals
4. For a Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT), what percentage of the trust's fair market value must be paid to income beneficiaries each year? → At least 5% but not more than 50%
5. A client's NFT collection is worth $200,000 at death. Which factor most complicates its estate valuation? → NFT market prices are highly volatile and lack standardized appraisal methods
6. A married couple wants to maximize estate tax savings using portability. What must the surviving spouse do to use the deceased spouse's unused exemption (DSUE)? → File a timely federal estate tax return (Form 706) for the deceased spouse's estate
7. In the context of probate, what does 'ademption' mean? → A specific bequest fails because the property no longer exists in the estate at death
8. What is wealth transfer? → Transferring assets between generations
9. Which estate planning technique is commonly used to defer US estate tax when a non-citizen surviving spouse inherits a large estate? → Qualified domestic trust (QDOT)
10. Which of the following transfers triggers the three-year lookback rule that could pull the asset back into the gross estate under IRC § 2035? → Relinquishment of a retained life estate within 3 years of death
11. Which of the following expenses is generally APPROPRIATE for a Special Needs Trust to pay? → Supplemental education and recreational activities
12. A surviving spouse inherits an IRA. Which option is unique to spousal IRA beneficiaries and not available to non-spouse beneficiaries? → Rolling the inherited IRA into their own IRA
13. Which scenario would cause a Special Needs Trust to be invalidated or disqualify the beneficiary from Medicaid? → The trust makes direct cash payments to the beneficiary
14. Which of the following is NOT an 'incident of ownership' that would cause life insurance to be included in the insured's gross estate? → Being named as the policy's contingent beneficiary
15. What is the primary purpose of a 'Special Needs Trust' (SNT) in elder and disability law? → To preserve government benefit eligibility while providing supplemental funds
16. Which of the following best describes a key competency required for elder law & guardianship in CEA practice? → Strong analytical skills combined with effective communication and ethical judgment
17. When naming a successor trustee for a Special Needs Trust, what is the most critical consideration? → The successor must understand both disability law and the beneficiary's unique needs
18. In the context of CEA certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing international estate considerations? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices
19. Under the SSI resource rules, what is the current individual resource limit that makes an SNT necessary for benefit preservation? → $2,000
20. Which federal law governs the portability of advance directives across state lines for patients in federally funded healthcare facilities? → The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)
21. Which federal tax applies to transfers that skip one or more generations, such as gifts directly to grandchildren? → Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Tax
22. A non-resident alien decedent owned US stocks worth $1.5 million at death. Which form is used to report the US estate tax liability? → Form 706-NA
23. Which rule limits the deduction for contributions of ordinary income property (such as inventory) to a public charity? → The deduction is limited to the donor's adjusted basis in the property
24. Which type of trust is commonly used to hold life insurance proceeds outside of the taxable estate? → Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT)
25. Which planning structure is most effective for a foreign national who wants to hold US real estate and minimize US estate tax exposure upon death? → A foreign corporation that owns the US real property
26. An SNT beneficiary who receives SSDI rather than SSI is primarily concerned with which public benefit when planning trust distributions? → Medicare coverage
27. A business owner wants to transfer controlling interest but retain decision-making power during a transition period. Which structure BEST accomplishes this? → Transfer of non-voting stock while retaining voting stock
28. What is the typical look-back period for Medicaid long-term care asset transfers in most U.S. states? → 60 months
29. A client wants to transfer a family vacation home to their children while retaining the right to use it for life. Which strategy is most appropriate? → Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT)
30. A testamentary trust is one that: → Takes effect and is funded at the grantor's death through the will