CT Bar Wills Trusts & Estates Flashcards

Under Connecticut law, a surviving spouse's elective share entitles them to what portion of the deceased spouse's estate?

Answer: One-third

C.G.S. § 45a-436 grants a surviving spouse the right to elect against the will and take a life use of one-third of the deceased spouse's estate.

Which Connecticut statute governs the Connecticut Uniform Trust Code?

Answer: C.G.S. §§ 45a-499a et seq.

Connecticut adopted the Uniform Trust Code, codified at C.G.S. §§ 45a-499a through 45a-499bbb, effective January 1, 2020, modernizing trust administration rules.

Under the Connecticut UTC, a trustee's duty of loyalty requires the trustee to administer the trust solely in the interest of which party?

Answer: The beneficiaries

Under C.G.S. § 45a-499s, a trustee must administer the trust solely in the interests of the beneficiaries, prohibiting self-dealing or conflicts of interest.

Connecticut's rule against perpetuities, as modified by statute, permits trusts to last for how long?

Answer: 90 years

Under C.G.S. § 45a-499y (UTC) and prior statutes, Connecticut applies a wait-and-see period of 90 years as an alternative to the traditional common-law rule against perpetuities.

In Connecticut, a power of attorney that survives the principal's subsequent incapacity is known as a:

Answer: Durable power of attorney

A durable power of attorney under C.G.S. § 1-350 et seq. (Connecticut Uniform Power of Attorney Act) remains effective despite the principal's incapacity because it contains specific durability language.

Under Connecticut intestate succession law, if a decedent dies with a surviving spouse and two children, how is the estate distributed?

Answer: Spouse takes first $100,000 plus half the remainder; children share the other half

Under C.G.S. § 45a-437, when a decedent leaves a surviving spouse and children, the spouse receives the first $100,000 of the estate plus one-half of the balance, with the remaining half distributed among the children.