Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT) Pros, Cons, and History (2026)

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Reviewed by Stuart Green

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Read Time: 1 mins

Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs) are one of the most widely used strategies in modern estate planning.

They allow you to move assets out of your taxable estate while maintaining indirect access through your spouse—creating a balance between tax efficiency and long-term control.

But structure matters.

The effectiveness of a SLAT depends entirely on how it’s designed and how it fits into your overall wealth strategy.

This is not legal advice. For educational purposes only.

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