(a) In the proceeding for an elective share, values included in the estate which pass or have passed to the surviving spouse, or which would have passed to the surviving spouse but were renounced, are applied first to satisfy the elective share and to reduce any contributions due from other recipients of transfers included in the estate. For purposes of this subsection, the electing spouse’s beneficial interest in any life estate or in any trust shall be computed as if worth one-half of the total value of the property subject to the life estate, or of the trust estate, unless higher or lower values for these interests are established by proof; provided, however, that, to the extent that the electing spouse’s beneficial interest is a life estate or is an interest in a trust and is coupled with a general power of appointment (whether exercisable by deed or by will or by either), the beneficial interest shall be computed as being equal to two-thirds of the total value of the property subject to the life estate, or of the trust estate, with respect to which the general power of appointment exists.
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 43-8-75

  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Life estate: A property interest limited in duration to the life of the individual holding the interest (life tenant).
  • property: includes both real and personal property. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) Remaining property of the estate is so applied that liability for the balance of the elective share of the surviving spouse is equitably apportioned among the recipients of the estate in proportion to the value of their interests therein.
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