The results of the 2016 presidential and congressional races could hold significant sway over the future estate planning laws. 
If Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton wins the general election, the Policy and Taxation Group anticipates that many of her policies will be in line with the current budget proposals of the Obama administration. Currently, the estate tax exemption is $5.45 million for a single person and $10.9 million for a married couple. This is indexed for inflation and has a top tax rate of 40 percent. However, Clinton has expressed a desire to restore the parameters that were in place in 2009, reducing the estate tax exemption threshold to $3.5 million with no adjustment for future inflation and increasing the top tax rate to 45 percent.
Likewise, when it comes to grantor-retained annuity trusts (GRATs), it is expecting a Clinton administration to call for a required minimum term. The most recent Obama budget plan required that a GRAT have a minimum term of 10 years and a maximum term of life expectancy of the annuitant plus 10 years, while also requiring that the remaining interest in the GRAT at the time the interest is created have a minimum value equal to the greater of 25 percent of the value of the assets contributed to the GRAT. This would effectively end the usefulness of GRATs if the gift must be at least 25 percent of the initial value. Conversely, Donald Trump's tax plan involves repealing the estate tax, which is also in line with removing restrictions on GRATs.
While the Presidential election would determine what their future administration's proposals on these topics. The passing and implementation of the proposals depend more on the results of the congressional elections. Unless this election cycle results in a completely Democratic-controlled government, it remains unlikely that these proposed changes would take effect. Republicans are in a tough fight to maintain the Senate because they are defending 24 of 34 seats up in 2016. Likewise, it would be difficult for Democrats to flip the 30 seats in the House necessary to win control of the chamber, making it unlikely that complete Democratic control of government will occur.
