In general
For purposes of this chapter, the generation to which any person (other than the transferor) belongs shall be determined in accordance with the rules set forth in this section.
Lineal descendants
In general
An individual who is a lineal descendant of a grandparent of the transferor shall be assigned to that generation which results from comparing the number of generations between the grandparent and such individual with the number of generations between the grandparent and the transferor.
On spouse’s side
An individual who is a lineal descendant of a grandparent of a spouse (or former spouse) of the transferor (other than such spouse) shall be assigned to that generation which results from comparing the number of generations between such grandparent and such individual with the number of generations between such grandparent and such spouse.
Treatment of legal adoptions, etc.
Legal adoptions
A relationship by legal adoption shall be treated as a relationship by blood.
Relationships by half-blood
A relationship by the half-blood shall be treated as a relationship of the whole-blood.
Marital relationship
Marriage to transferor
An individual who has been married at any time to the transferor shall be assigned to the transferor’s generation.
Marriage to other lineal descendants
An individual who has been married at any time to an individual described in subsection (b) shall be assigned to the generation of the individual so described.
Persons who are not lineal descendants
Special rule for persons with a deceased parent
In general
Limited application of subsection to collateral heirs
This subsection shall not apply with respect to a transfer to any individual who is not a lineal descendant of the transferor (or the transferor’s spouse or former spouse) if, at the time of the transfer, such transferor has any living lineal descendant.
Other special rules
Individuals assigned to more than 1 generation
Except as provided in regulations, an individual who, but for this subsection, would be assigned to more than 1 generation shall be assigned to the youngest such generation.
Interests through entities
Except as provided in paragraph (3), if an estate, trust, partnership, corporation, or other entity has an interest in property, each individual having a beneficial interest in such entity shall be treated as having an interest in such property and shall be assigned to a generation under the foregoing provisions of this subsection.
Treatment of certain charitable organizations and governmental entities
Pub. L. 99–514, title XIV, § 1431(a)100 Stat. 2725Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1014(g)(11)102 Stat. 3565Pub. L. 105–34, title V, § 511(a)111 Stat. 860(Added , , ; amended , (19), , , 3567; , , .)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
Pub. L. 105–341997—Subsecs. (e), (f). added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1014(g)(19)1988—Subsec. (b)(2). , inserted “(or former spouse)” after “a spouse”.
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1014(g)(11)Subsec. (e)(3). , amended par. (3) generally, including governmental entities among the organizations to be assigned to transferor’s generation.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Pub. L. 105–34section 511(c) of Pub. L. 105–34section 2612 of this titleAmendment by applicable to terminations, distributions, and transfers occurring after , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Pub. L. 100–647Pub. L. 99–514section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647section 1 of this titleAmendment by effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date
section 2611 of this titlesection 1433 of Pub. L. 99–514section 2601 of this titleSection applicable to generation-skipping transfers (within the meaning of ) made after , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note under .