The difference between an A/B Revocable Living Trust and a Joint Revocable Living Trust is that the A/B trust permits the maximization of the “joint marital credit” for estate tax purposes.
To a certain extent, the choice between which one to use in a specific situation comes down to the value of the trust: if the assets of the trust are valued at $3.5 million or more, the A/B Trust is a more likely choice.
But the value of the Trust is simply one consideration.
Other factors that may play into a decision on which trust to use include how much an estate will be worth in the future; whether Congress will increase, decrease or eliminate the joint marital tax credit; and other tax and legal issues.
The distinctions between the two options can be fairly complex, and is fully described within the information provided as a part of the Standard Legal Living Trust legal forms software.