The federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax laws in outline -- The estate and gift taxes applied to transfers at death and during life -- Donative intent and consideration -- Transfers during life : application of the estate and gift taxes -- Jointly owned property and community property -- Life insurance : estate tax and gift tax -- Annuities and employee death benefits : estate tax and gift tax -- Powers of appointment : estate and gift tax consequences -- Inclusion and valuation -- Exemptions and exclusions : gift tax (gifts of future interests and gifts to minors) -- Deductions : estate and gift tax -- The marital deduction and split gifts -- Credits against the estate and gift taxes : liability and payment of the taxes -- A few fundamentals of estate planning -- Reform proposals and fundamental alternatives to present transfer tax systems