For married couples, the estate tax liability which would otherwise be due at the death of the survivor can be greatly reduced or completely eliminated by proper planning. This is particularly important in states that impose their own estate tax, and do not provide the “portability” currently available under federal law. This planning can be accomplished in a living trust (although it can also be accomplished through wills, this would require a separate probate at the death of each spouse). How much can be saved depends on the size of the estate and the estate tax laws at the time of the surviving spouse’s death. At the same time, the trust can also insure that the estate of the first spouse to die will ultimately go to his or her children (or heirs) even though the surviving spouse is provided the lifetime economic benefit of all assets and has complete management and control over the entire trust.