Alice Is Terminally Ill and Does Not Expect to Live

question 50

Essay

Alice is terminally ill and does not expect to live much longer.Pondering the consequences of her estate, she decides how to allocate her property to her nieces.She makes a gift of depreciated property (i.e., adjusted basis exceeds fair market value) to Marsha, a gift of appreciated property (i.e., fair market value exceeds adjusted basis) to Jan, and leaves appreciated property to Cindy in her will.Each of the properties has the same fair market value.From an income tax perspective, which niece is her favorite?

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Definitions:

Practical Reason

The application of our rationality to practical problems—particularly moral problems—the solution to which consists in action (as opposed to a statement or a theory).

Postulate

A fundamental principle or assumption that is accepted without proof, often serving as a basis for developing further theories or arguments.

Aristotle

An ancient Greek philosopher and polymath whose extensive works on various subjects laid foundational principles in Western philosophy and science.

Free Action

An action performed out of one's own volition, free from external constraints or coercion.