Generally, report the following interests in Part 6: (1) assets distributed from an estate and (2) a beneficial interest in an estate that has not yet been distributed.  In addition, report any fees you received as an executor or administrator in Part 2 and any fees your spouse received in Part 5.  Do not report an interest in the will of a living person.

Assets Distributed from an Estate

Beneficial Interest in an Estate (assets not yet distributed)

There are many types of wills, and wills are established and interpreted under state law. The guidance provided here and in other sections of this guide addresses the most common situations.  It is recommended that you work with an ethics official at your agency to determine whether and how to disclose information about a will or an estate.

Note that the wills and estates discussed in this section do not involve trusts.  Consult an ethics official at your agency if the will or estate involves a trust.

For You, Your Spouse, and Your Dependent Children

Part 6

Reporting Assets Distributed from an Estate

Report each distributed asset that individually was worth more than $1,000 at the end of the reporting period or from which more than $200 in income was received during the reporting period.  Count income produced by the asset only after it was distributed to you, your spouse, or your dependent children.

This guide contains specific instructions for common types of assets that you may hold (e.g., mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, stocks, and corporate bonds).

Reporting a Beneficial Interest in an Estate That Has Not Been Distributed

Report a beneficial interest if the interest was worth more than $1,000 at the end of the reporting period or if more than $200 in income (excluding inheritance) was received during the reporting period.

Description:  Identify the estate.  If the estate is that of a relative, you may write “estate of a family member.”  In other cases, identify the estate by the last name of the party (e.g., “Estate of Mr. Doe”).

EIF:  Select “N/A.”

Value:  Report the value of the estate interest.  If you cannot ascertain the value of this interest, leave the “Value” field blank and write “value not readily ascertainable” in the “Description” field.

Income Type and Income Amount:  If income (excluding inheritance) in excess of $200 was received during the reporting period, report the type and amount.  If such income did not exceed $200, select the category for “None (or less than $201).”

Wills of Living Persons

You do not need to report any interest in the will of a living person.  Note, however, that other reporting requirements may apply if the person has established a trust.

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