INCIDENT OF OWNERSHIP

incident of ownership.(usu. pl.) Any right of control that may be exercised over a transferred life-insurance policy so that the policy’s proceeds will be included in a decedent’s gross estate for estate-tax purposes <because Douglas still retained the incidents of ownership after giving his life-insurance policy to his daughter, the policy proceeds were taxed against his estate>. • The incidents of ownership include the rights to change the policy’s beneficiaries and to borrow against, assign, and cancel the policy. [Cases: Internal Revenue 4155. C.J.S. Internal Revenue § 510.]

[Blacks Law 8th]