As it stands estate tax affects only estates of considerable size (in 2011, over $5 million USD, and $10 million USD for couples) If the law is changed in this deal the federal estate tax exemption is set to drop to $1 million and taxed at %55 after that, stating next year. If she gets to claim it before the end of the year, which she might, she would be paying on the upper 2 million. Other wise it's one million plus %55 of the remaining 6.4 so it's really more like 4.52 million.

The government made a huge effort to find and locate an heir that other wise would have never known a thing about it. She did not even really know the guy. Not bad, even if she pays taxes on it.

What an awesome Christmas she'll have! I have to wonder what she'll have left after the Estate Double-Tax,the most unfair tax ever created. I'm thinking maybe 2.8 Million,still not bad.