This chart shows the amounts that will transfer with no estate taxes when you die:

Estate Tax Exclusion Amounts

Year	Federal	Massachusetts
2003	$1,000,000	$700,000
2004	$1,500,000	$850,000
2005	$1,500,000	$950,000
2006	$2,000,000	$1,000,000
2007	$2,000,000	$1,000,000
2008	$2,000,000	$1,000,000
2009	$3,500,000	$1,000,000
2010	No Tax	$1,000,000
2011	$1,000,000	$1,000,000

- An effective Estate Plan should anticipate that the Federal Estate Tax Exclusion will revert back to $1M in 2011

- Estate taxes applied to the amounts over the Exclusion amounts can average over 50%

- Estate Taxes can be avoided or deferred through proper estate tax planning

William F. Smith
Attorney at Law
45 Sterling Street- Suite 21
West Boylston, MA 01583
508-835-2100
williamfsmith@comcast.net