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. (As of 2009 there is no New Hampshire Estate Tax).

- 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
West Boylston, MA 508-835-2100
Moultonboro NH 603-253-2906

wsmith@mass-elderlaw.com