I seriously doubt that there are a lot of young parents that are leaving more than $5,430,000[1]. Below that amount, it usually isn't necessary[2] to even file

I seriously doubt that there are a lot of young parents that are leaving more than $5,430,000[1]. Below that amount, it usually isn't necessary[2] to even file an estate tax return. The idea that the estate tax ever applies to most people has been very successful propaganda for a long time. The estate tax should absolutely be very high, because the people leaving large amounts of wealth are generally the only people the tax would affect. [1] for parents dying in 2015; future years will probably have a higher limit ( http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Estate-Tax http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employ... ) [2] for actual legal advice, see a proper tax lawyer