That would be the obvious answer, but we don't call them DUmmies for nothing.
You guys are rather strange to me and your thinking.
Estate is not just about Money Stocks and Bonds, a persons estate may be only the clothes on their back and say a jack knife that he used to when taking a grand child fishing.
Grandchild wants that knife as grandpa promised it to him. What to do to get that promised item with out a will or mention of it in a will????
This is a problem for the family that survives the deceased , there are things that have great sentalmental value to the survivors, much is disposed of after a death that the descendants have no chance to get any kind of memory for their loved one from.
Do I work all my life to have my money that I have paid taxes on go to the State or to family ????
I have paid taxes on this money, why is it not mine to give away any way I please?????
If I will money to a tax exempt organisation they get the money free and clear, but if I will money to my blood heirs, they have to pay more taxes on it. Why this is a gift from family, same as a parent paying for an education for their kids or helping them out in the hard times.
Some people set up trusts for their children where in case of death ,insurance and family money goes into it. Not sure this works, but quite a few friends are going that way to insure their children can inherit their money.
Very strange that a child is penalised for having parents that die. The Death tax is a reminder of very old cultures that We of the world came to America to escape. If everything we own and have worked all our lives for can be taken by the government---------Better to die so poor the government has to pay to put you in the ground.