The estate and gift taxes did survive but with significant increases to their exclusion amounts.

If you should be named the Executor of an estate, you need to be aware that you could be held personally liable for any unpaid taxes of the deceased.

Currently, the exemptions for federal gift tax, estate tax, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax are at historic highs, and the gift, estate, and GST tax rates are at historic lows. But, in 2013, the exemptions are scheduled to substantially decrease, and the tax rates are scheduled to substantially increase.

Most of us have some sort of life insurance, so that when we die, our loved ones will be able to use the proceeds to pay off our debts and provide for some of their future living expenses.