As much as it pains me to say, there may be only a $1 Million exemption in 2011 for estates. So, let’s look at Bruno who owns Bruno’s Shoe Store located in a condo retail park in Fredericksburg, VA. He also made the smart move in 2005 to add a web-site to sell shoes on-line. This has increased his sales greatly. At the end of 2010 his annual sales are $1 Million. He takes out of the store after paying salaries, inventory and usual operating expenses about $300,000 a year. He owns the business as a Sub-chapter S corporation per the recommendation of his accountant. The Condo is owned by an LLC which he and his wife own together. The condo is worth $125,000 and there is no debt. He and his wife own a home in Chancellorsville worth $300,000 and a cabin at Lake Louisa worth $200,000. His retirement account has $800,000 in it and it leaves everything to his spouse. On January 1, 2011, while he is doing inventory a shelf full of shoes falls on top of him, killing him instantly. When he doesn’t come home for dinner his wife calls the store, no answer and then calls the police who discover his body that evening at the store. They inform his wife who is so grief stricken that she has a heart attack and dies two hours later, leaving two adult children, Bruno, Jr. and Viggo. They both worked in the store th elast two years and want to continue the business. They appear at the offices of Slim Shades the noted estate tax attorney, to get advice about the tax effects of all of this.