Wall St. Journal:  “Changes in the Way Inherited Assets Are Valued Could Cost Heirs and Cause Hassles – Many people hope the federal estate tax will disappear next year, as scheduled. They could be sorry if it does.  Back in 2000, Congress enacted a gradual loosening of the estate exemption. It has since risen to its current level of $3.5 million per individual, or up to $7 million per couple. The tax is scheduled to lapse just for next year and return in 2011.”