From my research, in 2015, less than 3,000 estates out of the thousands of estates that will be probated, will be obligated to pay federal estate taxes. Under current law, only a small percentage of the population, (those with taxable assets in excess of $5,430,000 (the Exclusion Amount) will face estate taxes at the time of death. So the question arises: For individuals whose total assets are less than the Exclusion Amount are there estate and tax planning issues that should still be addressed? I explore the answers in my Summer newsletter.