Benjamin Franklin referred to death and taxes as "the only certainties in life." And the inheritance tax touches on both. It's a levy on money, property or other assets a person leaves to others after ...

That’s particularly true in a handful of states where an inheritance tax still applies. Unlike federal estate taxes, which affect only the ultrawealthy, these state-level taxes can hit ordinary heirs.

Collecting an inheritance, we're told, should be a blessed event. The circumstances are tragic, but it's still a free cash gift, right? Reality is, inheriting free money can be a stressful and ...