With most of us feeling uneasy, and perhaps experiencing a fear of heights concerning the uncertainty of the tax laws and the so-called "fiscal cliff," we anxiously awaited the end of 2012. As the holidays passed and the new year approached, Congress quickly huddled and passed the 2012 Taxpayer Relief Act ("the Act" or "the legislation") which the President has signed into law. This legislation addresses numerous tax issues, some of which have been highlighted in the national media. There are several important components of the legislation that directly impact estate planning. This article will briefly detail the key estate planning pieces of the legislation for 2013 and beyond.