A $2000 (or less) trust would likely have helped avoid some of the taxes.

Don't blame the lawyers (well you can, but blame the ones in Congress).

If you have a 4 mil estate, you can't be picky about a small expense to protect it from the govt. But then, I often see seniors that just don't care if their relatives get a dime. Perhap it was his wish that you get what you get and the govt can have the rest.