On March 30 Jonula “Mechelle” McNair, the widow of murdered NFL quarterback Steve McNair, asked a Tennessee probate court to allow the dispursement of over $3.7 million from her husband’s estate to pay nearly $2.9 million in estate taxes owed to the IRS and over $860,000 in estate taxes owed to the state of Tennessee.
The motion filed with the probate court stated that the tax payments were due on or before April 5. In fact, both federal and Tennessee estate taxes are due nine months after the date of death, but since McNair died on July 4 and April 4 fell on a Sunday, the estate had an extra day to pay. Strangely enough the motion that sought release of the funds was filed on March 30 and the judge signed the order granting the motion on the same day, leaving not a minute to spare.
The motion does state that both the federal and Tennessee estate tax returns will need to be amended once Mechelle McNair’s share of the estate is finally determined. But since the estate clearly has the cash necessary to pay the estimated tax bills, Mechelle McNair apparently decided to pay the bills on time in order to avoid interest that would begin to accrue on any unpaid portion due and owing after April 5.
The really sad thing in all of this is the fact that 100% of both federal and Tennessee estate taxes could have been avoided if Steve McNair had simply taken the time to do proper estate planning. This would have meant over $3.7 million in the pockets of his heirs instead of in the pockets of the IRS and the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
It’s not just sad but tragic how McNair’s mother lost first her son then her grandchildren on that day in July. I don’t pretend to know the pain, anger or confusion of either side but I am familiar with alienation as a social worker. What that does to a mother/grandmother’s heart… her spirit is nothing short of an emotional execution. I will pray for both women. This entire situation is just damn tragic. Those poor boys.