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I, too, love the dog park idea (obviously), but gifting them money while still alive is different from bequeathing it to them after your death. On the one hand, you get to personally see and enjoy dogs benefitting from it! On the other... I guess you don't worry about running out and needing it later?
I drew up a will several years ago with a local attorney, who eventually died and went out of business -- obviously, but his partner had also died in the interim, so the firm completely shut down and the building was sold. When I went on a search for my will, which I assumed had either been "taken over" by another attorney or was at least "on file" somewhere so that there would be a legal, enforceable copy of it somewhere (although I hadn't thought out how it would be known that I was dead), I was told no; I probably had the original and any copies were destroyed, so here I go again!
What assurances do you have in the event that "this one attorney" can't fulfill his duties?
It now seems simpler to just enjoy it while I'm alive! That's an entirely new concept for me, but I'm slowly warming up to it...
Wait a minute, that can't be right. Normally when a lawyer who is still practicing dies, the bar association/local lawyers set up an arrangement where other lawyers take over the files and contact the various clients to make arrangements get the files to them. We had the same thing happen here a year or so ago where a laywer died and the local bar took over the office/files to close them.
I would contact the Bar Association in your state to see what arrangements were made for your prior attorney's files.
I, too, love the dog park idea (obviously), but gifting them money while still alive is different from bequeathing it to them after your death. On the one hand, you get to personally see and enjoy dogs benefitting from it! On the other... I guess you don't worry about running out and needing it later?
It wasn't anything that would break the bank. I never did donate money, but rather I purchased the equipment and spoke with the city manager before doing so, telling him what my plan was.
I would like to do similar things for different organizations as I age. I do have siblings but they don't need anything I have.
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I would like to do similar things for different organizations as I age. I do have siblings but they don't need anything I have.
If you don't want sibs to contest the will, I think you have to write them out by name. At least that was the case in Massachusetts. My one sib is dead so I have no problem.
Someone made the comment here about bequeathing anything to a less-than-perfect organization. Assuming the giver agrees with that organization's purpose and intent, before dismissing them as unworthy, they could consider making it possible for that organization to improve themselves so they can achieve more! An injection of funds at a critical moment and leverage might make a huge difference. But that's an optimist speaking. A pessimist will never see that. Of course, some organization with an ongoing history of fraud or abuse might be different. Up to a giver to do their due diligence.
I think everyone who plans to leave their money with anyone needs to reach a degree of peace about the outcome. No one can completely control what happens to an arrow after it leaves the bow. They can aim it as carefully as possible of course but they can't guarantee it will actually hit the bullseye. A lot of unexpected can happen during the flight.
Wait a minute, that can't be right. Normally when a lawyer who is still practicing dies, the bar association/local lawyers set up an arrangement where other lawyers take over the files and contact the various clients to make arrangements get the files to them. We had the same thing happen here a year or so ago where a laywer died and the local bar took over the office/files to close them.
I would contact the Bar Association in your state to see what arrangements were made for your prior attorney's files.
As I've said twice now...not necessarily. The bar association in my state TOLD ME on the phone that's this isn't not the case, at least here... The deceased attorney doesn't have to "pass along" anything. I even called another attorney to verify this, which he did (thankfully gratis). As I've also said, no, the "clerk of the courts" doesn't have anything to do with wills, at least here, until probate AFTER the person has died. I've now talked to three people there and gotten the same answer. So there's no one to oversee/enact my will unless and until I designate (and pay) someone to do so.
Last edited by otterhere; 02-27-2024 at 02:37 PM..
If you don't want sibs to contest the will, I think you have to write them out by name. At least that was the case in Massachusetts. My one sib is dead so I have no problem.
I've always heard you have to leave "the lawful heirs" SOMETHING, even if only one dollar, or they can contest it.
I've always heard you have to leave "the lawful heirs" SOMETHING, even if only one dollar, or they can contest it.
I wrote my sister out by name and the estate lawyer said that's all that's necessary,
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