Your estate plan is a great place to show your personality and what’s important to you. While estate planning is considered serious and necessary, you can still have fun with it, other people sure have.
People have bequeathed their entire wardrobe, a collection of spoons, or even a lifetime supply of chocolate. Someone else might leave a fortune to their beloved cat or dog while including detailed instructions for care and luxury items. Yes, fido must wear his blue puffer jacket if the weather drops below 50 degrees and sleep only on 600 thread count.
Other estate plans might include bizarre instructions that require eccentric tasks, like planting a tree every year or throwing an annual party in your honor. The idea of specific bequests has been around for a long time. Take for example Harry Houdini, who allocated funds to maintain a series of hidden escape challenges in his home for future magicians or Benjamin Franklin who left money to establish a fund for purchasing books for the public library with very specific instruction on how they should be organized.
Whatever your wishes are, it is important to make them as clear as possible for your loved ones. You want your wishes to be specific, unambiguous, and legally enforceable so that your heirs and executors can carry them out exactly as you want. Include details like serial numbers, locations, or descriptions for valuable items. Avoid vague language like “my favorite” or “some of my money.” Legal terms and precise amounts help prevent misunderstandings.
In addition to being clear and precise on your wishes you want to ensure that you are naming executors who will be able to handle your quirky, complex, or highly specific instructions. You will need to appoint someone who is capable, trustworthy, and willing to carry them out.
To discuss adding your specific bequests to your estate plan set up an appointment with the attorneys at Sinclair Prosser Gasior.
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