On 8/9/2014 9:39 PM, Janet Wilder wrote:

> Trusts and estates were my business before retiring early to become a
> road warrior. At one time I worked for the most prestigious firm in that
> field in New Jersey. The guy I worked for actually wrote the state
> Probate Practices book. I co-authored a book on New Jersey Inheritance
> Taxes and practices with an attorney friend.

Awesome. Probate here is much easier than in a certain
neighboring state I could mention.

> I can tell you stories of entire fortunes being dissipated by angry
> siblings. No one ever wins except the lawyers in these cases.

Knock wood I don't ever have to deal with anything like that.

> People who have a lot of assets should ALWAYS go to the best estate
> planning lawyers. I guaranty they will pay less in legal fees to draft a
> good estate plan than their children will pay in lawyers fees to fight a
> bad one.
>
> When I did my first will, after divorcing the father of my children, I
> left my jewelry and personal effects to my two (they were both living
> then) daughters. I directed my executor that should there be any
> disagreement between them, he was to take the property, sell it and
> donate the proceeds to the charity of my choice. If you can't play
> nicely, you get nothing. Mommy from the grave. :-)

I love that. And maybe that way, once everything is said and
done, your daughters will still be sisters to each other. That's
the best inheritance.

nancy