On 8/9/2014 9:40 PM, Nancy Young wrote:
> 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.

Unfortunately, I lost my youngest in an auto accident in 1996. There is
only one daughter left and three granddaughters. I left my jewelry to
her, but I know she will be generous in sharing it with the
granddaughters, maybe even the two step-granddaughters, is they remain
in touch.


--
From somewhere very deep in the heart of Texas