As an estate planning attorney, I help my clients protect their hard-earned assets and loved ones. That’s pretty serious stuff. But that is not to say there can’t be a “lighter side” to estate planning in the form of unique bequests that make you smile or laugh. Here are a few of my favorites.
- Dinner Out. Dean Smith was a University of North Carolina basketball coach for 36 years, winning 879 games and two NCAA championships. Coach Smith died at age 83 early in 2015. His will directed his trust to issue checks for $200 to each of his former NC basketball players who lettered with him, accompanied by the instructions, “Enjoy dinner out on Coach Smith.” What a nice gesture.
- Canister Burial. Closer to home, in 1966, Fredric Baur, an employee of Procter & Gamble, developed a unique way to stack chips uniformly in a canister rather than thrown into a bag. Seems Mr. Baur was extremely proud of his invention (and why not? It’s still around today!) and wanted to “take it with him.” I know they say you can’t do that, but in 2008, when Mr. Baur died, his children buried his cremains in one of his iconic cans.
- Rich Pooch. This one is an “oldie but goodie” … remember Leona Helmsley? Also, known as the “Queen of Mean”? Seems she wasn’t mean to everyone. She was a dog lover extraordinaire, and when she passed away in 2007, she left close to $12 million in a pet trust for her beloved Maltese dog named “Trouble.” Trouble lived in the lap of luxury, including having his own security guard, until 2011.
- A Red Rose Every Day. Remember Jack Benny? Many of us do. When he died in 1974, instructions were included in his will that might bring a tear to your eye. He made a provision a florist would deliver a single, long-stemmed red rose to his widow, Mary Livingstone, every day for the rest of her life. Sweet huh?
- Out of this World. And last but not least, Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, was a big space admirer. His will directed that his cremated remains be flown into space. He was the first man in history to have that honor.
Of course, most wills are straightforward, who gets this asset or that asset. But there is nothing to say you can’t think out of the box and include some special or amusing bequests to your loved ones. So think about how you might make your loved ones smile just a little after you’re gone. Remember, I’m always here to help you with your will or trust. And if it has been more than a few years, let’s get together to see if your documents need to be updated. I hope you all have a healthy and happy May!