A Voice from Beyond

            You carefully crafted your Estate Plan.  You included quite specific directives and instructions to manage these affairs and distributions.  You provided guidance where appropriate for successor trustees and those who may be involved in addressing these matters.  You recognize that you must rely on others and you must rely on the beneficiaries to respect your wishes, intent and directives.

You are leaving assets to your beneficiaries to improve their lives, contribute to their happiness, and make their lives easier.  You do so out of love and affection.  You want to be certain that these stakeholders genuinely understand and appreciate what you have put in place.

            To help them, send them a message from beyond!  In our Living Trusts, we use a Statement of Intent through which those who create the trust – the Grantors – can speak directly to beneficiaries and others after the Grantors pass.  The message may be as simple as “I love you and wanted you to hear it once more.”  The message may be a stern warning: “Do not fight over any stuff or, so help me, I will find a way back to haunt you!”  Most frequently, the messages consist of expressions of affection and encouragement for those left behind.

            I advise clients that the only limitation is to refrain from any statement which may compromise other trust provisions or open the trust to legal challenges due to uncertainty being injected.  So far, no client has ever gotten close to that line.  Clients appreciate the opportunity to thoughtfully send a message in their own words to their loved ones.

            Estate Planning Attorney Michael Geiger can assist you to speak from beyond with your very personal Statement of Intent.  Reach out for Michael at (901) 219-5549 or at michael@geigerattorney.com for your voice from beyond and all your Estate Planning needs.