Jumbo Cranium
Texas where else
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Joined: 02/04/2005
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Last month one of my favorite Uncles died. He was a decorated war hero and remained a bachelor all his life. He always said his estate would be split amongst his nieces and nephews. It is an estate approaching a million dollars. But, he failed to understand that designating a beneficiary supersedes the will. Even though the will says it is to be split amongst us, one of his brothers is beneficiary on all his monetary accounts. We will get something from the sale of his house and 80 acres of land, but that amounts to maybe a third of the estate.
Oh well easy come easy go I guess.
Roger
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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A fine example of why Estate Planning is so necessary IF there is an estate worth having concerns about, and why gifts while living often make more sense than bequests in a will. Sometimes.
Who is designated executor of the estate, and what, exactly, does the will say?
CM1, USN (RET)
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msmechanic58
Mississippi
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I am sorry for the loss of your uncle.
mechanic58, msmechanic58 and a kiddo mechanic 8
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Jumbo Cranium
Texas where else
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Thank you for the sympathies. The executor is the Uncle who is the beneficiary. The will says the estate is to be split evenly among the nieces and nephews.
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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Sorry to hear about your uncle's passing Roger.
"Family dynamics can change at the drop of a coin" (something an attorney said to me a few months ago) When it comes to settling an estate, whether it is without a will, with a will or a well written trust some people are known to act in a manner that is not very becoming. I know all too well about this topic after being the primary trustee of my mom's estate. People do & say some pretty odd things at times like this....so hang on, it could be a wild ride.
I'm sure you will be one of the members of the family who choose to remain kind & understanding during the process, I hope others will as well. That way there will be a few voices of reason.
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle....
Live simply, love wholly, give generously, care deeply, speak kindly.
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Jumbo Cranium
Texas where else
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I'm going to stay out of it I guess and take whatever I get gratefully. Who knows the other uncle may step up and do the right thing. He is a bachelor also and doesn't have any kids.
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Jumbo Cranium
Texas where else
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His war story was very compelling. He was severly wounded and he never talked about it to us kids, but from talking to my dad and doing internet research I was able to put together several pages and stood up at his funeral and told his story. Hardly anyone had heard it and all seemed to appreciatte it.
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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It sounds like your uncle was a man who deserves to be honored, good for you for standing up to speak at his funeral. That is a hard thing to do, I know from having done so for some of my loved ones.
I hope that everyone involved with continue to honor his memory by behaving in a way that is befitting such a man.
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Jumbo Cranium
Texas where else
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It was the first time I ever got too choked up to continue speaking in public.
Somehow it didn't embarress me though. He had been to every family holiday function at my families house since before I was born. Hard to believe he is gone even though he was 83 and we knew it was coming.
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