Truth is Stranger Than Fiction - a real-life story about dying without a Will
Mark Twain’s quote that truth is stranger than fiction bears out routinely in the world of estate planning, but some cases stand out more than others. One unusual case recently presented itself when a local entrepreneur (we’ll call him Ray) hired us to assist him with a probate matter.
A couple of years ago, Ray’s family noticed their neighbor (we’ll call him Doug) struggling to get in and out of his car, so Ray’s wife encouraged Ray to offer his assistance. Doug willingly accepted Ray’s help, and over the course of a year, or so, they got to know one another, and Doug became increasingly dependent on daily help from Ray.
During that time, Ray learned some important details about Doug’s life – that he had moved to the Atlanta metro area to take a job, where he stayed for more than twenty years, and, more importantly, that he didn’t have any immediate family still living. He told Ray that Ray was the only person he could count on, anywhere. This made Ray really uncomfortable, and he worked to get Doug to contact any relatives he could recall, without success.
Aware that his health was failing, Doug disclosed that when he passed away, he wanted to be buried out of state, in the cemetery where his mother was buried. He also disclosed where he wanted his money and other assets to go. All of this made Ray even more anxious. After all, Doug was just a neighbor who needed a little help. Read more
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