.

I am interested in an imaginative Researcher's ideas into how a
*creative* will could be written, in rough form, before presentation
to a lawyer to review and finalize as a formal document.For example a
creative will could include bequests (not necessarily cash) to old
friends, school chums,and even that kind long serving cashier at the
corner grocery store. The thinking that I am looking forward to seeing
should go well beyond the standard last will and testament document.

A tip will be given for examples of real wills that have met the above criteria.

Thank you


.

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Clarification of Question by uzzz-ga on 26 Nov 2005 10:37 PST

Please see earlier questions 589520 and 596651 that also dealt with this subject.

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Clarification of Question by uzzz-ga on 27 Nov 2005 09:41 PST

Given that the framework of a last will & testament must be clear
without being available for interpretation let us focus only on
creative 'living trusts' and innovative bequests. I prefer to stay
away from using a testament to give negative advice or to punish
someone... but I am not against having a sense of humour.

U

Hi uzzz,

I hope you aren't planning on leaving us any time soon! To get you
started, here is an interesting will (take note of the CODICIL).

The Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Franklin
http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/family/lastwill.html

Hoping all is well,
hummer

With regard to the second para of Franklin's Will, and his leaving
very little to his son, did Benjamin actually have any land in Nova
Scotia? If he didn't, then this raises the possibility for you, uzzz,
of including in your "creative" will various bequests of possessions
you simply don't possess, perhaps coupling these with some friendly
advice  - eg "To my niece, Fanny, I leave the Crown Jewels of England,
together with my devout wish that she would lead a less materialistic
and consumerist existence" or "To my nephew, Tim, I leave my first
edition of Dr Johnson's dictionary, hoping it will improve his
spelling".

Thank you hummer-ga 

All is well for this writer. This interest is not precipitated by an
impending demise but more from an entrepreneur's approach to an often
under explored subject which is too often laden with too much gravity.

Benjamin Franklin's Codicil is quite interesting. Now there was some
serious thinking in his final message and his desire to be useful
after his death! I would love to see other examples of this kind of
testament writing. Care to take on a 'For hummer-ga only' question?

Regardzzz

Uzzz

Thank you geof-ga for your comment.

Benjamin Franklin did appear to have land in Nova Scotia. from:

http://1stholistic.com/Reading/liv_%20benjamin-franklin.htm

we read:

 He had two sons and one daughter. His youngest son died of smallpox
at the age of four. Ben became somewhat of an immunization advocate
when he wrote in his autobiography, "I long regretted bitterly, and
still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This I
mention for the sake of parents who omit that operation, on the
supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died
under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either
way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen." His daughter,
Sarah, lovingly cared for him in his old age but his relationship with
his oldest son is the most intriguing.

His oldest son, William, was illegitimate but was well loved and
raised by Ben and his wife, Deborah. Many sources hint at the
possibility that she was, in fact, his birth mother and that Benjamin
was protecting her from dishonor.

He educated his son and traveled Europe and the colonies extensively
with him, however, when it came to the Revolution, they did not see
eye to eye. William chose to side with the British. Whether it was
because William was educated in England or because he was employed as
a Royal Governor, it broke Benjamin's heart that his beloved son
turned his back on his beloved country.

When Benjamin died, he left none of his assets to William that were
linked to America, but he still couldn't totally disown him. In his
will he states, "To my son, William Franklin, late Governor of the
Jerseys, I give and devise all the lands I hold or have a right to, in
the province of Nova Scotia, to hold to him, his heirs, and assigns
forever. I also give to him all my books and papers, which he has in
his possession, and all debts standing against him on my account
books, willing that no payment for, nor restitution of, the same be
required of him, by my executors. The part he acted against me in the
late war, which is of public notoriety, will account for my leaving
him no more of an estate he endeavoured to deprive me of."

His final message was a strong one.

I appreciate your post.

Uzzz

Dear uzzz,

Well, let's not get our hopes up prematurely that I can come up with
more wills like Ben's. I'll look around and if I find anything I'll
let you know here first.

Thanks for the good news!
hummer