Estate Planning Practice Blog

Estate Planning -- It's No Joke.

One of the things about being an estate planning attorney is that when there is a joke circulating involving our practice, it can be both funny and sobering at the same time.

Here is a joke that was sent to me twice last week:

Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business.

When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed a wife with which to share his fortune.

One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away. "I may look like just an ordinary man," he said to her, "but in just a few years, my father will die, and I'll inherit 20 million dollars."

Impressed, the woman obtained his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.

Women are just so much better at estate planning than men.

The sobering part -- an estate plan is essential to have your wishes carried out when you die.

Sure, there are will contests, trust contests and all sorts of other things that can come up, but having your wishes known is really important in the larger scheme of things. The courts look to the testator or settlor's intent when ruling on these matters and in the long run, we all like to believe that the good outweigh the evil. And, as it so happens most of the time, people's wishes are dutifully carried out in their estate plans after their passing.

Obituary Joke.

The newspaper obituary operator received a phone call.

The elderly woman on the other end asked, "How much do funeral notices cost?"

"Five dollars per word, ma'am," came the response.

"Good, do you have a paper and pencil handy?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Okay, write this:  'Bill died.' "

"I'm sorry, ma'am, I forgot to tell you there's a five-word minimum."

"Hmmph," came the reply. "You certainly did forget to tell me that."

After a moment of silence, the woman continued, "Got your pencil and paper?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Okay, print this:  'Bill died, Car for sale.' "

Friday Funny From Judge Judy.

From a page a day joke calendar for Lawyers:

July 13, 2007

"Do you know when a gift becomes a loan? When the relationship is over. Have you ever heard of that, sir? Well, neither have I. I'm going to have it put on coffee mugs."

                                                --- Judge Judy

Happy Holidays!

"Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space."

Dave Barry (who has a blog too)