Matthew Curtiss, Esq

Greatest Case Name....ever

United States v. 11 1/4 Dozen Packages of Articles Labeled in Part Mrs. Moffat’s Shoo-Fly Powders for Drunkenness, 40 F. Supp. 208 (W D.N.Y. 1941)

Props to Supreme Dicta and Lowering the Bar.  Check out the comments for even more great casenames.

Should you tell your kids about your Estate Plan?

A common question for people executing their wills is "Should I tell my kids/siblings about this?".  A simple sounding question, but a deeper look often brings up sensitive issues.  What is the kids aren't being treated equally?  What if you're not choosing a sibling as a guardian?

The New York Times addressed this very thing last week.  One school of thought is to keep everything secret until the ultimate demise.  Some people want to tell their kids where all of the original documents are located but nothing else.  Finally, a small minority tell their kids everything- warts and all.

The vast majority of clients want the kids to know about the documents and that everything is equal.  I'd say 90% of estate plans are in this pattern.

The article seems to recommend that early notification of unequal treatment of children lessens the likelihood of a successful will challenge. I think the challenge will inevitably come, but I'd say that the more documented testator intent, the better.

Your source for financial calculators

Is not me.

But it is Dinkytown.

Weird name, but its a great one stop shop for calculators such as loan amortizations, savings calculators, annuity calculators, and over 300 other calculators.

Great resource, in my opinion.

eDivvyUp: Your Estate Settlement Auction Tool

Earlier in the year, I blawged  iGoodbye, an online estate planning document repository.  As I love all things tech, I am always on the lookout for new and innovative application for the estate Planner/Estate Administrator.

Enter eDivvyUp. It's a relatively inexpensive online auction site which allows an executor/personal representative to allow for "auctioning" off the personal property of the estate to the beneficiaries.  In a lot of cases, personal items are easily divided up; but there are always those who fight over the china and silverware.

The site seems to be well thought out.  The executor simply enters in an inventory, the beneficiaries , and then assigns the individual beneficiaries a set number of credits-  equal or otherwise.  You then bid for certain items.  Want to spend all 1000 credits on the teapot collection?  go right ahead!

Once again, props to the Wills Trusts & Estates LawProf for this info.

Fishing Friday- 9.5.08

Ahh, Autumn.  The nights are cooler. The water temps drop and with it the potential of the autumn striper run.   I have seemed to miss the best parts of the run the last few years.  Birth of a daughter; boat breaking down.  This year I'm hopeful to get out a few times to try my luck.

And then there was Hanna and Ike.  Sounds like a R&B duo, but not as fun.

I'll be battening down what I can tonight in anticipation of Hanna's expected 50 mph gusts tomorrow night.  Ike, please please please, don't come north.  I don't wish ill on South Florida, but please leave us alone.

As for fishing in general, this weekend will be a wash.  Next weekend, Ike permitting, will be trout in Vermont.  Nothing wrong with that.