by stillin 24 Replies latest watchtower scandals
| Years ago my wife and I had our will written such that our estate would be divided into equal parts per child and the WTS. This is how it will stay as long as my wife remains active | |
| stillin |
Hi stillin,
Just curious, can you do something(ie., change the will of beneficiaries, power of attorney, exclude the WTS, etc) about that right now when you are still alive?
Scott77
Years ago my wife and I had our will written such that our estate would be divided into equal parts per child and the WTS. This is how it will stay as long as my wife remains active.
You are just asking for trouble leaving the door open for the Watchtower to get involved in your estate. Cut that cancer out of your will before it is too late.
What kind of true religion has a "legal department"? Sounds like something a religious corporation cult would have.
Scott: it's just the luck of the draw. If I die before my wife, I wouldn't be surprised if she enlarged the Wt share of her will. None of the kids want the religion And she's all about it.
Of course if I survive my wife there will be changes made, but as for now, I will let it ride because that is our previous agreement.
stillin,
You are a nicer guy than I am. Or maybe you are a schmuck, but this is my thought-half of it is yours no matter what. If you predecease her and leave a a trust for her living expenses with the remainder to your children at her death, then the WT doesn't get it, your kids do and your wife, that you love and respect, is taken care of properly. Otherwise, your kids could get cut out altogether in favor of the WT and previous agreements are made to be broken (wills are frequently updated and they SHOULD be as circumstances and religions change frequently.
My mom, who was a stay at home mom, has the majority of her estate from my dad tied up in an annuity that goes to the WT when she is gone, with a small percentage(abt 20% total) to my siblings and me, equally.
She told me recently that she was upset that we kids didn't pay for her life insurance premiums a few years back when she was asking us to. At the time she was really depressed and morose and thought we wished her dead so we would inherit her money. OUr thought (3 of us who could easily have paid the premiums) was that she would get mad at us and accuse us of wanting her dead (which she already accused us of after my dad passed anyway). Or, she would hurry it along some(bad depression and she talked of death a lot) We just figured there was no amount of money worth that grief.
She kind of got over the depression, but with this latest development, I am really glad I haven't been paying premiums all these years for her to give all her life insurance to the WT organization-cause that is what she would have done, and then if we complained, she would REALLY be able to say we had only done it hoping she would die. Really, there was no way we could win with that one. I was sad about this latest development though-not because of the money per se, but my dad would just be so angry that what he had worked so hard for-his wife and then his kids-was all going to the relligious organization that he really did dislike. He was nice to JWs when he saw them, but he really had nothing to do with the org. at all. He would be so pissed. I have always maintained that it is everyones right to do what they want with their money, but this bothers me on the principle of the thing.
My mom probably has at least another 20 years barring something awful. I'd rather she went on some great vacations while she is so healthy and feels good.
This is where I scream "Halt!" An Internet forum is the worst place to get legal advice. You don't know anyone's credentials, the person seemingly proficient may be mistaken, personal circumstances determine the result, and jurisdictions have different rules. There is no privacy or confidentiality. Simply put, don't ever rely on legal advice on the Internet.
There are ways to deal with this situation. A competent trust and estates lawyer will know. So many times people give legal advice here and they are so wrong. Also, would you not want to be able to attach a malpractice insurance policy if the advice giver is wrong? Giving legal advice is illegal unless you are admitted to practice law. The poster has not even stated where he resides.
I overreacted but this is a sensitive legal area.
Did Jesus have a legal department ? Lawyers , barristers , Solicitors ? etc.
smiddy
From my experience at least the local congs are not that greedy when I comes having the latest will to be carried out (if it is in the favor of the cong.) A number of years ago a person associated with my congregation died, and when the police investigated his apartm. They found his latest will. This testament was in good and legal order and all of the person’s assets were to go to our congregation. It was not huge heritage but some few $1.000 . However unexpected a remote relative turned up and claimed that he was the owner of this property. I was an elder at the time and the circuit board of elders in our congs. Immediately, decides to give away every penny of that heritage to this “new relative”.
The congregation got much credit from both the authorities and the people in the small city we lived in. But now I wonder, if the board of elders had gone to our branch office with this question, what would they have done? Are “the higher” ranking JW,s greedier or do they have more firm instructions from the “legal department”?
Bugbear
Band: you give good advice about not giving advice on an Internet forum. :) I am not really looking for advice but I am curious as to whether the WTS attorneys have ever been aggressive to the point of running roughshod over the wishes of the deceased.
JWdaughter: I'm a nice schmuck. That's a sad story. I hope you were able to make your Mom feel loved on some level. The cult-think "us and them" is really poisonous!
The Witnesses are not the only aggressive, overreaching group in the world. There are legal remedies. It seems to me that marriage is a partnership. I plan to leave money to my church. There is no way of knowing how the WT lawyers challenge bequests. If the will or trust is valid, I assume the WT prevails. Without an outside group monitoring every KH, I see no way of determining it. Also, I don't know whether these decisions are made at Bethel or by the local KH. The probate courts monitor disbursements.
If a will is valid, there is no way a new relative can show up and claim proceeds from the estate. These items are not capricious. This is why it is essential to take care when preparing a will. Formalities must be met.
