by run dont walk 14 Replies latest jw friends
I'm sure this must happen, Brother faithful and Sister subjection, spend their whole life in JW land, have an average/good living, have three kids, both pass on, leave it all (or most) to the Watchtower, Would you have a case or any legal grounds in getting your money back.
Definitely a case for Johnny Cochrane.
I'm a little worried my parents might do something this stupid.
any experiences or ideas .................
In UK law a dependant may have a claim on the estate of a deceased person but generally Courts uphold legally drafted Wills - a dependant (wife / minor child or other person who is financially dependant on the deceased) can contest a Will unless the deceased has prepared a Family Provision Claim Form which clearly shows he/she has no desire to leave anything to the named person.
A child is not a dependant if living away from home and without clear financial support from the parent. In the case asked about in UK law the WT would likely get all the money
Canadian Law involved which is not in my area - however WT has the legal muscle to contest any claims against a Will and is likely to drag things out until other claimants die, give up, run out of funds to contest the Will.
Has anyone any detail of a Will / Bequest tothe WT which was contested by another person (relative/dependant)?
It would always be interesting to check after Probate who witnessed a Will and what involvement they have, as an elder for example could witness a Will of a cong member in which they leave a Bequest to the Society/ or the local Cong - a potential case for declaring the Will invalid as the signature witness has a probable material interest in the Will content.
I hate to depress you but I don't think you could do anything to contest the will esp. if the WT has a copy of the will.Try and fight them and you will find all their top gun lawyers against you.You might "win" in the end but it will cost you more than it is worth.You just have to look at the outcome of the child abuse trial in Canada to see how they really work.They would use the big club against you also so people would fear going up against them.MONEY is power and they have lots!!!
The only faint hope you might have is if you have possesion of the ONLY copy of the will.If the will got "LOST" you would get a better deal if the legal system treated it as a person dying without a will.Depressing thought but there you go.
It's too late when they are dead.
Be a genuinely wonderful son. And hope.
Although it would be incredibly annoying that the WT would get the fortune, it's their decision. (Bear in mind that attitudes of the survivor change when one spouse dies.) Just make sure you and your siblings get the sentimental stuff.
This happened to some people we know. The father committed suicide, and left the wife pretty well off. That company paid for a suicide. There were several children. The mother had had health problems anyway, and died 10 years later of a massive stroke, and she left everything to the WTS.
The children (grown up by now) got an attorney, contested the will and the WTS didn't fight it. The kids got the money.
If you know about this before they pass on look into the most expensive nursing homes and declare every penny of their worth should, they become incoherent in their old age.
Devon
Mine did and I did absolutely nothing. I wanted none of their material things just as they wanted none of my companionship. Figured we are even-Steven!
carmel
I have a different slant on this subject.
I have prepared a will so that my children will have little problem when my wife and I pass on. Unfortunately, one daughter has joined the JW and by all indications is deeply imbedded in their beliefs. As one would expect, she has little love for her parents and acts accordingly. She devotes all her life and finances to the Watchtower. This includes working at the Patterson facility for next to no remuneration and as far as I can tell, no provision for retirement. I guess she bought the propaganda that Armageddon will happen before too long.
With the feelings I have for the Watchtower I am certain she would possibly pass on any inheritance she would receive from us to her husband and the Watchtower. This displeases me and my wife no end. As a result, we felt obligated to exclude her from our will. Believe me this is just about the hardest decision I have made in a long time.
Would you have a case or any legal grounds in getting your money back.
That depends on how good your attorney is. There is always a chance if you can show that your parents were not of sound mind when they made that will. Alienation of affection is another approach you could try. The burden of proof would be on you to show that they were under the influence of a mind controlling cult posing as a religion.
Good luck!
Tammy
My parents wouldn't leave it to the WTBTS but who knows what they will end up doing. While I assume I'm getting all of it I certainly am not counting on it. They've helped me get started in life by getting me a car, helping me with college and countless other things. From here on out it's up to me to earn my way. If giving their money away makes them happy I will not hold that against them at all.
I'll be responsible for my own future post college. They can do what they like with their money. Honestly I would feel a bit greedy worrying about it.
