When most people think about “inheritance,” they think about people leaving money for children or grandchildren, but believe it or not — there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to beneficiaries. Inheritances can do a lot of good for a lot of people, and Nevada residents are no exception. One amazing story, while taking place outside Nevada, does illustrate how estate planning can benefit a great number of people — no matter where they are.
An inheritance left by Dr. Louise A. Williams, a former Central Michigan University professor, allowed a garden make-over for the local Veterans Memorial Library. The amount of the inheritance was nearly $57,000. The garden work was done by the Mount Pleasant Garden Club.
The new garden is a welcome sight for visitors. On average, the library hosts some 200,000 visitors each year. Future plans include using the garden as a Monarch butterfly station.
This is just one example of how inheritances can be used to benefit a community. Many more examples exist across the United States. Unfortunately, many inheritances end up in probate court instead of where the deceased intended. This issue can be resolved by working with an estate attorney who can draft a person’s desires into legally binding documents.
Nevada residents who wish to pass along their assets at the time of their death may find great benefit in consulting with a qualified estate attorney. Such is one of the only reliable ways to ensure final wishes are given the legal status they often need in order to avoid probate court. With a legally prepared will and other documents, inheritances can be allocated as the deceased desired, often providing peace of mind for families who strive to see a loved one’s final wishes come to fruition.
Source: The Central Michigan Life, “Veterans Memorial Library receives inheritance, garden makeover,” Jessica Fecteau, Sept. 22, 2011