Series: Estate Plannings Hardest Questions
Series: Estate Plannings Hardest Questions #5 - Answering 'What If They All Die?' By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi It begins with the question "Am I correct to assume you want all assets to pass to the surviving spouse?" Without hesitation, both clients respond "yes." I return with "And if both of you were to die, either together or one and the other, you want your assets to be shared equally among your children." Again, without hesitation the clients in unison state "yes." This time I volley with "and if a child of yours were to predecease you, would his or her share pass to any children he or she may have left?" My question is often met with a pause and a head snapping back as though it had been slapped. Looking at one another and then me, the clients stammer "well....well....yes, I guess that seems appropriate." As a mother as well as a lawyer I can see the glimpse of horror in the clients' eyes; pa...