Estate Planning, No Definite Choice of Heirs: Who Would You Designate?

Self | 10/17/20 | Self

[Buttons12]

An old acquaintance, in her eighties and totally lucid, asked me who to leave her estate to. She has no living descendants, nobody she knows (or prefers, anyway) that she wants to make an heir. She asked for suggestions.

I don't want the honor. She has a fairly nice house, and a small vacation cottage, both paid for. An old car, probably some life insurance, and a lot of mementos.

Any suggestions? Aside from "me, me!" I mean something like a charity, or some creative idea.

[TLI]

The Heritage Foundation has a program that might be just what she is looking for.

It doesn’t have to be the entire estate but they can advise on a part of it.

https://heritage.giftlegacy.com/?pageID=11

.

[InterceptPoint]

“ You could leave it to Hunter Biden, but keep in mind he has to kick 50% of it to the Big Guy.”

I don’t generally read or write one-liners on FR. They are generally just an endless stream of snarky or cute or whatever remarks that are relatively short on information.

But there are exceptions. Since your post is the clear winner of today’s FR Post of The Day and likely winner of The Post of The Week, I guess I’m going to have to reconsider my one-liner policy.

[Buttons12]

Thanks everyone! Some excellent suggestions, and I’ll pass them along.

[Gay State Conservative]

No relatives...no “nearest kin” says “charity” to me. I,personally,am partial to a Catholic charity that provides health care in Africa but there are obviously many charities dedicated to doing “God's work”.

[jrestrepo]

St. Jude’s
Samaritan’s Purse
Salvation Army
I good, Bible believing, local church

[fatima]

Pro-Life Group that houses crisis Pregnancy.I could give you a few.The girls are able to carry to full term and even stay after their babies are born.All non-profit.

[pgyanke]

Is she Catholic? I could recommend some monasteries.

[metmom]

I was thinking Samaritan’s Purse as well.

They are the only ones I trust these days.

[kevao]

Thanks, FRiend. What have I won and, more importantly, do I have to give 50% of it to the Big Guy?

[PeterPrinciple]

An old acquaintance, in her eighties and totally lucid, asked me who to leave her estate to.

---

She doesn’t want an answer from you. She want a confidant to talk to. Go back and ask her leading questions and help her arrive at her own conclusion.

[hardspunned]

Agreed, you can’t beat Salvation Army.

[metmom]

The old car could go to Teen Challenge.

She could probably sell the cottage for a good buck now. Or if it’s winterized and somewhere not remote, live there and sell her house and then donate the money.

[kevao]

The proper mafia term is ‘kick up’.

You caught me out. I'm afraid I wouldn't be very good criminal, much like Hunter Binden....

[waynesa98]

if she is religious, that likely the go to. Who is looking after her, thats a go to. If really there is no one she sees as worthy, sell everything and go do stuff she always dreamed about, travel ect. There are a lot of people in her situation that jump on a cruse ship and stay.

[campaignPete R-CT]

Create her own charity. Name the 5-man board of directors

[Chickensoup]

If she is a conservative traditional western civilization valuing woman I would recommend that she leave her estate to Hillsdale college. It is an independent college that takes no government support. Classic education on their own terms. I respect it highly and listen to their lectures and receive their monthly magazine.

I have no connection i just respect their work.

[D Rider]

The Salvation Army. They do great work and
will not squander the money.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Hillsdale college.

[Don W]

Salvation Army,
St. Vincent de Paul,
Wounded Warriors,

Do a little research, there are many worthy causes out there, but you/she MUST research them, as many “charities” are in the GAME to absorb maximum donations with minimum actual work.

[D Rider]

Also a good one. Impacts the next generation.