long story short aug 2009
>> Tuesday, August 18
Real names have been removed to protect the guilty. For now.
In 1999 an eighty-nine year woman arrived with her daughter at the office's of Huff, Puff and Bluff to re-write her will. The daughter had power of attorney. L Huff was the lawyer. Why this lawyer, at this time? We don't know but with one signature the mother unleashed a chain of events that would prove disastrous for all involved and one in particular, but I digress.
There would be only two beneficiaries. The daughter and her brother David. They did not get along. At all. The daughter did not want him on the will.
In a private meeting without the daughter in the room L Huff told the mother that a non-existant law required that she appoint them as co-executors on her will. This, she was told would ensure no problems would arise after her demise.
The mother agreed.
Then L Huff re-wrote the will and removed the daughter and inserted the son as co-executor along with L Huff's son, another lawyer who just happened to be down the hall and could witness all changes. The mother signed off. A child of the depression she not about to defy authority at her advanced age. After all, her daughter had recommended them. What could be wrong with that?
In 2001 the mother died at ninety-one from a burst aorta. Rather appropriate for a senior with a broken heart.
For the last two years of her life she complained bitterly about her will and whether she had done the right thing in re-writing it. She would complain to her son David who always suggested she simply re-write it again if she was so unhappy. She could do that with any local notary. After all, it was only a two page piece of boilerplate with signatures.
They would always have the same conversation
"if you are unhappy then re-write it. any notary can do that for you."
"Oh no" the mother would say. "That's against the law"
"What law" the son would ask.
"I don't know but the lady said it was the law and that's that."
"Mom, there is no such law."
Mother would go back to staring out the window and worrying.
End of conversation.
- a mea culpaws post
In 1999 an eighty-nine year woman arrived with her daughter at the office's of Huff, Puff and Bluff to re-write her will. The daughter had power of attorney. L Huff was the lawyer. Why this lawyer, at this time? We don't know but with one signature the mother unleashed a chain of events that would prove disastrous for all involved and one in particular, but I digress.
There would be only two beneficiaries. The daughter and her brother David. They did not get along. At all. The daughter did not want him on the will.
In a private meeting without the daughter in the room L Huff told the mother that a non-existant law required that she appoint them as co-executors on her will. This, she was told would ensure no problems would arise after her demise.
The mother agreed.
Then L Huff re-wrote the will and removed the daughter and inserted the son as co-executor along with L Huff's son, another lawyer who just happened to be down the hall and could witness all changes. The mother signed off. A child of the depression she not about to defy authority at her advanced age. After all, her daughter had recommended them. What could be wrong with that?
In 2001 the mother died at ninety-one from a burst aorta. Rather appropriate for a senior with a broken heart.
For the last two years of her life she complained bitterly about her will and whether she had done the right thing in re-writing it. She would complain to her son David who always suggested she simply re-write it again if she was so unhappy. She could do that with any local notary. After all, it was only a two page piece of boilerplate with signatures.
They would always have the same conversation
"if you are unhappy then re-write it. any notary can do that for you."
"Oh no" the mother would say. "That's against the law"
"What law" the son would ask.
"I don't know but the lady said it was the law and that's that."
"Mom, there is no such law."
Mother would go back to staring out the window and worrying.
End of conversation.
- a mea culpaws post
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