Helmsley estate gives 1million to her dog

[jmdt]

Leona Helmsley estate gives 1million dollars to her dog. The other 136 million will go to NY charities which include rescues.

[Lexi Rae]

yes i did hear that.. .. good for the dog

[bchgirl]

I think the other heirs to her estate are fighting that....

[Breeze]

I personally think one should do what they want with their money, I really have a problem with those that fight the wills or the wishes of the deceased. Too many times I've seen this happen and it is usually the ones that don't care about the person when they are alive that want the money once the are dead. Nobody is entitled to anything unless they earn it.

[JoshieBoy]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I personally think one should do what they want with their money, I really have a problem with those that fight the wills or the wishes of the deceased. Too many times I've seen this happen and it is usually the ones that don't care about the person when they are alive that want the money once the are dead. Nobody is entitled to anything unless they earn it.

I agree. I am sorry, but the lady seemed a little odd. She left a lot of money for her dog and not her family members. Even if I dislike some of my family member, I would still give them more money than I gave my dog. Does a dog need a million dollars?

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by JoshieBoy

I agree. I am sorry, but the lady seemed a little odd. She left a lot of money for her dog and not her family members. Even if I dislike some of my family member, I would still give them more money than I gave my dog. Does a dog need a million dollars?

I might give my family members more than my dogs but it would depend on the relationship, I do not believe people deserve money "just because" they are related. I went through nasty years of estate battle of my parents passing, some things are unforgivable.

If my family treated me nasty through the years and my best friends, nieces, charities and dogs ..... treated me better then I would leave it to them. No one would deserve my estate and I would hope my wishes would be respected. Not all families are happy, not all family members are worthy of your time or money, unfortunately.

[JoshieBoy]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I might give my family members more than my dogs but it would depend on the relationship, I do not believe people deserve money "just because" they are related. I went through nasty years of estate battle of my parents passing, some things are unforgivable.

If my family treated me nasty through the years and my best friends, nieces, charities and dogs ..... treated me better then I would leave it to them. No one would deserve my estate and I would hope my wishes would be respected. Not all families are happy, not all family members are worthy of your time or money, unfortunately.

I understand your viewpoint; I just see it differently. I would always give my immediate family members more money than my dog. No matter how they behave, they still are my family. My other family members would get money if they were close to me. My mother and father would be ashamed of me if I didn't.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by JoshieBoy

I understand your viewpoint; I just see it differently. I would always give my immediate family members more money than my dog. No matter how they behave, they still are my family. My other family members would get money if they were close to me. My mother and father would be ashamed of me if I didn't.

I know what you mean and totally understand, but somethings are unforgivable no matter who you are. I really believe that not all family "deserve" to be family and your family can be who you make it. Whether it be a best friend.....

My dogs love me unconditional and are so much more than just dogs to me. I'm sure you think that too, just I can see why she left her dog the money and not bad family members.

[cheryl19]

Maybe the "queen of mean" was not so mean after all. Any one that loves animals that much can't be all bad.

It was her money and they should do as she wanted.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I might give my family members more than my dogs but it would depend on the relationship, I do not believe people deserve money "just because" they are related. I went through nasty years of estate battle of my parents passing, some things are unforgivable.

If my family treated me nasty through the years and my best friends, nieces, charities and dogs ..... treated me better then I would leave it to them. No one would deserve my estate and I would hope my wishes would be respected. Not all families are happy, not all family members are worthy of your time or money, unfortunately.

Totally agree w/ everything you've said in this thread. Until you've been through a messy estate issue, you really have no idea what people are capable of after a person dies.

I also agree that a person can do whatever they like - it's their money, their estate. Being a family "member" does not equate with actually *being* family - there can be a gulf of difference btwn those two things.

Pet trusts are often set up to support the dog until it passes - the amount doesn't often matter bc the trust is set-up to then go to charity or another person after the dog passes. This is very common. We have a Pet Trust for our boys if we both die - and the remainder of the trust (after the dogs pass) will go to the caretaker's (my in-laws, right now) local humane assn. Since we don't have kids, our main concern if we both pass is our fur babies.

[jmdt]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Totally agree w/ everything you've said in this thread. Until you've been through a messy estate issue, you really have no idea what people are capable of after a person dies.

I also agree that a person can do whatever they like - it's their money, their estate. Being a family "member" does not equate with actually *being* family - there can be a gulf of difference btwn those two things.

Pet trusts are often set up to support the dog until it passes - the amount doesn't often matter bc the trust is set-up to then go to charity or another person after the dog passes. This is very common. We have a Pet Trust for our boys if we both die - and the remainder of the trust (after the dogs pass) will go to the caretaker's (my in-laws, right now) local humane assn. Since we don't have kids, our main concern if we both pass is our fur babies.

I agree, My uncle has no children and he has set up a trust fund for his dog so she will be taken care of after he dies. It was her money and she should be able to do what she wants with it.

[JoshieBoy]

I did not agree with giving a dog more money than a family member receives in a person's will. I agree people have the right to give their money to whoever they choose when they die, because we have different values and cultures. Everybody's definition of what the word family means is different. My immediate family members and pets are a part of my family. My family is very close. We get into disagreements just like every other family, but we always forgive each other and get over it. In my personal opinion, I find it very disrespectful to give my animals more money than my family members would receive in my will. I do believe in leaving money in your will to make sure the animals are taken care of properly. I guess my family circumstances are different, and I am luck to belong to a close-knit family.

[Lexi Rae]

i belive the only reason she didnt give it to her family was because they werent close to eachother.. what other reason could it be??
cant imagine anyone being that cruel.. i have no children either and all
my assets are going to my nieces as of right now, but later on in the years
if they are not part of my life, your dam straight that (will) is going to be changed.. i for sure will give to all the dogs.... her family was most likely not there for her..

[JoshieBoy]

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

i belive the only reason she didnt give it to her family was because they werent close to eachother.. what other reason could it be??
cant imagine anyone being that cruel.. i have no children either and all
my assets are going to my nieces as of right now, but later on in the years
if they are not part of my life, your dam straight that (will) is going to be changed.. i for sure will give to all the dogs.... her family was most likely not there for her..

We just see it differently. We view are family's differently. The lady did what she felt was best for her circumstances. My family is very close knit and we love each other unconditionally. My family members can be far away and hardly call, but I know they love me. They do not have to do things to earn my love. We put human family members first before animals. I am not judging anybody for having different viewpoints; I am just expressing my viewpoints.

[Lexi Rae]

i have a very very very very close knit relationship with every single person in my family.. i would give my eyes for them. god forbid anything ever happens to them, i would probably be right behind them cause i couldnt live without them. im just saying she probably had a good reason to do what she did.
either that or she was just selfish .