This Preventive Law Alert was written by: John Goodson, Colleen Manley and Christine Goodson Forakis.

Wealth Preservation and Preventive Law Special Alerts are patterned after an annual publication to all mountain climbers called "Accidents in North American Mountaineering" which writes up all mountaineering accidents describing the accident, what caused it, how it may have been prevented so that further mountain climbing catastrophes may be avoided. Wealth Preservation and Preventive Law Special Alerts are the equivalent of "Legal Accidents in North American Law" – a description of the legal catastrophe and how it may be avoided using preventive law techniques.

Sometimes hurt feelings and emotional disappointments are as significant as losing wealth, having a decline in income and getting involved in unnecessary lawsuits. How many times have you had painful reminiscing when someone dear to you died – concerned about whether or not he/she really loved or appreciated you? They did not say anything to you before they died as to how much they really felt towards you, how much they treasured you, or how important you were in their lives. Unfortunately, this sad thought does not go away and is brought back again and again to torment your psyche. This legal accident happens time and again. Is this a legal accident that may easily be prevented?

Sometimes a story tells more than didactic legal advice.

My mother was one of the founders of the Phoenix Women's Club. It was a very close and loving group. One of their members, Sara, died without any heirs or children. Sara made arrangements in her Will and documents associated with her Will to give a piece of jewelry or a piece of furniture to every member of the Phoenix Women's Club. Sara carefully designated each gift to fit the characteristics of each friend. She insisted that for convenience they all come on the same day to her home to pick up the furniture and jewelry from her house. It was a truly an exciting and unusual day. When members of the club arrived Sara had hired helpers to assist in carrying away what was designated for each friend. Unfortunately, a few women started thinking about their dear friend Sara and how she was remembering her friends with such a tangible act of generosity. One started to cry, then another – then everybody in the house was crying – and if you think the bombing of Dresden was loud, this was even more calamitous.

At Christmas or other holidays people give gifts as a token of friendship as demonstrative appreciation – as a loving gesture. Why then don't we make a point to recognize at the time we die not only our family members but also our friends and others who have helped us through our life's journey. A tangible gift reaches the heart strings more deeply than words.

Arizona statutes and the statutes of most states allow a person to make a list of tangible movable personal property in their own handwriting and cause it to be a legally enforceable gift. We call this a Tangible Personal Property Inventory and Death Bed Gifting Instrument. We recommend that every person before they die add to their Will and Trust a Tangible Personal Property Inventory and Death Bed Gifting Instrument, a document to better punctuate the dying process.

We have designed a preventive law legal instrument titled "Tangible Personal Property Inventory and Death Bed Gifting Instrument" to accomplish this profound death bed gift in a way that it is legally enforceable.

We help prevent legal accidents in North America!!

For additional information, please call (602) 252-5110.

www.goodsonmanleyforakis.com

Contact Information

340 East Palm Lane, Suite 300
Phoenix AZ 85004-4610

ph: 602.252.5110
f: 602.257.1883

Or visit us online at www.goodsonmanleyforakis.com