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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Sorta.  10 years ago, my aunt (mom's sister) died and my brother and I were her only heirs.  We both inherited $1M.  We knew before she died that we were her beneficiaries so the inheritance and amount was not a shock at all.  Her estate was very well organized and her lawyer seemed 100% on top of things.

Fast forward 10 years, we get notice from an annuity company that there was a $200,000 annuity that had never been distributed.  We tried to contact the lawyer, but had no luck (long story.).  What was shocking was how this one sizable asset was "lost."

My aunt passed shortly after my mom passed and we weren't excited about the inheritance - the grief was so raw.  [b]But 10 years later, it was like we won the lottery.  [/b]I put the money into a dream renovation of my home and my brother used his to help build his retirement home.[/quote]

I am an estate planning paralegal and thought I had heard of it all! Thank you PP for sharing this.

I agree that it is awful that the attorney missed an annuity. That it was is quite concerning for many reasons, but the silver lining part is that it was a wonderful and exciting surprise for this PP and her brother. I can't stop thinking about that and while I would not recommend this, but [b]what if there was a way to actually draft that type of 10 year "hey, there is a bit more!" surprise into an EP document?[/b] It is like a hug from the other side in the most surprising way.[/quote]

Oh, no, I would hate this. Let people plan their finances.
Imagine forgoing private school or that neighborhood you would have preferred or an expensive sport or instrument for your kid, [b]because you needed to be financially responsible[/b], and then finding out there was money for it all along but your deceased relative thought it would be fun to keep it a secret. [/quote]

Well, it is the relatives money until it is not. There are no guarantees ever. They can do with it anything they want including keeping it a secret.
Plus, should we not all be "financially responsible" regardless of what may or may not be ahead?[/quote]

PP was saying "wouldn't it be fun if you structured your estate to provide a surprise bonus 10 years after you died" and I am saying "no, that's a dick move and it would be kinder to just give people the money you want to give them." 
You coming in with "but they're allowed to do what they want with their money" doesn't keep it from being a dick move. [/quote]

I sure wouldn't leave a nice surprise like that to you ten years later, I guess you'd think I was a real dick. I'll save it for someone who would appreciate the windfall.[/quote]

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