Where there's a will, there's a way

Dennie Quill, Columnist

The headline 'Wills of the famous revealed' grabbed my attention as soon as I turned on my computer. To think that one is able to go online and find the wills and last testaments of famous and influential people is one more reason to embrace the Internet for its ability to provide information and its impact on culture.

I started to read and I could not stop. If, like me, you are fascinated with the way celebrities live their lives and want to research this topic, be prepared to be amazed, puzzled, amused, disappointed and, maybe, upset. I experienced all of the above as I scanned the list.

For example, why did President John F. Kennedy only leave a paltry $25,000 for his wife Jackie? I since learnt that many men are fearful that if they should die before their spouses, another man may enjoy the fruits of their labour. So the answer they feel is to leave only enough for the spouse to eke out a living.

As we now know, Mrs Kennedy did marry Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, and I read somewhere that she really needed security and companionship, hence her marriage to one of the richest men in the world.

a major puzzle

Why did Princess Diana leave £50,000 to her butler, Paul Burrell, is still a major puzzle and cause for speculation. She did describe him as her "rock", which offers an explanation of how much she depended on him.

Actress Farrah Fawcett, who died in 2009, left substantial amounts to a private foundation dedicated to doing cancer research. Surprisingly, she left US$100,000 for ex-boyfriend Gregory Lott, but not a dime for long-time partner and father of her child, Ryan O'Neal. I guess one could say that a person speaks loudest in their last will.

The most puzzling of all was the US$12-million trust fund billionaire real estate investor and hotelier Leonie Hemsley left for her beloved white Maltese dog named Trouble. Why would someone want to do that? I kept thinking how many hungry and deprived children that money could help. And if she wanted to demonstrate how much she loved animals, she could have left that money to some humane or animal-care society. Such a waste!

Beyond the interesting details of how the famous bequeathed their worldly possessions, the topic invites discussion on the importance of making a will, even at an early age. It certainly gives you authority over your possessions if you make a will. It is estimated that seven out of 10 persons in the United States do not have a will. I have no idea what the statistics are for Jamaica, but I do know that many families are left in a quandary after the main breadwinner goes, because they did not take the time to put their affairs in order. Many legal headaches can be avoided if one makes a will and updates it regularly.

There are heart-breaking stories of estranged spouses who benefit from the estate of the deceased because no will was ever made. Drafting a will ensures that your executor, not the State, makes important decisions for you, because that is what happens eventually during the probate process when one dies intestate.

You may think your few possessions are not worth the trouble of making a will, but think about that awful sister, who was so mean to you all your life, parading in your prized watch after you are gone. Making a will is an important life decision.

Dennie Quill is a veteran media practitioner. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and denniequill@hotmail.com.