Only one month since its release, the movie Lincoln already has earned nearly $100 million at the box office. Chronicling Abraham Lincolns historic efforts to abolish slavery, the movie has garnered widespread critical and audience appeal.
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According to a series of bulletins issued from the Abraham Lincoln Association, his family was understandably overcome with grief. By noon on the day he died, April 15, 1865, Lincolns oldest son, Robert, sent a telegram to Justice David Davis of the United States Supreme Court. Davis was a close friend of Lincoln and Robert considered Davis to be a second father, according to a letter Robert wrote years later. The telegram said, Please come at once to Washington to take charge of my fathers affairs. Answer.
Davis immediately went to Washington to console Lincolns widow, Mary. Mary and Robert together wrote a letter to the Judge of the Sangamon County Court, in Illinois, and asked that he appoint Davis as the administrator of Lincolns Estate.
In his initial filing to the court, Davis reported that the estate was believed to be worth $85,000 and would be divided between Mary and Lincolns two children alive at the time, Robert and Thomas. That sum would be worth at least a few million dollars in todays value although its hard to say exactly because the Consumer Price Index which tracks inflation rates only goes back to 1913. Regardless, that was a lot of money to pass without a will.
The Abraham Lincoln Association Bulletins (which you can
The estate was eventually settled in November of 1867, with a final sum of $110,296.80 to be divided into three equal shares. Mary could have received an additional cash allowance as the widow, but she declined it.
Justice David Davis did not take any payment for his services or even reimbursement for his expenses. He handled the estate administration on his own, without hiring an attorney, contrary to customary procedure. The Bulletins report that the customary fee permitted by law would have amounted to $6,600.
The Lincoln family was extremely grateful for Justice David Daviss kindness and help. Indeed, it could have been no easy task for a sitting United States Supreme Court Justice to administer that large of an estate in rural Illinois. The
Its very surprising to many that Abraham Lincoln, an esteemed lawyer in addition to being one of the greatest Presidents in history, never took the time to make out a will, even by age 54. Yet, its much more common than most people realize. Some estimates place the number of adult Americans without a will at two-thirds; others place the figure at closer to 55%. Either way, its shocking how many people dont take the time to plan for how their lifetime of savings will pass when they die.
And, just like in Lincolns time, the surviving spouse does not inherit everything when someone dies without a will. While laws very from state to state, in most states the estate is split between the children and spouse (depending on how much is in the estate). Many people mistakenly assume if they die, their spouses will automatically inherit everything. Thats simply not the case.
Finally, probate court is no fun for anyone. All probate estates (those with wills and without) are public record. While that helps us write about famous estates, even 150 years later, most people dont want their personal laundry aired in a public court.
Its even worse when families fight over the estate. Plus, estates with no wills can be extra complicated and sometimes messier. Not every family has a Supreme Court Justice willing to step in and help.
The good news is that with proper estate planning including a revocable living trust probate court can be avoided entirely. Just as Lincoln didnt plan to pass away that fateful night in April, 1865, neither do most people. So encourage your clients to do a favor for their loved ones this holiday season and put their estates in order, with the help of a good estate planning attorney.
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