What We Can Learn From Downton Abbey About Estate Planning
Downton Abbey – the PBS drama about the fortunes and misfortunes of an aristocratic British family in the early 20th century that has taken American audiences by storm – gets most of its gripping plot twists as the result of a number of bad estate planning moves. For example (Spoiler Alert: these include references to Season 3):
Protect your inheritance. The Earl of Grantham inherits Downton Abbey and marries a rich American to keep the estate solvent. However, he squanders the family fortune on an unwise overseas investment that goes belly up. The family turns to Lady Grantham’s rich American mother, but she is unable to help since her fortune is tied up in a trust.
If the Earl’s fortune had been properly protected by a properly counseled and prepared trust, the estate could have been protected from his spendthrift investing.
Have a succession plan. The Earl’s new son-in-law Robert Crawley – also heir apparent to Downton Abbey since he is the last remaining male relative of the line – inherits a fortune from his former fiancée’s father to save the estate just before the family is forced to sell.
While the infusion of the new windfall saves the estate, Robert and the Earl disagree about how the estate is to be managed. Robert wants to modernize; the Earl is stuck in the old ways of doing things. Bad feelings among family members ensue.
Bringing the next generation into the family business can be a smooth transition when a succession plan is put into place and the roles and responsibilities of each family member are clarified and communicated.
Create an advance medical directive and Guardianship Plan. The Earls’ youngest daughter Sybil tragically dies in childbirth. As she falls ill, family members struggle over the course of treatment, bringing in two doctors who disagree as to the best medical plan. After her death, her family has to make their best guess as to how she would want her daughter raised.
A medical directive could have provided the family with important information on what Sybil would have wanted if she were unable to make medical decisions for herself. A Guardianship Plan would have addressed guardianship issues and spelled out her wishes for her daughter’s upbringing.
A note from the Attorney, Stan Pierchoski:
The practice of law is a second career for me. After obtaining Master of Science degrees in both Nuclear and Mechanical Engineering, I worked in the Nuclear Power Industry for 15 years. Always having an interest in law, I attended and graduated from law school and founded the Pierchoski Law Firm in 2002 in Pulaski, TN. For several years I practiced as a criminal defense, trial attorney. After my parents passed I became interested in Trust and Estate Law and felt a strong calling to change my practice to the Estate Planning area.
For years I have been exclusively doing trust writing and wealth planning and have become proficient at it. Over the last several years my practice has evolved to serve all age groups including elders and Medicaid Planning. I am always open to your questions and am more than happy to chat with you about your concerns so give me a call or stop by my office. You’ll be glad you did!