Plan to Leave More Than Money

By Jenny Ling, Esq.

My grandmother lived to be 98 years old. She lived the last 16 years of her life in Los Angeles, and before the current global health crisis she would travel here to Seattle a couple times a year.

During her last visit to Seattle in 2019, every time we had lunch with her, my cousin and I would ask her about her life, and I started getting out my phone and recording because I wanted to make a record of this family history.  I also realized that my children probably won’t get the chance to hear these stories, at least not at a time in their life that they can remember and appreciate them.

We also did a video recording of her talking about her life, from as far back as she can remember in childhood in Taiwan through her immigration here to the US to the present. Her stories of the Japanese occupation during World War II were fascinating.  She schlepped goods from the countryside into the city on the train in order to make money for her family.  She was the only one that did not get sick.  When the bridge for the tracks was bombed out, all the passengers had to get off and my grandmother walked the remainder of her journey into the city with all the goods on her back.

Family stories are one reason that we offer a legacy interview with each of our comprehensive estate planning packages.  Because what you have to pass on to your family is much more than your wealth.  It is family history. It is who you are and what's important to you. It is this information that your family will most treasure for generations well after the money may have dissipated.

Our legacy interview is a unique aspect of our comprehensive estate planning.  After our clients have completed their estate planning and signed all their documents, we’ll meet (virtually for now) to record thoughts and memories for their family to treasure after they’re gone.  We’ll provide a list of questions to act as prompts.  Some of the question prompts we offer:

• What has been your proudest moment with each child?
• How would you define a successful relationship?
• Who would you consider to be your hero or role model? What about this person would you want to emulate?

I love working with families to make sure they have a plan if something happens to them.  Doing this gives my clients peace of mind that their family is taken care of and that there is no question about what their wishes are.  When we get to our final appointment, after all the documents are signed, my clients say they feel so much better knowing it’s done. 

The best part of my work though is helping families create an inheritance that lasts longer and is more powerful than money.  The final interview can bring out strong emotions.  There is nothing that will replace a lost family member.  But we can capture your memory so that your family can heal, can remember, can move through life knowing the most important thing – that they are and have always been loved.

If you’re tempted to think that your family won’t care to hear your voice, your thoughts, your stories, after you’re gone, think again.  I can promise you that I will treasure these recordings of my grandmother’s voice and hearing her stories.  Give that gift to your loved ones as well.

If you are ready to make a plan for your family that passes on more than just your money, Contact Us to schedule your complimentary 15-minute phone call today.

Jenny Ling is a partner at the Law Offices of Jenny Ling, PLLC.  She focuses her practices on estate planning, business succession planning, business and bankruptcy.