The Strange and Unusual Provisions in Wills
Wills are typically crafted during times of reflection and contemplation, marking the final wishes of an individual regarding their assets and legacy. While many wills follow a straightforward path, others contain strange and unexpected provisions that leave families in disbelief and legal professionals scratching their heads. In these cases, the final testament reveals not just the distribution of assets, but also insights into the quirks, desires, and sometimes rebellious nature of the testator.
One of the most curious cases I encountered as a solicitor involved a lady who wished to set up a trust fund for her beloved pet goldfish. The sum? £100,000. Yes, you read that correctly—£100,000 for a goldfish. When I pressed her for details about why such a sizable amount was being reserved for the fish, she explained that her goldfish, like all living creatures, deserved the best care. The conditions for the fish’s well-being were just as bizarre. It had to be fed fresh avocado every day, and a local dog walker was to be hired to ensure the goldfish was well taken care of after her death. I asked the lady if there were any other requirements for her goldfish’s care, but she was adamant that these stipulations were non-negotiable.
The Secrets That Came to Light
Perhaps one of the most shocking and deeply personal cases involved a woman who revealed in her will that she had a secret daughter. The woman had lived a seemingly normal life, with a husband and children, but had kept a child from a previous relationship hidden from everyone, including her own spouse. When the will was executed, the secret daughter was named the sole beneficiary of the woman’s estate and left with photographs that the rest of the family would never see.
This unexpected revelation caused an uproar within the family. The husband, already struggling with the loss of his wife, was completely blindsided by the news that he had been unaware of such a significant part of her life. Even more shocking was the fact that the woman had not only excluded her husband from the inheritance but had also left her entire estate to this hidden daughter, who, until then, had been completely unknown to her biological siblings. The discovery caused rifts between family members, leading to heated arguments and confrontations as the will was carried out.
Another case that involved secrets and betrayals came when an elderly woman left her house and belongings to a bus driver—a man she had never met before but admired for his kindness. The bus driver had helped her during a particularly rough patch in her final years, and she had been so grateful for his assistance that she decided to leave him everything she owned. Her family was incensed by the decision, and they immediately contested the will, accusing Bryan, the bus driver, of taking advantage of the woman’s generosity. Despite their outrage, the evidence showed that the bus driver had genuinely cared for her in her last days, making the bequest a heartfelt and sincere gesture rather than a manipulative act.
The Whimsical and Heartfelt Bequests
Wills, while often seen as a legal formality, can become windows into the personality of the testator, revealing deep emotions, hidden desires, and sometimes a touch of humor or whimsy. They are often seen as a way for people to leave a mark on the world after they’re gone, and some take that opportunity to express their creativity in ways that leave families and legal professionals alike scratching their heads.
One of the most unusual, yet strangely endearing, provisions I’ve encountered came from a man who asked that, after his burial, his family was to visit the zoo. The man had always been an animal lover, but this request was, to say the least, puzzling. His instructions were clear: as soon as he was laid to rest, his family was to make their way directly to the zoo. Some members of his family found it endearing—perhaps even a little quirky—but others were deeply confused. What did this odd instruction mean? Was there a hidden meaning behind it? Was it simply his love for animals that led him to request such a visit?
While it was certainly a strange request, there was something warm about it, too. It reflected the man’s character, someone who likely found joy in simple pleasures, like visiting animals in a zoo, and wanted his family to carry on that love for life, even after he was gone. The nature of the request might have caused some confusion, but it undoubtedly gave his family something to reflect on and even smile about as they followed through with his final wish.
The Cats, The Conditions, and the Controversy
Wills that include conditions, particularly those relating to health and behavior, can be a source of both humor and contention. One of the more unusual cases I encountered involved a woman who decided to use her will as a way to “motivate” her adult children. She outlined specific conditions for inheritance, based on their behaviors and lifestyles. One son was required to make regular visits to the dentist, while the other would receive his inheritance only if he lost 70 pounds. To some, this might seem like an attempt to encourage healthy living, but to others, it was a contentious requirement that added unnecessary pressure and resentment.
The situation was complicated even further by another strange stipulation: the woman insisted that her beloved cats be cremated separately but buried together. This seemingly innocent request led to an unexpected legal battle. How could her children comply with these wishes, especially considering that many of them felt that the woman’s attachment to her cats was excessive? The condition for the cats to be cremated and buried separately also sparked family disagreements, with some family members arguing that the entire focus should be on the inheritance itself, not on the cats’ remains.
This situation highlights a recurring issue in estate planning—when personal preferences and attachments lead to complex, emotionally charged legal issues. While the woman’s intentions may have been rooted in her love for her family and animals, these demands added layers of difficulty that tested family bonds and challenged the executor’s role.
The Eccentric, Itemized Will
One of the most memorable cases I worked on involved a 56-page will, which was as thorough as it was contentious. The woman had meticulously listed every single item in her home, from the simplest objects to the more valuable heirlooms, and she designated each item to specific family members. While this might seem like a minor detail to some, it became the heart of a bitter dispute.
Among the items she listed were things that most people wouldn’t think twice about: a wooden ladle, a towel rack, and even the toilet paper holder. Every item, no matter how trivial it seemed, was to be handed down to a specific family member. And while this level of detail might have been appreciated by someone else, her family found it to be over the top. The detailed nature of the will led to lengthy legal battles as family members contested the validity of certain bequests, questioned their fairness, and struggled to decide how to honor the numerous requests.
This will, more than any other, revealed the complexities of inheritance and the often painful process of distributing someone’s estate. The woman’s desire to leave behind a well-organized and personalized legacy, while understandable, inadvertently triggered a series of disagreements that outlasted her death. It also highlighted how even seemingly small possessions can take on enormous emotional significance when someone is no longer around to claim them.
Part 6: Revenge, Humor, and Unexpected Bequests
While many people include sentimental provisions in their wills, some use their final wishes to seek revenge or make a statement, leaving behind bequests that carry emotional weight beyond the financial. One particularly striking case involved a man who, after years of fighting the government over eminent domain claims, decided to leave the contents of his outhouse to the City Council. His family, fulfilling his wishes with a mixture of humor and frustration, packed up all the books and magazines from the outhouse and delivered them to City Hall.
This bequest was both a final act of defiance and a reflection of the man’s quirky sense of justice. For years, the city had tried to seize his land for a new water treatment plant, and he had fought against it every step of the way. By leaving the contents of his outhouse to the very institution that had caused him so much trouble, he sought to make one last statement. His children, though embarrassed by the strange bequest, carried out his wishes, fulfilling the unusual request with the same sense of humor that their father had maintained throughout his life.
Another story I encountered involved a wealthy uncle who left his entire estate to an Elvis impersonator. The man had been a staunch Elvis fan throughout his life, and his decision to leave everything to the impersonator—a man who had performed at family gatherings—left the family both shocked and bewildered. They were left questioning his motivations, but it was clear that the uncle had a deep connection to this entertainer and wanted to leave his legacy in a way that honored that bond. His family’s feelings were mixed, to say the least, but the Elvis impersonator did end up with the inheritance, much to the dismay of the other relatives.
Conclusion: Wills as Reflections of Character
These stories, as shared by Reddit users and others, offer a fascinating glimpse into the world of estate planning, revealing the ways in which people choose to be remembered after they’re gone. Wills are much more than just documents that distribute wealth; they can serve as a reflection of a person’s character, humor, values, and sometimes, even their desire for revenge. Whether through the bequest of a pet goldfish’s trust fund, a luxury SUV for a bus driver, or a quirky spring-loaded coffin, these stories show that when it comes to final wishes, anything is possible.
At their core, these unusual bequests remind us that life is unpredictable, and so too is death. A will can serve as a powerful final statement about a person’s life, their relationships, and the way they view the world. As strange as these stories might seem, they also speak to the depth of human connection and the unique ways in which people choose to express their final desires.
