X-Message-Number: 5494
From: 
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 1995 11:27:08 -0500
Subject: bequests & penalties

John de Rivaz and I, in recent posts, have commented on the apparent
inability to penalize a legatee for contesting one's will, based on the legal
principle that no legal document can penalize someone for exercising his
legal rights. However, law can be complex and subtle, sometimes turning on
nuances of phraseology or allusions to states of mind. Accordingly, in my
amateur opinion it might be feasible to say something like this:

"My bequests to the persons named above [or below] are predicated on
 my affection for them and confidence in them, and my belief in their
affection for me and respect for my wishes. Any attempt to interfere with my
cryonic suspension, directly or indirectly, or failure to cooperate fully
with my cryonic suspension in a timely manner, would be clear evidence to me
that my affection and confidence were misplaced. Accordingly, I direct that
in such case the bequest to such person shall go instead to [cryonics
organization]."

Or, perhaps even safer, something like this:

"My bequests to the individuals named above [or below] are predicated on my
expectation that, if I am revived after cryonic suspension, I may see them
again, or at least their descendants, and we will have ties of sentiment. If
I am not suspended for any reason this assumption fails, and I direct that in
such case these bequests go instead to [cryonics organization]."

I haven't run this by our lawyers, but maybe a lawyer will comment.

Robert Ettinger
Immortalist Society
Cryonics Institute


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