X-Message-Number: 8494
From:  (Nick Maclaren)
Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
Subject: Re: Hostile family members?
Date: 25 Aug 1997 18:10:12 GMT
Message-ID: <5tshq4$n7b$>
References: <5trrc3$are$> <5tscgu$>

In article <5tscgu$>,
Brent Allsop <> wrote:
>
>Nick Maclaren <> had comments about the RELATIVE'S
>AFFIDAVIT at <URL: http://www.cryocare.org/signup/relative.txt>
>
>> She is dead right.  Paragraphs (5), (6) and (12) are enough to make
>> any sensible person refuse to sign that document.  If nothing else,
>> they could cause her to lose all her inheritance in lawyers' fees
>> fighting CryoCare for a fair share of any inheritance.
>
>	Hmmm.  Paragraph 5 is only talking about the "Member's human
>remains".  How can any such a paragraph be too strong?  ...

Read it again.  It is about committing to signing forms.  These might
well include nasty little paragraphs about relinquishing rights.

>	Paragraph 6 specifically only talks about "properties which
>The Member has designated".  ...

No, it doesn't.  Read it again.  It referred to future designations
as well.

>         If there really are problem here could you please be more
> specific about what they are and how they might be resolved?  Why
> would or how could a cryonics institute fighting to keep what is
> clearely specified by the member to be it's "property" or "remains"
> cause a person to "lose all her inheritance in lawyers' fees"?

Very easily.  They lay claim to 90%, waving that document, and the
widow and children object.  The law is sufficiently unclear that the
whole thing has to be fought through every relevant court, by which
time the lawyers have the inheritance and it doesn't matter who wins.

Even the UK, where lawyers are less grasping than the USA, the usual
effect of an inheritance dispute is that the heirs lose out.  That is
one reason that people are advised to leave clear wills and omit any
conditions that may be legally contentious.

That document is a legal monstrosity - don't take my word for it, but
ask a lawyer in your pet jurisdiction.


Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QG, England.
Email:  
Tel.:  +44 1223 334761    Fax:  +44 1223 334679

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