Why Snow White’s Father, the King, Should Have Created an Estate Plan
Most are familiar with the story of Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Central to the story is the relationship between Snow White and her stepmother. After losing his wife, the king remarries to provide a motherly influence for his daughter, Snow White. While things were peaceful for a while, once the king died, the Queen’s true colors came to light. Feeling threatened that Snow White was the “fairest of them all,” she arranges to have Snow White killed. In this blog, we discuss the Snow White Estate (or lack thereof.)
The Huntsman & The Snow White Estate
As most of us know, the Huntsman showed mercy on Snow White and allowed her to escape. Eventually, after living with the seven dwarfs and meeting Prince Charming, she marries the prince, and her stepmother. Although this scenario seems somewhat extreme, this fairy tale shows the conflict that can exist when the unifying member of the family dies without an estate plan. Had the king engaged with an estate planning attorney to put his affairs in order, the outcome of this story might have been drastically different.
An Estate Planning Attorney Would Have Put Everything in Writing for a Snow White Estate
While we do not know what the king’s wishes were, he should have recorded them. With tangible proof, everyone would have known what they were entitled to. And it would have been easier for third parties and beneficiaries to enforce the king’s desires.
Last Will and Testament for The Snow White Estate
The king could have used a last will and testament, which is a document that names a personal representative (also called an executor) to collect all the king’s accounts and property. This person would pay his outstanding debts and distribute his money and property. A will would specify who would receive the king’s accounts and property and name a guardian for Snow White, as she was a minor at the time of his death.
Revocable Living Trust and a Pour-Over Will
Alternatively, the king could have created a revocable living trust during his lifetime. The king would have been able to change the trust document at any time until he became unable to handle his own affairs or passed away. This planning tool would have allowed him to name himself as the current trustee (the person or entity who manages, invests, and distributes the money and property) and to designate a co-trustee or backup trustee if he was unable to act.
An Estate Plan Would Have Appointed Someone to Be in Charge
Once the king passed away, the law would dictate who could step in to handle his affairs if he did not have a legally valid estate plan. The stepmother might be at the top of the list as the surviving spouse, and because she was older than Snow White, she might have had more leverage to step in and take control. By creating an estate plan, the king could have appointed and empowered a trusted person as the personal representative under his last will and testament or as a successor trustee under this trust to handle his affairs, such as a trusted friend, advisor, or neutral third party.
A Snow White Estate Plan Would Have Protected Inheritances
Given Snow White’s young age when her father passed, it is likely that she was too young to manage a large sum of money or rule a kingdom without some guidance and oversight. Therefore, whatever he wanted to leave behind for Snow White could have been held in trust for her, either under his will as a testamentary trust or as a sub-trust of his revocable living trust. A trust would have allowed him to craft specific instructions on when and how Snow White would receive her inheritance. If the king created a separate sub-trust for Snow White, he could provide instructions so Snow White would receive her inheritance when the king died instead of waiting until her stepmother passed away to receive whatever was left over.
Snow White Could Have Had a Better Guardian
Upon the king’s passing, a decision had to be made about who would look after Snow White. In this instance, it appears as though her stepmother was in control and did not make for a kind or caring guardian. However, had the king truly thought about this, he could have nominated someone else. Perhaps there was a grandparent, aunt, or uncle who would have been able to step in—instead of the dwarfs who ultimately took care of her.
Help Ensure a Fairy Tale Ending for Your Loved Ones
While the story of Snow White is just a fairy tale, important lessons can be learned. We all want our loved ones to have happy endings. We can help you take steps to avoid the bad outcomes that are part of the typical fairy tales.
About Skvarna Law Firm in Glendora and Upland, California
Skvarna Law Firm operates offices in Glendora and Upland, California. We provide legal services. We cover San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties. This includes several cities. Upland, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Colton, Rialto, Chino, Chino Hills, Glendora, Claremont, Pomona, La Verne, Montclair, San Dimas, Azusa, Covina, West Covina, Diamond Bar, Walnut, La Puente, Corona, Norco & Mira Loma. Visit SkvarnaLaw.com to learn more.
