July 8-14, 2016 I VOL. 63 I NO. 28 I $2.00 I libn.com libn.com Dictating terms from beyond the grave From pets to pet causes, you won’t believe the strange beneficiaries lawyers encounter ›› 4

Small business Real Estate Focus: Law Vertigo media Re/Max redux law firms turn on the move hopes to to execs to bigger reinvigorate for smooth melville office brokerage brand operations ›› 12 ›› 7 ›› 27 wacky wills Some attorneys say it’s a matter of passing on values; others call it ‘dead-hand control’

By Adina Genn Zappa” – tribute shows that earned the younger Zappa a There’s the German countess Grammy. But now the band is who left $80 million to her dog. touring as “Dweezil Zappa Plays And the woman who arranged a Frank Zappa,” navigating around “pet trust” so that when she died, threats of copyright infringement her horse would live at a partic- damages after receiving legal no- ular stable – so long as the ani- tice from the Zappa Family Trust, mal’s befriended donkey resided whose operations are overseen by there too, for companionship. Dweezil’s brother Ahmet, after There’s the man whose off- the death of Gail Zappa, Frank’s spring would never have to worry wife. Ahmet recently told The about paying tuition – if they at- New York Times that the stip- tended an Ivy League school. And ulation was “in accordance with there are children who get a per- the family trust,” and protected centage of an inheritance if they his father’s legacy. earn $100,000, so they’d pre- None of this is new: Going back sumably already be productive Photo by Bob Giglione 400 years was William Shake- members of society and never be JEFFREY GREENER: People do strange things when it comes to money. speare, who infamously in his “trust fund kids.” And there are eficiary] to be productive mem- trusts committee and is an as- last will and testament left his the offspring who only become bers of society, to work and go to sociate at Rivkin Radler. “Occa- “second best bed” to his wife, beneficiaries if they marry within school” and more, O’Reilly said. sionally race is mentioned,” he perhaps a lasting commentary the faith. She recommends putting mech- added. on what many claim was an un- Call it a desire to pass along anisms in place to account for the In one instance a grantor happy marriage. values. Or call it extending con- unexpected. For example, in the would only leave $1 million to a “There are all kinds of wacky trol from beyond the grave. Long instances of stipulating a college beneficiary if she divorced her wills,” Greener said. Still, he Island trusts and estates attor- education or a certain salary son-in-law. pointed out, like in the case of neys have seen and heard it all. requirement in order to receive Wiley described these kinds of Frank Zappa, who took mea- Whether the grantor is rich and funds from a trust, what if the stipulations as “anti-social wills,” sures to protect his family and powerful – and maybe famous – would-be beneficiary can’t get out which courts often strike because his considerable catalog of hits, or simply of modest means, many of bed because of a long-term ill- they go against public policy, “sometimes there are unintended look to estate planning as a way ness or an injury, or doesn’t want running counter to social norms. consequences.” to perpetuate values into the to go to college? “I try to steer clients against Which is why trusts and es- next generation, experts say. The experienced trusts and it,” he said. tates attorneys say it’s critical “People do awfully strange estates attorney can provide the But O’Reilly said in New York, to work with an expert who can things when it comes to money,” necessary guidance and flexibil- incentivizing people to marry help them attain their goals. said Jeffrey Greener, a partner ity so that an individual can still within a particular faith is not Rather than a “do it yourself” will at Rivkin Radler, a law firm in be a beneficiary while honoring so unusual as the region has be- that is downloadable online, it’s Uniondale. the grantor’s wishes, especially come increasingly diverse, mak- critical to “get advice so you can “There’s nothing wrong with with irrevocable trusts. ing it easier to meet others of a accomplish your goals by work- parents trying to imbue their “I find out what my clients’ particular religion. ing with someone who specializes kids with their values,” he added. goals are and what they need to in estate planning,” said Mary “But every kid is different. It has accomplish these goals,” O’Reilly O’Reilly, a trusts and estates at- Helping hand to be done very carefully.” said. torney and partner at Meltzer, But mostly, Wiley said, grant- Phrases like “‘shall only’ be- Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone in ors have the best intentions. come unchangeable,” she added. As old as time Mineola. “They have a good sense of who “You don’t want to draft those People plan wills to protect While a will wraps up how an their children are – their vices, their families and to avoid the individual wants to distribute as- types of trusts.” and attributes,” he pointed out. need at a later date to sort out an sets after death, a trust specifies Parents want their children to estate in court. Still, estates can how and when – perhaps over an Affairs of the heart “attain admirable traits and stir up bitter sibling rivalries as extended period of time – a des- “Some people don’t want their skills to help them succeed. old as that of Cain and Abel. ignated person may distribute children or grandchildren to “Today,” he added, “people Greener points to legendary those assets to the person’s ben- marry out of their faith,” said don’t get married, and their rocker Frank Zappa’s children. eficiaries. Dennis Wiley, who co-chairs the parents want to encourage it. For nearly 10 years, Dweezil “Incentive trusts are used to Nassau County Bar Association They’re delaying having children. Zappa performed “Zappa Plays incentivize the [would-be ben- Surrogate’s Court estates and Parents want to help.”