When the ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin died last year, it was believed that she hadn’t prepared any kind of estate plan, including a last will and testament. However, a few months ago, three handwritten wills were found in her home near Detroit. Two were in a locked closet and one was stuffed beneath the cushions of a couch!

Leaving a legacy — sounds like something only wealthy people can do, right? It can be something like making a giant bequest to a university or passing on a significant estate to your children.

Have you considered how to pass on your non-material assets?

While everyone from brand new parents to great grandparents can benefit from the advice of a competent estate planning lawyer, frequently the individuals making sure that their affairs are in order, are those in their golden years. They have a common concern: what about their grandbabies?

In one of the most famous pet trust cases, hotel magnate Leona Helmsley left $12 million in a trust for her dog, Trouble. The judge reduced Trouble’s inheritance to $2 million.