It is useful to consider your legacy as you are living your life and when you are planning your estate. Yes, you can leave behind financial resources to your loved ones, and you should arrange for this in a careful and intelligent manner.
However, you may also want to think about how you will be remembered. Recently the keyboard player from The Doors, Ray Manzarek, passed away. He had been suffering from cancer and he finally succumbed at the age of 74.
As a musical legend Manzarek was able to leave behind a body of work that represents his legacy. Artists, craftsmen, artisans, engineers, architects, inventors, and others leave behind tangible things that will always serve as monuments of sorts.
Other people have more subtle legacies, but they can be profound all the same.
If you are thinking about legacy planning one thing that you may want to consider is charitable giving. Many people continue to make a difference even after they pass away.
Larry Hagman, the actor who starred on the Dallas television series, died last year. Of course he too left behind an artistic legacy in the form of his work.
However, as an actor Larry Hagman was passionate about the creative arts. He started the Larry Hagman Foundation, which provides artistic educational opportunities to children in the Dallas area.
Ray Manzarek was the driving force behind one of the most important rock bands of all time. He will certainly be missed, but he did leave behind a robust musical legacy.
Mr. Nirenstein is licensed to practice before the courts of the State of Connecticut and the United States District Court. He is a member of the Connecticut and Hartford County Bar Associations, and the Estate and Probate, Elder Law, Business Law and Real Estate Sections of the Connecticut Bar Association.
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