Chapter 5 - THE TRUST
Michael’s father, Gerald, founded a commercial plumbing-supply company.
He sold most of it before retirement.
When Michael died, his estate included life insurance, company shares, investments, and a trust created years earlier for Emily.
Current value:
Approximately $5.9 million.
Not money Patricia and Gerald could simply withdraw.
The trust paid for:
Medical care.
Education.
Housing related to Emily’s needs.
Therapy.
Support services.
Later college.
Future housing.
The original co-trustees were Michael and an independent trust company.
After Michael died, I became family representative.
Not trustee.
That distinction mattered.
Patricia became secondary family adviser because Michael’s will named her if he died before Emily turned eighteen.
I signed paperwork during the worst month of my life.
I remembered almost none of it.
Within six months, Patricia began submitting reimbursement requests.
I knew about some.
Transportation to neurology.
Special meals.
Occasional respite when Emily stayed with them.
Then claims expanded.
I never saw them because statements went electronically to a family email address.
May you like
An address I thought belonged to the trust office.
It belonged to Patricia.
