George Clooney once starred in a movie about the rule against perpetuities. If you went to law school, you're probably asking who would watch a film about the RAP?!
Stay with me.
There is a Rockefeller in all my Trusts
The Movie
In The Descendants, Clooney plays the trustee of a family trust that owns a breathtaking stretch of Hawaii. And the trust is hitting its legal expiration date. What happens to that land, and who decides, drives the entire film.
The Rule
That "expiration date" is a real rule. And it's the same reason there's a curious name buried in nearly every trust I draft:
John D. Rockefeller.
He's not a client. He's not a relative. He never receives a dime. So why is he in your trust?
The Explanation
I wrote a short piece on my LinkedIn that explains it.
It covers why some attorneys reach across the pond and use the Queen of England's family for the job. And why I deliberately choose an American who built something from nothing instead.
Take Action
Here's the thing: this might be the rare estate-planning concept that's actually fun. It connects Hollywood movies, historical figures, and the legal mechanics working behind the scenes in your trust documents.
Understanding why certain names appear in your trust isn't just trivia. It's about knowing how your legacy is protected under the law.