Is this a service law firms offer?

Brooke Wilde's Avatar
I wanted to google this but couldn't think of a phrase that would yield the results I want.

So my question is:

Lets say I die while my child is under age, can I leave a letter for my child with an attorney and this attorney locate my child sometime after his 18th birthday and deliver this letter to him?

Of course I'd have to write the letter and find an attorney before death, but is something like I suggested even a service an attorney would offer? I guess this would fall under wills and estates, but that too, I know nothing about.

Thanks in advance and I hope I explained my question correctly.

All the best,
B
ShysterJon's Avatar
Sure, I don't see a problem with an attorney providing that service. The only possible glitches I see are when the attorney's duty to deliver the letter kicks in and locating your son. Rather than specifying that the attorney deliver the letter "sometime after his 18th birthday," why not make it so that the duty arises on your son's 18th birthday? You can put a clause in your will that your son will notify your attorney when he changes his address.
Unique_Carpenter's Avatar
Jon's correct.

And, I've directly seen two. One was a grandparent wanting to skip around their kid and communicate some thoughts direct to grandkids. Another was a single mom (widow) that had health issues. One was handled by an attorney, and one was handled by a close trusted friend. And of these, one letter (large envelope) is still in a safe, waiting. But, I have an atty friend that does a lot of trust and probate stuff, and he's handled several. Some of which involved non-custodial parents.

I also want to take this thought in a different direction.
Everyone should either have an attorney friend, or have made an arrangement with an attorney to handle stuff. Even if you're not on a retainer deal, going back to same attorney for various items can work very well if something critical happens and the atty already knows who you are. At the least, as attys somewhat specialize in certain stuff, they can easily find another atty that would be specifically appropriate for whatever.
Brooke Wilde's Avatar
Thanks gentlemen! Is there a particular type of attorney I should seek out for this?
An attorney who specializes in wills and probate matters.
You have not defined custody rights and rights to information. From what you stated, is blind adoption, release of rights the course you took?

You may be hard pressed to find an attorney who will to accept this charge since the cost for "finding" the subject could be significant. A private investigator may be required, with fees.

Perhaps another option would be a large banking firm safety deposit box with the subject's legal name listed as full and only surviving heir, or co-owner. You may need a SSN for that. The bank would be legally bound to try and find him, if nothing else, to release the box. You could speak to a personal banker also. I believe this would remove alot of human error and variables from the uncertainty of delivery and be a lot less expensive.
ShysterJon's Avatar
Thanks gentlemen! Is there a particular type of attorney I should seek out for this? Originally Posted by Brooke Wilde
An attorney who specializes in wills and probate matters. Originally Posted by YummyMarie
I disagree. No specialized knowledge of wills is needed to keep and convey a letter -- in fact, a trusted, non-attorney friend could do it just as well as an attorney.

You have not defined custody rights and rights to information. From what you stated, is blind adoption, release of rights the course you took? Originally Posted by Mythos
I've read this paragraph three times now, and I still don't know WTF you mean. If you want what you write to have meaning to others, you might want to be clearer.
Unique_Carpenter's Avatar
As Jon mentions, and as I mentioned above, delivering a document, or package of documents, does not actually require an atty. However, as I also mentioned above, and as Jon also mentions, someone needs a trusted friend.
I'll expand my mention above. The kid is currently in 7th grade and the mom died a couple years ago. So that still has a decade to go for the large package and a half decade to go for the small package. So a very trusted friend who actually understands and will deliver.

However, failing having that type of friend, and I'm specifically excluding family, if the mom has will stuff going on that also involves kid, then Marie's mention of probate atty is where I'd look.


Mythos, OP didn't ask about issues related to adoption.
I've read this paragraph three times now, and I still don't know WTF you mean. If you want what you write to have meaning to others, you might want to be clearer. Originally Posted by ShysterJon
Your reading comprehension issues are your own. Don't cry on my shirt, I was not addressing you. OP will understand.

I disagree. No specialized knowledge of wills is needed to keep and convey a letter -- in fact, a trusted, non-attorney friend could do it just as well as an attorney. Originally Posted by ShysterJon
Or a trusted friend's trained chimp. As long as the chimp does not die or go out of the banana business I am sure the letter has better than a .0000001 percent chance of reaching the target subject within the next 18ish years. Fully guaranteed! Intenet whore board legal advice is always "right on"!

Brooke, you will not get the real counsel you need here.

Mythos, OP didn't ask about issues related to adoption. Originally Posted by Unique_Carpenter
Yes I am aware. A bit more relevant history / circumstance could be needed for accurate guidence. Some of which I already have and from such, I was suggesting another option should it apply.

The simple answer to her original question is, "Yes"


Good day
Unique_Carpenter's Avatar
Mythos,
You are off in another dimension.
A trusted fiend is a trusted friend.
Perhaps your definition differs from others.
And Brooke has recived appropriate advice.
Btw, your last post earned me a bar tab from a probate atty. And he hates picking up my bar tabs.
Btw2. Anyone that has stuff in a safe has an instruction list in there also, on top.
ShysterJon's Avatar
Mythos, you need to put away the pipe before you post. Jeez Louise...
Mythos,
You are off in another dimension. Originally Posted by Unique_Carpenter
Perhaps, I found earth to be covered with flawed humanity. Promises broken, good intentioms turned to shit, contracts made null. Businesses folded. Fuck that. I leave nothing to chance apart from my next breath.

Btw, your last post earned me a bar tab from a probate atty. And he hates picking up my bar tabs Originally Posted by Unique_Carpenter
Awesome, seems you could have pm'd me to join for a nice scotch. A double Balvenie 21 would have done nicely.


Mythos, you need to put away the pipe before you post. Jeez Louise... Originally Posted by ShysterJon
I do have a meerschaum that I have been working on for many years. Picked it up pure white in Turkey on a trip. Looks amazing now.

Good day Gentlemen
I wanted to google this but couldn't think of a phrase that would yield the results I want.

So my question is:

Lets say I die while my child is under age, can I leave a letter for my child with an attorney and this attorney locate my child sometime after his 18th birthday and deliver this letter to him?

Of course I'd have to write the letter and find an attorney before death, but is something like I suggested even a service an attorney would offer? I guess this would fall under wills and estates, but that too, I know nothing about.

Thanks in advance and I hope I explained my question correctly.

All the best,
B Originally Posted by Brooke Wilde
Living will for family member.Legal Zoom good for legal documents
ShysterJon's Avatar
Living will for family member. Originally Posted by Fancylady
A living will empowers someone to make medical decisions in the event of incapacity, and therefore has absolutely nothing to do with this thread. You're batting a thousand giving poor advice. Please go away.
Brooke Wilde's Avatar
Thanks again for the information, this has certainly pointed me in the right direction.