Mahatma Gandhi is well known as the former leader of Indian nationalism and became famous for using non-violent civil disobedience as a means for change.  The leader lived modestly and believed in kindness and service to others.  He was known to wear the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven by himself on a charkha.  Gandhi was assassinated in January of 1948 by Nathuram Godse who disagreed with his methods and teachings.

Recently, 65 years after his death, a number of Gandhi’s possessions have been sold at auction, including his Last Will and Testament.  In it Gandhi states, “I do not believe that I have any property.  Nevertheless, anything which by social convention or in law is considered mine: anything movable or immovable, books articles, etc, that I have written and may write hereafter, whether printed or not printed, and all their copyright, I endow as my heirs the Navajivan Institution.”

The two-page Last Will and Testament sold for over $83,000 – $22,000 above its asking price!  Over 50 other various items of memorabilia were also sold, including Gandhi’s size eight iconic sandals, artwork and photos of the leader, his hand-woven shawl, rice bowl, a blood sample, hand-carved figurines of the “wise monkeys” (speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil), original news articles about Gandhi, and even a pair of his glasses.  Many of the items sold for over the expected price – some for far higher!

While your estate planning documents will likely not be sold at auction or considered valuable to the general public, they are incredibly valuable to you and your loved ones!  In fact, your documents may save you more money in your estate than what Gandhi’s will was sold for.  By preventing your estate from facing the cost and delays of probate and by minimizing taxes, your estate plan can become extremely valuable to you and your beneficiaries.  If you would like to find out more about the real value of an estate plan, contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule your free consultation!

About Morris Hall:
At Morris Hall, we have focused our legal practice on estate planning for over 40 years.  Along with estate planning, our attorneys help clients and their families with matters of probate, trust administration, wills, power of attorneys, business planning, succession planning, legacy planning, charitable gifting and other important legal aspects.  We also have divisions in financial, real estate and accounting to help you incorporate all of your planning together, ensuring that everything works perfectly for your needs and situation. Our Arizona offices are located in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Arrowhead.  Our New Mexico offices are located in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe.  Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!

This blog should be used for informational purposes only.  It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice.  If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.