NYT: Dying Alone Is Not — in the Long Run — a Solo Activity

In one of those feature articles that The New York Times does so well, N.R. Kleinfeld reports The Lonely Death of George Bell.  It is a sad story, as Mr. Bell died in his apartment at the age of 72 and no one “missed him,” so his body was not discovered for days.  You may have stopped reading precisely because it is such a sad story.  But, at the same time, George’s story is a surprising tale of the potential consequences of dying alone.  The article lays out the layers of necessary decision-making, from the simplest of questions — where will George be buried — to the complex, where public authorities must hunt for an executor and for beneficiaries named in George’s 30-year old will.  Then, in turn they must hunt for their heirs, when it turns out that this modest man’s death left behind almost a half million dollar estate and few living connections.

My thanks to Penn State law student Kevin Horne who shared with me the link to this interesting story.  As he points out, this story gives another side to our course on Wills Trusts & Estates.