Sometimes, people wonder if they can put things in their estate plan that their family does not need to know about until after they pass away. Before answering whether that is possible, consider what can happen if you do not tell your secrets in an estate plan.
For example, Louis Armstrong has long been believed to have passed away without having any biological children. When he passed away, his wife signed a sworn affidavit to that effect and biographies have been written that assume it to be true. Recently, we have learned that he did have a daughter. She has stepped forward with proof that Armstrong had an affair with her mother and that she was his child. The letters strongly suggest that Armstrong wanted to take care of her after he passed away. Because he did not mention that in his estate plan, that did not happen.
That is the alternative. The answer to the original question is yes, you can mention things in your estate plan that your family does not have to know about until after you pass away. It does need to be handled delicately, so you should see an estate planning attorney to make sure it is handled appropriately.
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