After an unmarried Nevada
man died, authorities discovered $7 million of gold bars and coins stashed in his house. The man had lived alone since
his mother's death in 1992. He was
apparently dead for a month before neighbors reported a smell emanating from
the house. His left no will so his first
cousin, whose phone had been disconnected, will inherit the estate as his
closest relative.
I am uncertain about what lessons
can be learned from this story but I will suggest a few.
1. It is always best to leave a will instead of
relying on the intestacy statute to determine where assets where go after
death.
2. People should check on their "crazy
neighbors" because they, instead of cousins with disconnected phones, might
inherit assets at death.
3. Living isolated and alone without visiting
doctors can lead to a premature death.
4. Gold has been an incredible investment the
past several years.
