7 unique wishes people made in their will

Miles Franklin was an Australian novelist and writer committed to the growth and development of Australian literature. Following the publication of her most regarded work, My Brilliant Career, she spent some time working in Sydney and Melbourne whilst also contributing pieces to newspapers. In her Will she made a provision for her estate to establish an annual literary award, the Miles Franklin Award. 

In some last Will and testaments, the arrangements regarding a person’s body is part of their bequest. Mark Gruenwald, Executive Editor of Captain America and Iron Man for Marvel Comics, requested that he be cremated, and his ashes mixed with ink for the printing of comic books. Fred Bauer, the inventor of Pringles, wanted to be buried in a Pringles can. Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, requested that his ashes be launched into space, while Napoleon Bonaparte’s Will directed that his head be shaved, and his hair distributed among friends. 

When Robert Louis Stevenson died in 1894, his Will included an odd last wish. At the time that Mr Stevenson prepared his Will, he said that his friend Annie H. He often complained that she did not really get to celebrate her birthday as she was born on Christmas Day. In his Will he left her his own birthday –, November 13. 

There have been many Wills with unique requests regarding much loved pets. Jonathan Jackson, an Ohio animal lover who died in 1880, left a significant amount of money for the creation of a home for cats. The home was to have bedrooms, a gym, a dining hall and an auditorium where live music would be played. There would also be a roof designed specifically for climbing. When Leona Helmsley died in 2004, she left more than US$12 million to her Maltese, Trouble. Her grandchildren were required to visit their father’s grave annually to inherit their share of the estate. 

Portuguese aristocrat, Luis Carlos de Noronha Cabral da Camara left his considerable fortune to 70 strangers he randomly chose out of a phone directory in Lisbon. When his heirs were notified, many thought it was a joke as they had never met the man. 

A Will is often your last wish and a final message that you can send. To loved ones and those that matter most to you. Even if your circumstances are straightforward, having a Will helps ensure everyone is clear on what you’d like done with your estate. 

State Trustees has decades of experience in will writing and can provide expert and impartial advice. With three will-writing options to suit both simple and complex circumstances, you can easily compare the choices and get started today. 

We recommended you book an appointment with our will-writing experts if you have complex gifting requests or circumstances like the above.