Wills trusts and estates covered

The will of terrorist Osama Bin Laden has been released to the public.

While much of the focus on the documents released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from the Osama Bin Laden raid has been on the warning against forming a state similar to ISIS, the government confirms CNN’s report that one of the released documents is the terrorist leader’s will in “Osama bin Laden’s will, personal letters made public.”

The will is a short document of less than one typed page. In it, Bin Laden claims to have had $29 million in Sudan. He directs that money to be used to carry out Jihad. The rest of the will directs that some small sums be given to various family members.

The will was written in the 1990s and authorities do not know if there is any money left in Sudan let alone where to find it in that country. Of course, if that money were to be recovered, this is one case where the legal system in the U.S. would not follow the directions of the will.

Wills often shine some light on the minds and values of their creators, but there is nothing in Bin Laden’s will that we did not already know about him. Like most people, he cared for his family and wanted to provide for them. Unlike most people he also wanted to carry out terrorist attacks against the west and his will reflects that sad fact.

Reference: CNN (March 1, 2016) “Osama bin Laden’s will, personal letters made public.”

Mr. Amoruso concentrates his practice on Elder Law, Comprehensive Estate Planning, Asset Preservation, Estate Administration and Guardianship.