| Warren E. Burger: Guilty of Indifference | | | | The estate faced federal and state taxes of |
| | | | more that $450,00! Most people would ask |
| President, Perennial Financial Services | | | | themselves…but he had a will, how could |
| Warren Earl Burger was born in Saint Paul, | | | | this be? Well, it wasn't the will's brevity, it wasn't |
| Minnesota on September 17, 1907. He was one of | | | | even its spelling mistakes, that got his estate in |
| seven children. His grandfather, Joseph Burger, | | | | trouble. It was the omission of the powers |
| became a soldier in the Union Army at the age of | | | | bestowed on the wills' executors, specifically the |
| 14 after emigrating from Switzerland. He fought | | | | power to sell his real estate. He named his son |
| bravely in the Civil War before being wounded and | | | | and his former assistant, a federal appellate judge, |
| was then awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor. | | | | as co-executors of his estate. The two of them |
| Warren was raised on the family farm. He | | | | were forced to go to court to obtain powers to |
| became active in sports and politics at a young | | | | sell his real estate. The cost of which is deducted |
| age. He attended John A. Johnson High School, | | | | from the estate creating a wasted expense and |
| where he was president of the student council | | | | a waste of time. |
| and a member of the hockey, football, track and | | | | What could have been done differently? |
| swimming teams. He also found time to write | | | | Well a number of things could have been done to |
| articles on the schools sports teams for the local | | | | help reduce the unnecessary expenses and |
| newspaper. | | | | possibly reduce his tax exposure. First, he could |
| In his life he worked with the crew building the | | | | have bestowed specific powers on the executors. |
| Robert Street Bridge, which is a crossing of the | | | | If his children were wealthy, he could have set up |
| Mississippi River in St. Paul that still exists, became | | | | a generation skipping trust, which would have |
| the Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution's | | | | allowed his children to avoid the $1.8 million from |
| Board of Regents, was the floor manager at the | | | | being taxed in their estates. He could have set up |
| 1948 and 1952 Republican conventions, was a | | | | other trusts to keep his assets private and cut |
| member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the | | | | down on probate costs. In many cases wills do |
| District of Columbia, President Eisenhower | | | | not avoid probate. Lastly, he could have made |
| appointed him Assistant Attorney General in | | | | gifts in trusts to his children and/or grandchildren |
| charge of the Civil Division of the Justice | | | | that would have reduced his estate, and saved on |
| Department, and most importantly he was the | | | | taxes even before he passed. |
| nations 15th chief justice on the Supreme Court, | | | | For a free estate planning guide contact Joshua at |
| serving for 17 years, the longest tenure in the | | | | (805)267-1162 or email him at . |
| 20th century. | | | | This article is not intended to provide specific |
| He married Elvera Stromberg in 1933. They had | | | | advice or recommendations for any individual. |
| two children, Wade Allen Burger and Margaret | | | | Consult your financial advisor, with questions. |
| Elizabeth Burger. His wife died in May 1994. | | | | Joshua Daniel Mosshart and the representatives of |
| Widowed, Burger took it upon himself to type a | | | | Perennial Financial Services are registered |
| one-page will on his personal computer. One year | | | | representatives with and offering securities |
| later in 1995, Burger passed at the age of 87. At | | | | through Linsco/Private Ledger (LPL) Member |
| that point his estate was valued at $1.8 million. | | | | NASD/SIPC. |