You can make your unique estate planning goals a reality

The creative possibilities for a personalized estate planning extend far beyond basic asset distribution.

Consider the inventor of the Pringles potato chip can, Fredric Baur, who emphasized several important estate planning principles through his unique final arrangements.

Mr. Baur joined Pringles in the mid-1950s, and his mission was to build better potato chips, which were commonly greasy, stale and broken. According to the Pringles website, “He spent more than two years on them, and is the person who designed their unique shape (known as a hyperbolic paraboloid) and the tubular can they were packaged in. He was so proud of his work that when he passed away he was actually buried in a can of Pringles.”

Mr. Bauer’s request to have his ashes partially interred in a Pringles can demonstrates how estate plans can honor highly personal wishes while maintaining legal validity.

Here are some key estate planning lessons that Mr. Baur provides:

• The importance of specific documentation. Baur precisely detailed his wishes for cremation and the use of an original Pringles can in his estate planning documents, eliminating potential confusion or resistance from family members. His children confirmed this specificity helped them honor his request without legal complications.
• Professional legacy integration. As the inventor of the Pringles can's distinctive packaging design, Baur's choice reflected his life's work. His arrangements created a tangible connection between his professional achievements and final wishes.
• Partial traditional compliance. Baur balanced unconventional wishes with traditional practices by having some ashes placed in a conventional urn for cemetery burial. This approach demonstrates how estate plans can incorporate unique elements while maintaining conventional aspects.
• Practical executability. Despite its uniqueness, Baur's request remained achievable. He chose a readily available container and straightforward process that executors could realistically fulfill.
• Legal framework utilization. Baur's plan worked within existing funeral and burial regulations while achieving his distinctive goals. His arrangements complied with cremation laws and cemetery requirements.
• Familial cooperation. His children's willingness to fulfill his wishes highlights the importance of communicating unusual plans with family members. His son, Philip, explicitly confirmed the family understood the meaning behind the request.
• Cost considerations. The plan required minimal additional expense beyond standard cremation costs. This demonstrates how unique arrangements don't necessarily incur significant financial burden.
• Implementation details. When Baur died in 2008, his children purchased a fresh Pringles can from the grocery store. They placed a portion of his ashes in the container, before burying him in a conventional cemetery plot in Springfield, Ohio.

These elements collectively demonstrate how unusual estate planning goals can be achieved through proper documentation, practical consideration and clear communication with family members and executors.

Or, consider the retired teacher in Seattle who created a trust specifically to maintain her elaborate garden and provide educational tours to local schools. Her plan included detailed provisions for garden maintenance, educational program development and selection of qualified instructors to continue her legacy of teaching through nature. Similarly, a Boston-based collector established comprehensive guidelines for his vintage motorcycle collection, requiring beneficiaries to maintain the vehicles in working condition and display them at charitable events several times per year.

Meanwhile, a successful restaurateur divided his secret recipes among trusted employees, creating a cooperative ownership structure that preserved his culinary legacy while rewarding those who helped build his business. A librarian established a trust to maintain her first-edition book collection as a lending library for scholars, complete with specific handling protocols and conservation requirements. A wildlife photographer funded a foundation to maintain his work and provide annual scholarships for aspiring nature photographers.

Final arrangements have also become more personalized and creative. Beyond the famous case of the Pringles inventor requesting burial in his iconic container, many individuals have crafted unique memorial plans. A theater director choreographed an interactive memorial performance that involved audience participation and favorite theatrical pieces. A vintner arranged for his ashes to be incorporated into his vineyard soil, literally becoming part of the environment he spent his life cultivating. A pilot requested a memorial sky-writing display featuring messages he composed for loved ones.

Pet care provisions have evolved significantly beyond basic arrangements. A California tech executive created a "smart home" trust for her parrots, including automated feeding systems and interactive toys programmed to maintain their mental stimulation. A retired veterinarian established a comprehensive rehabilitation center for injured wildlife, complete with ongoing funding for staff and equipment. A professional dog trainer funded continuing education programs for shelter dogs to improve their adoption prospects.

Modern estate plans increasingly incorporate digital assets and online legacies. Detailed protocols for cryptocurrency distribution, social media account management and digital art collections have become common elements. Virtual property rights and online business succession planning now require specific attention in many estate plans. These digital considerations must be carefully structured to ensure executors can access and manage these assets safely and effectively.

Protecting unusual estate plans requires careful attention to detail and clear documentation. Your plan should include thorough explanations of your reasoning behind unconventional choices, specific implementation instructions and contingency provisions. Selecting executors who understand and support your unique goals is crucial. Regular reviews of your estate plan can help ensure your plan remains viable as circumstances change.

The key to successful unusual estate planning lies in balancing creativity with practical executability. While you can incorporate highly personal elements into your plan, each provision must be structured in a way that executors can implement and courts will uphold. Working with experienced estate planning professionals helps ensure your unique wishes can be fulfilled while maintaining legal validity. Through careful planning and proper documentation, your estate plan can create exactly the legacy you envision, no matter how unconventional it may be.