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Thread: Legal immigrant couple leaves $850,000 estate to U.S. government

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  1. #1
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    Legal immigrant couple leaves $850,000 estate to U.S. government

    Couple leaves $850,000 estate to U.S. government

    By Ben Rooney @ben_rooney

    The Petrasek's check.

    A Seattle couple left nearly $850,000 to the U.S. government as a gesture of thanks to their adopted country.

    Peter Petrasek, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia after World War II, and his wife Joan stipulated in their will that all of their money be donated to the government.

    The couple had no children and wanted to give back to the country that enabled them to live a happy and prosperous life, said Peter Winn, the U.S. attorney who helped transfer the funds to the Treasury Department.


    "I think the Petraseks were very grateful to their adopted country," said Winn. "They wanted to make a statement about how much it meant to them to be able to call themselves American citizens."

    The couple on vacation.

    Peter, an engineer for a local steel company, passed away in 2012 at the age of 85. Joan, who was from Ireland, died several years earlier of breast cancer. She was 79.

    The couple met in Canada before settling in Seattle, according to Carrie Balkema, the attorney who oversaw the liquidation of their estate.


    Balkema said she was appointed by a court to fulfill the couple's final wish to give their money to "The United States of America." It took Balkema three years to sort out.


    The couple's assets included their home, savings and a substantial stock portfolio.


    Balkema said Peter went back to Czechoslovakia several years ago to see if any of his relatives had survived World War II. He couldn't find any. Even though Joan had some relatives in Ireland, the couple wanted their money to go to America.


    "Both felt they were given opportunities and education by coming here," said Balkema.


    On May 13, Winn said he deposited a check on behalf of the Petrasek estate in the amount of $847, 215.57. It was made out to the Department of the Treasury.

    http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/22/news...ill/index.html

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  2. #2
    Senior Member Judy's Avatar
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    The government should do something really special with this money. They should use it in some way to pay tribute to the Americans of the WWII Era to both remember and perhaps even revive the spirit, tenacity and courage of that generation who did so much for so many on so little, who never received a thank you and perhaps more importantly never expected or wanted one.
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    MW
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    Senior Member MW's Avatar
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    The U.S. Government is not a charity organization. We pay them to operate. The money will mean absolutely nothing to them. Should have just given the money to the SPCA and been done with it!

    "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" ** Edmund Burke**

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    Senior Member Judy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MW View Post
    The U.S. Government is not a charity organization. We pay them to operate. The money will mean absolutely nothing to them. Should have just given the money to the SPCA and been done with it!
    Or to her family. Strange he looked for his but ignored hers. Maybe they didn't get along. And I agree giving it to the government was a complete waste. I just hope the government uses it for something special that links to the generation of WWII.
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  5. #5
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    The money goes into the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury.

    Washington couple leaves $850,000 estate to US government

    The Associated Press
    May 21, 2015 at 2:34 PM


    SEATTLE (AP) — While many complain about how much the government is taking out of their paychecks, one Seattle couple decided it hadn't been enough.

    The Seattle Times
    reports that Peter and Joan Petrasek left their total accumulated wealth, of cash in the bank and sale of their West Seattle home, to the United States government. The couple had no next of kin.


    A cashier's check for $847,215.57 was made out to the Department of Treasury.


    Peter Petrasek died on May 5, 2015 at age 85. His wife Joan died 13 years earlier at age 79.


    A spokesman for the Treasury says it doesn't specifically track how many people have willed their estates to the government, but it does happen. The money will go into the general fund.

    http://www.syracuse.com/us-news/inde...overnment.html



    The Office of Legislative
    and Public Affairs


    Fact Sheets

    Gifts to the United States

    Citizens who wish to make a general donation to the U.S. government may send contributions to a specific account called "Gifts to the United States." This account was established in 1843 to accept gifts, such as bequests, from individuals wishing to express their patriotism to the United States. Money deposited into this account is for general use by the federal government and can be available for budget needs. These contributions are considered an unconditional gift to the government. Financial gifts can be made by check or money order payable to the United States Treasury and mailed to:
    Gifts to the United States
    U.S. Department of the Treasury
    Credit Accounting Branch
    3700 East-West Highway, Room 6D37
    Hyattsville, MD 20782
    Any tax-related questions regarding these contributions should be directed to the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040.

    https://www.fms.treas.gov/news/factsheets/gifts.html
    NO AMNESTY

    Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.


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