This thread is really interesting to me, as my PP who is in Illinois, is presently facing some big changes in the near future as his key support in life, his Dad, is terminally ill. I will be asking him in my next letter, if he has a living will, as I think this is really important and basic stuff he should have in place. (He is serving a life sentence)

I also have another question to add to this thread which is kind of related. Should my PP be left an inheritance by his Father my PP thinks that the state can file a fairly good claim against it, either if it were paid directly to his prison trust fund as a lump sum or to any specifically named 'holding' trust fund where he is the beneficiary. At a guestimate, he is thinking along the lines of $80,000 gifted to him of which he may lose up to $30,000. Does this sound correct to you guys? I expect that the judicial system is always seeking to recover it's costs against it's incarcerated, however it seems somehow unfair that if a Father wants to leave an amount to ensure his son will always have some commissary account money (given he is serving a life sentence), that his (the Father) funds are ravaged, when he is not the one who committed any crime and purely wants to try and ensure his boy can at least have some ongoing support in life via the inmate account, or extra assistance in an emergency situation such as major health issues etc.

1. Do inmates have a specific annual amount they are allowed, before they are 'taxed' by the judicial and/or tax system in the manner outlined above?

2. What options exist for an inmate, serving life, who has relied upon family support, but who will soon lose that support but gain a lump sum, to preserve a regular income payment into a commissary account, so he is not completely cut off from the small wisp of support he has become reliant on?

3. My PP indicated that even if his Father formed a completely separate trust account which made him (PP) the sole beneficiary, into which his share of his inheritance was paid and then theoretically doled out on a regular basis to the commissary account that the judicial system could still file a claim against this? Is there any legal way to protect funds gifted to an inmate in these sort of circumstances?

Weighty questions, I know...but there must be some answers out there?

Look forward to reading any further replies to the original thread, and any enlightenment on my added queries. Thanks guys.