For a Buffalo Bills fan, there is nothing quite like the energy of a home game. With the new stadium on the horizon, many of us in Western New York and our snowbird community in Florida have secured our legacy in the stands by purchasing a Buffalo Bills PSL (Personal Seat License).
It’s an investment in your family’s Sundays for the next 30 years. But have you stopped to think about what happens to those seats: and the significant money you’ve put into them: if something happens to you?
At Santopolo Law, PLLC, we see your PSL as more than just a ticket to the game. It is a valuable piece of intangible property that requires specific planning to ensure it doesn’t end up stuck in a long, expensive court process known as probate.
What Exactly is a Buffalo Bills PSL?
Legally speaking, a PSL is a contract. It gives you the right (and the obligation) to buy season tickets every year. If you stop buying the tickets, you lose the license. Because it is a contract right, it is considered personal property.
Unlike a car or a house, you can’t just hand a PSL to your kids like a set of keys. The Bills have very specific rules about how these licenses are transferred.
- The Family Rule: You can usually transfer a PSL to immediate family (spouse, children, parents, etc.) without the team’s prior consent.
- The Window: Most transfers can only happen during a narrow window, typically between February and March.
- The Single Owner Rule: The Bills generally allow only one individual to be the “Member of Record.”
The Probate Trap for Buffalo-Florida Snowbirds
If you split your time between Erie County and Florida’s Gulf Coast: perhaps living in Dunedin or Bradenton: your estate plan is already more complex than most.
When you own a Buffalo Bills PSL in your individual name, it is an asset located in New York. If you are a Florida resident (domiciled in FL) but own “property” in NY, your family might be forced into ancillary probate. This means your loved ones have to hire lawyers and go through court in two different states just to settle your affairs.
We regularly work on snowbird estate planning, and we know that the last thing your family wants to do while grieving is deal with the New York court system to save their football seats.
Why a “Standard” Will Might Not Be Enough
Many people think a simple Will solves everything. While a Will allows you to name who should get your PSL, it doesn’t avoid the court. A Will is essentially a letter to a judge. Your executor still has to go through the probate process to get the legal authority to sign the Bills’ transfer forms.
If you want to keep your family out of court and out of conflict, you need a more proactive approach.
The Problem with Individual Ownership
- Court Intervention: A judge must approve the transfer of “intangible assets.”
- Public Record: Probate is a public process; your seat locations and asset values could become public knowledge.
- Timing Issues: The court rarely moves as fast as the Bills’ transfer window. If you miss the deadline, your family might lose the right to buy season tickets for that year.
The Life & Legacy Planning® Solution: Using a Trust
The most effective way to protect your Buffalo Bills PSL is to title it inside a Revocable Living Trust.
At Santopolo Law, our Life & Legacy Planning® approach focuses on “funding” your trust. This means we don’t just give you a stack of papers; we help you ensure your assets: including your PSL: are actually owned by your trust.
Benefits of Titling Your PSL in a Trust:
- Avoid Probate: Because the trust owns the license, not you individually, the transfer happens privately and immediately upon your passing. No judge required.
- Seamless Continuity: Your successor trustee can handle the transfer to your chosen beneficiary during the Bills’ designated window without delay.
- Control: You can specify exactly who gets the seats and even set aside funds in the trust to pay for the first few years of season tickets for your grandkids.
- Incapacity Protection: If you become ill or unable to manage your affairs, your trustee can manage the account and ensure the tickets are paid for so the PSL isn’t forfeited.
Don’t Let Your Legacy Fumble
If you’ve invested in the future of Buffalo football, make sure that investment actually reaches the next generation. Whether you are in Buffalo, Largo, or Safety Harbor, your estate plan should reflect your actual life: including your passions.
Common Mistakes We See Families Make:
- Assuming the Bills will “just understand”: The Bills are a business with strict contractual rules. They won’t bypass legal requirements because you’ve been a fan since the 90s.
- Leaving the PSL out of the Trust: Most families are never shown how to properly fund their trust. We make sure that doesn’t happen by helping you every step of the way.
- Not Naming a Backup: If your primary beneficiary doesn’t want the tickets or can’t afford them, your plan should have a “Plan B” to keep the seats in the family.
Take Control of Your Legacy Today
You’ve done the hard work of securing your seats in the new stadium. Now, let’s do the easy work of making sure they stay with your family for decades to come.
At Santopolo Law, PLLC, we provide a consultative, easy process for busy families. We don’t just draft documents; we provide counseling to help you face the future with confidence.
We serve clients across Erie County and the Florida Gulf Coast, from St. Petersburg to Bradenton. We understand the unique needs of the Buffalo-Florida connection.
Ready to get your plan ready for kickoff?
Schedule a Strategic Planning Session with us today. We’ll review your current plan (or help you start a new one) and ensure your Bills PSLs: and everything else you love( are fully protected.)