Sonny Bono, the singer, songwriter, restauranteur, and former Congressman, died in a tragic ski accident in 1998 at the age of 62. His net worth was just under $2 million at the time of his death, yet Bono did not have a will. Apparently, he meant to have one drawn up, but simply never got […]
Celebrities
What Sumner Redstone’s Estate Planning Challenges Can Teach Us
Media mogul Sumner Redstone, the owner of CBS and Viacom, among other holdings, allegedly created quite an estate planning mess, according to a recent report in the New York Times. A June 2nd article reports that “with a fortune estimated at over $5 billion, Sumner M. Redstone could afford the best estate planning that money […]
Did Whitney Houston Leave Too Much Money To Bobbi Kristina?
Whitney Houston’s estate was worth approximately $20 million when she died – plenty to meet the needs of her only daughter – Bobbi Kristina. Sadly, only a few years after Houston’s death, Bobbi Kristina died as well. Although Bobbi Kristina’s previous boyfriend, Nick Gordon, is still a suspect in her murder, many say that having […]
Celebrities Who Failed To Recognize Unborn Children in Their Wills: A Teachable Lesson
Having an estate plan that protects and provides for your loved ones is not only smart, but it’s also necessary. Without one, your family, friends, or the charitable organizations you wish to provide for may not receive your gifts. It’s also important to remember to update your estate planning documents whenever something changes that would […]
James Brown’s “Vague” Estate Plan Forced Family into Years of Litigation
James Brown, the legendary singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and bandleader was known to many as the “Godfather of Soul.” Although he intended his estimated $100 million estate to provide for all of his children and grandchildren, his intentions were somewhat vague. This forced his family into years of litigation which ended up in the […]
Are Handwritten Intentions Enforceable? Princess Diana Thought So…
Princess Diana of Wales was one of the world’s most loved celebrities – and one of the richest. Her tragic death in 1997 was world news. The majority of her estate, reportedly worth $40 million at the time of her death, was divided between Prince William and Prince Harry in her estate plan. However, she […]
The Tragic Loss of Star Trek’s Anton Yelchin: Lessons for Estate and Legacy Planning
On June 19, 2016, when successful actor Anton Yelchin (Chekov in the recent Star Trek movies) failed to show for rehearsal, his friends became worried and drove to his house. Sadly, they found Yelchin pinned between his security fence, brick mailbox, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. According to investigators, the 27-year-old star exited the vehicle before […]
Who Is Your Beneficiary? Marilyn Monroe Ultimately Had No Idea
When creating a last will and testament, it’s important to know your beneficiary. Sadly, that’s not always the case. Marilyn Monroe, one of the world’s most famous icons, didn’t seem to have any idea to whom she left her money. Acting Coach & Psychiatrist Got Everything Marilyn Monroe died at the age of 36 from […]