Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain, and Surviving Spouses

Did you know that both Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain were married, but separated from their spouses, at the time of their death. What does this mean? Even though he was separated from Kate Spade, will Kate Spade’s husband inherit from her estate as a surviving spouse? What inheritance rights does Anthony Bourdain’s wife have? In Florida, a surviving spouse may have rights to property of a deceased spouse. This means that there are statutory minimum benefits to ensure that surviving family members are provided for, regardless of the decedent’s intent. In re Estate of Magee, 988 So.2d 1, 5-6 & n.3 (Fla.2d DCA 2007).What are these benefits? Homestead, elective share, and family allowances are three of the main rights of surviving spouses in Florida.What if I made a deal with my spouse and waived my right to receive a statutory benefit? What if I waived my right to homestead in a prenuptial agreement? According to Florida court decisions, if your right to receive the benefit was properly waived in a marital agreement, you may be out of luck. However, you should speak to an estate lawyer in West Palm Beach who can evaluate your specific case.

A June 12,2018 Forbes article discusses Spade and Bourdain’s relationships and how the separations affect estate planning. Click here to read the entire article.