Search Results: heirs

On January 1, 2017, the New York Times reports that Amber Lightfoot Walker’s estate gifted millions of dollars to various cultural institutions including Lincoln Center Theater, the Morgan Library & Museum and the 92nd Street Y. According to the article, Amber Lightfoot Walker was a socialite with a passion for arts. What did her will say? What will these institutions do with the very generous donations? How can you insure that the person or charity you want to inherit from your estate actually does?

On January 17, 2017, CNN reported that Eugene Cernan has passed away. Cernan is best known for being the last astronaut to step foot on the moon. Did this renowned astronaut have a proper estate plan in place before he passed away? He was 82 at the time of his death. Did he have a will? Did he leave behind a trust? Who will inherit from his estate? What if he died without a will?

As we know, on April 21,2016, Prince passed away without a will. This means that he died intestate. Therefore, his fortune will be inherited by his heirs. Who are his heirs? There have been many inheritance disputes already regarding his massive estate. His estate’s probate lawyers have had to deal with multiple people claiming to be his children, for example. In addition, it seems that more and more valuables of Prince’s are being discovered. CNBC reports on January 7,2017 that 67 gold bars have been discovered and listed as part of Prince’s estate.

The media reports that Muhammad Ali’s estate has been finalized. Muhammad Ali’s estate will be distributed according to his will. According to the Daily Mail, each of his NINE children will receive $6 million and his widow, Lonnie, will receive the rest. Supposedly, his children were upset that their step mom was receiving more money than them. However, Ali’s eldest daughter claims that there was never an inheritance dispute. Probate litigators know that inheritance disputes frequently arise between children and their parent’s second, third, or, in this case, FOURTH spouse. However, a good estate plan can, when prepared by a Florida estate planning lawyer, help to make sure that your fortune is inherited by the people you intend it to go to.

It is estimated that George Michael’s estate is worth $125 million.The media reports that his estate will most likely continue to make millions due to the popularity of his music. Probate lawyers and trust litigators know that when dealing with such a large estate, complications and family disputes can arise. Who will inherit his fortune? Who are his heirs? Did he have a will?

Matthew Seth Jacobs was a survivor of the tragic 2010 Gulf of Mexico Explosion, which killed 11 people. He was part of a class action suit which ended in a multi-million dollar settlement. After, Jacobs was killed in a car crash last year, Donna Herring allegedly decided to create a fake will for Jacobs so that her daughter would inherit his wealth. What happens if you are caught committing probate fraud? Will the probate lawyers for Jacob’s estate be able to prove that the will is invalid? Although this case is not in a Florida probate court, West Palm Beach attorneys frequently handle cases with similar fact patterns.

On December 18,2016, Zsa Zsa Gabor passed away of heart failure. She was best known for her life in the spotlight, especially during the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Although she began her celebrity “career” as a performer, she seemed to maintain her celebrity status by simply being an American icon and socialite. Who will inherit from her presumably large estate? Did she have a solid estate plan in place? Planning her estate may not have been simple. It probably required assistance from an experience estate planning attorney. CNN reports that she was married nine times, divorced seven , and had one marriage annulled.  How could this affect her estate and who inherits? What do prenuptial agreements(prenups) and divorce a have to do with inheritance disputes? Did she have a spouse at the time of her death?

Fidel Castro, best known as Cuba’s former president and communist dictator, died on November 26, 2016.  Forbes reported that Fidel Castro’s net worth could have been $900 million. However, when the original article stating this figure was published in 2006, Castro denied that he had this wealth. In fact, he claimed that he was living off around $50.00 per week. What was he really worth? Who will inherit from his estate? Will they inherit nothing or $900 million? Who are his heirs?

On December 13, 2016, Alan Thicke died of a heart attack. He is best known for his role as the father on the very popular TV show “Growing Pains”. Who will inherit Alan Thicket’s wealth? How much was the popular actor worth? After learning of this unexpected death, it is hard not to wonder where his fortune is headed. The media has not yet reported whether or not he has died without a will. What does this mean for his family?

CNN reported on November 7, 2016 that Janet Reno, the nation’s first female US Attorney General, passed away in her home in Miami, Florida. She was 78 years old. Did Ms. Reno have a Florida will? Who will inherit from her Miami Beach estate? What is the probate process in Florida? What happens if she died intestate in Florida?