Estate Planning

21 May Murder She Wrote Update: Will Convicted Husband Killer and Children’s Grief Book “Author” Kouri Richins, Profit by Murder?

Posted at 15:46h in Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Wills

Kouri Richins (hereinafter, “Kouri”) was found guilty of aggravated murder of her husband, attempted aggravated murder, forgery and two counts of insurance fraud on March 16, 2026. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on May 13, 2026. Shortly after murdering...

21 May Deathbed Incomplete Beneficiary Designation Form Determined Valid Benefitting Ex-Spouse Instead of Spouse

Posted at 15:46h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Wills

A Federal Court of Appeals recently ruled that a failure to complete the entire beneficiary designation form did not invalidate the designation since it was in writing, signed, witnessed and received by the proper office before his death. Gary Herbert (“Gary”) and Kathleen (“Kathleen”) Herbert were...

21 May Anna Nicole Smith’s Poor Estate Planning Gives Daughter Free Rein on Derby Day

Posted at 15:44h in Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Trusts, Wills

Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, Dannielynn, has reached the age of majority, leaving her in full control of the money she inherited from her mother. It is often recommended by estate planning attorneys that inherited assets be held in trust (i.e., for education, maintenance or support)...

27 Apr WHEN TO “LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH” – DISCLAIMING A LADYBIRD DEED

Posted at 17:32h in Estate Planning, Lady Bird Deed, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Transfer of Death, Wills

A Ladybird deed is an enhanced life estate deed used to avoid probate after the death of the grantor (the one who signs the deed). As an example, if you own a home and you sign a Ladybird deed, you retain all the benefits of...

15 Apr “WASTING AWAY IN MARGARITAVILLE” UPDATE: COURT PERMITS JIMMY BUFFETT’S ESTATE TO DIMINISH OVER TRUST MANAGEMENT DISPUTE

Posted at 16:16h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Music, Probate Administration, Trusts

A Florida court has recently ruled a co-trustee’s legal fees of $2 million in suing the co-trustee could be paid from Jimmy Buffett’s trust notwithstanding the petition opposition of the other co-trustee (who is Jimmy Buffett’s widow). Buffett’s widow has appealed and legal fees continue...

09 Apr MICHAEL JACKSON’S ESTATE ATTORNEYS TELL HIS ACCUSERS TO “BEAT IT”

Posted at 16:15h in Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Music, Probate Administration

Michael Jackson’s Estate is involved in another lawsuit. Four siblings of the Cascio family have sued Jackson’s estate alleging he was a child sex predator who raped, drugged and sexually assaulted them at Neverland over ten years starting when they were as young as seven...

02 Apr I AM NOT MY SISTER’S KEEPER – JUDGE PERMITS AGENTS UNDER THE POWER OF ATTORNEY TO MAKE OFF WITH $5.576 MILLION TO THEMSELVES

Posted at 16:07h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Inheritance, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Taxes, Wills

A Massachusetts court of appeals has recently ruled that a gift of $5.576 million dollars by agents to themselves under a power of attorney was made in good faith. Frances Fern had a roller coaster relationship with her 4 children – Frank, Tony, Chris and Tracey. ...

19 Mar WHO CAN MAKE A CLAIM AGAINST THE ESTATE OF CARTEL LEADER, “EL MENCHO”?

Posted at 12:12h in Asset Protection, Business, Estate Planning, Lawsuits

Infamous drug trafficking king Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera was killed by Mexican security forces last month. It is estimated that he may have had at least a $50 billion estate. There is a difference on who can make a claim versus if collection could be made. ...

11 Mar PROBATING A COPY OF A WILL – WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY (ALTHOUGH MORE DIFFICULT)

Posted at 12:04h in Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Texas Bar Today Top 10 Blog Posts, Wills

What happens if your loved one dies and you need to collect their assets and pay the debts of the deceased if you only can locate a copy of the will (not the actual will that was signed)? Of course, even if you have an original...

05 Mar HUGH HEFNER’S WIDOW THREATENS HIS FOUNDATION OVER DISTRIBUTION OF EXPLICIT PHOTOS GIVING TOO MUCH EXPOSURE

Posted at 11:58h in Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Lawsuits

Crystal Hefner, widow of the famed Playboy tycoon, Hugh Hefner, has threatened the Hugh Hefner Foundation over concerns that over 3,000 thousand lewd private videos and photos of women in Hefner’s “scrapbooks” could be distributed. The explicit photos of countless nude women (including possible images...

02 Mar HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE FOR NANCY GUTHRIE (A MISSING PERSON) TO BE PRESUMED DEAD?

Posted at 11:41h in Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Texas Bar Today Top 10 Blog Posts

There were more than 500,000 persons reported missing in the United States last year. The high-profile missing person case of Nancy Guthrie (mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie) is unusual since most missing persons are younger. It is also different since there is a...

27 Jan WHO GETS YOUR PROPERTY IF THE GRANTEE/BENEFICIARY OF YOUR LADYBIRD DEED PREDECEASES YOU?

Posted at 16:38h in Estate Planning, Lady Bird Deed, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration

A Ladybird deed is an enhanced life estate deed whereby the named beneficiary (grantee) is to be entitled to the property upon the death of the property owner (the grantor). It is considered a transfer subject to divestment (grantor changing his or her mind unless...

22 Jan WHAT RISK DOES A SON HAVE FOR ABUSING MOM’S POWER OF ATTORNEY? Never take advantage of person who does the most for you!

Posted at 16:25h in Elder Justice, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer

A financial durable power of attorney gives an agent authority to make financial decisions on behalf of the principal (the one giving the authority). However, sometimes the agent exceeds the authority granted by the principal. The repercussion may be greater than the agent may realize. Facts: Son,...

19 Jan WHAT ASSETS DO NOT GO THROUGH PROBATE?

Posted at 16:15h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration

Probate is the process of going to court when the deceased owns an asset in his or her individual name so that asset can be collected, evaluated, and distributed to heirs or beneficiaries after the payment of the debts and taxes of the deceased has...

12 Jan PURCHASE OF HOME BY A TRUST MAY REQUIRE REPORTING TO FinCEN FOR CLOSING AFTER MARCH 1, 2026

Posted at 16:08h in Business, Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has a new reporting requirement for closing of some residential property on or after March 1, 2026 in an effort to prevent money laundering. The reporting requirement only is applicable if the following conditions are met: Residential property –(i.e. homes, townhomes,...

05 Jan “LOVE AT FIRST BARK”: DIANE KEATON’S REPORTED $5 MILLION PET TRUST

Posted at 15:58h in Estate Planning, Success Story of the Month, Trusts

After Diane Keaton’s death in October 2025, it was reported that the famous actress left $5 million of her estimated $100 million estate in a pet trust for her furry friend, Reggie, a golden retriever. Since trusts are private (unlike wills and it’s likely Diane...

01 Dec 10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT POWERS OF ATTORNEY IN TEXAS

Posted at 14:23h in Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, Power of Attorney

If you trust someone, you should have a power to attorney to give an agent the authority stated in the document. However, there a various types of powers of attorney. The following are 10 of the most frequently asked questions about powers of attorney in...

24 Nov IS JEFFREY EPSTEIN’S ESTATE HANGING BY A THREAD?

Posted at 14:56h in Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Probate Administration, Taxes, Trusts

The impending release of the Epstein files, including his “Birthday Book” and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance’s investigating the IRS failure to audit his tax planning on others, could have an impact on Jeffry Epstein’s estate. When Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019, his estate...

17 Nov IF TOM BRADY CLONED HIMSELF, WOULD HIS HEIRS SUFFER A SUPER BOWL LOSS?

Posted at 14:51h in Estate Planning, Inheritance, Lawsuits, Probate Administration

Tom Brady announced in November that his present dog, Junie, is a clone of his former dog, Lua, who died in 2023. This was done through the use of withdrawing blood from Lua (prior to her death) and cloning technology. Although cloning technology has not...

27 Oct WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU INHERITED ITEMS STOLEN FROM THE LOUVRE? POSSESSION ISN’T ALWAYS 9/10ths OF THE LAW

Posted at 13:11h in Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Probate, Taxes

Precious jewels (including the Crown of Louis XV) were stolen from the Louvre on October 19, 2025. What if you inherited from a loved one some of the stolen jewels? If you knew the inherited item was stolen and you made no efforts to notify...

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