Estate Planning

12 Oct DITKA’S ESTATE PLANNING DID NOT FUMBLE

Posted at 10:00h in Estate Planning, Intellectual Property, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Taxes, Trusts

Mike Ditka, the legendary football coach of the Chicago Bears, had an 89% chance of a game plan for his complicated estate plan according to DraftKings (writer’s embellishment) due to his shrewd business transactions. Although the details of his estate plan have not been made...

12 Oct DID DOLLY PARTON’S NEPHEW WORK ‘9 TO 5’ TO THREATEN HER ESTATE?

Posted at 09:00h in Estate Planning, Intellectual Property, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Music, Trusts

A Tennessee court has granted Dolly Parton’s Estate a temporary restraining order against her nephew, Bryon Seaver, and his private security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services (SAPS), which handled Dolly’s security, due to threats of violence and interference of the business relationships of Dolly’s estate...

28 Sep “BLACK PANTHER” MOVIE STAR’S BROTHERS FIGHTING WIDOW OVER ESTATE CONTROL

Posted at 09:00h in Estate Planning, Inheritance, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Wills

In the movie “Black Panther”, one of the iconic quotes from the character T’Challa was “In times of crisis, the wise build bridges while the foolish build barriers”. Chadwick Boseman, the star of the movie, died without a will. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a...

31 Aug MEDICAID ESTATE RECOVERY RULES

Posted at 09:00h in Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration

As of August 27, 2026, the rules on the Texas Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) have changed. MERP is the program where the government seeks reimbursement for benefits advanced such as long-term care (i.e., nursing home and drugs) after the death of the Medicaid recipient. ...

17 Aug IF CTE CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED UNTIL AFTER DEATH, WHEN COULD MUHAMMED ALI, BOBBY HULL, JOHN NILAND OR JUNIOR SEAU NO LONGER SIGN A WILL?

Posted at 09:00h in Dementia, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Wills

It is not unusual for former professional football players, boxers, ice hockey players, etc. (such as Hull, Niland, Seau and hundreds of others) to be diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) as a result of repeated head injuries, such as concussions. A new study published...

10 Aug JEANIE BUSS CLAIMS TECHNICAL FOUL OVER SIBLINGS’ SALE OF INTEREST IN LAKERS

Posted at 09:00h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

Jeanie Buss, governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, which gives her the right to run the team, is disputing the ability of her 5 siblings to sell the family’s 17.8% interest held in trust. In August it was announced that the present controlling owner of the...

03 Aug JUDGE TO MICHAEL JACKSON’S “SECOND FAMILY”: THERE WILL BE NO COURT “THRILLER”

Posted at 09:00h in Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Music, Probate Administration

A federal district judge has dismissed the sexual abuse and child trafficking lawsuit by Michael Jackson’s “second family” (Edward, Dominic, Marie, Nicole and Aldo Cascio) against the Estate of Michael Jackson. The court determined their case must be decided by arbitration in private instead of...

27 Jul COURT KILLS ROB REINER’S SON’S REQUEST FOR LEGAL DEFENSE FEES FROM TRUST

Posted at 09:00h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

The request of Nick Reiner for legal defense fees from the trust fund established by his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, may have reached a dead end. Nick’s defense team (Nick was indicted for the murder of his parents) argued the Slayer Statute requires a...

20 Jul TRUMP ACCOUNTS – IMPACT ON REPORTING GIFT TAX AND PUBLIC BENEFITS

Posted at 09:00h in Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Public Benefits Protection, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Taxes

As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the U.S. government is permitting the establishment of Trump accounts whereby the government will give $1000 to children born in the U.S. on or after January 1, 2025 until January 1, 2029. Others can generally contribute up...

13 Jul “COSBY SHOW” KID’S WIDOW SUES MOM AND ESTATE CITING POST-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT

Posted at 09:00h in Estate Planning, Inheritance, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played the role of Theodore Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”, died July 20, 2025 in a drowning accident. He had not updated any of his estate planning documents since 1996 when he established the Warner Family Trust (the “Trust”) which left 70%...

06 Jul THE INK WAS DRY ON ZAPPOS CEO’S DEATH CERTIFICATE BUT THERE IS STILL A BATTLE OVER HIS ESTATE – WILL THE CASE TO BE DETERMINED BY INK?

Posted at 09:00h in Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Wills

Although it was originally believed that Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO and founder, died without a Will, the Wall Street Journal has reported a Will may have been found. A man from Pakistan called and sent a copy of the purported will to Las Vegas...

29 Jun 30 Common Mistakes When Completing A Nursing Home Medicaid Application Or Planning For Eligibility

Posted at 09:00h in Disability Benefits, Elder Justice, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Home Equity, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Miller Trust, Mortgage, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Taxes, Trusts

The cost of long-term care is great (average is around $7,900/month in Texas). As a result, many apply for long-term care Medicaid for governmental assistance to help pay the facility and drugs. It is not unusual for us to receive calls after either a facility...

22 Jun “X” MARKS THE SPOT – MARK WITHOUT INITIALS SUFFICIENT FOR ACCOUNT TO GO TO SURVIVING SPOUSE (NOT CHILDREN)

Posted at 09:45h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate

A Texas appellate court has determined that a signature card whereby an “X” in a box titled “JTWROS” on an account of a married couple was sufficient for the account to pass to the survivor even though it was not initialed by them and the...

15 Jun WOULD YOU GAMBLE YOUR ESTATE IF BRENDAN SORSBY WAS YOUR BENEFICIARY?

Posted at 09:41h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

Brendan Sorsby has a gambling addiction. The 22-year-old was set to be the starting quarterback at Texas Tech University this year – until it was discovered that he placed thousands of sports bets totaling around $90,000 (including on his own college football team). First, he...

08 Jun ROB REINER’S SON SUES TO GET FUNDS FROM TRUST PARENTS ESTABLISHED FOR HIM– IS HE A MEATHEAD?

Posted at 09:38h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

Rob Reiner’s son, Nick, has sued to obtain funds for his criminal defense for the murder of his parents. While this may sound outlandish on first blush as usually you should not benefit from killing someone under the Slayer Statute of most states, Nick could...

01 Jun IF JELLY ROLL AND BUNNIE XO HAD ANY FROZEN EMBRYOS, WHO WOULD BE ENTITLED TO THEM IN THEIR DIVORCE? EVERYBUNNY NEEDS SOMEBUNNY SOMETIMES

Posted at 08:37h in Divorce, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

Country star, Jelly Roll (who is 41) and his wife 46-year-old former sex worker wife, Bunnie XO, are getting divorced after 10 years of marriage. Notwithstanding the same, Bunnie XO stated in her last Dumb Blonde podcast that the couple planned to continue their IVF...

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...

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