Wills

20 Sep THE TEXAS TWO-STEP (PART 2): HOW MUCH CAN AN EXECUTOR BE PAID?

Posted at 13:50h in Elder Justice, End of Life Care Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Wills

A common question by someone who has been appointed as an executor of a Will after the Will has been probated (the process where it is determined the decedent’s Will is valid) is “What can I charge for acting as Executor?” After all, it often...

18 Aug VERDICT ON JUDGE’S TRUST: YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT

Posted at 23:47h in Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts, Wills

Although conditional bequests in a will or trust are normally upheld to give freedom that your assets pass the way you want at your death, sometimes conditional provisions are held to be either unconstitutional or void against public policy. The request for a new trial of a death row...

18 Aug SON OF AUSTIN POWERS CO-STAR SHAGGED BY COURT

Posted at 23:21h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts, Uncategorized, Wills

SON OF AUSTIN POWERS CO-STAR SHAGGED BY COURTA California Appellate Court has reversed the Los Angeles Superior Court decision over the meaning of the term “grandchild” costing Damian Hurley, son of famed British actress Elizabeth Hurley and Steve Bing (although born out of wedlock), the sum of approximately $250 Million. The...

12 Jul PRIDE AND PREJUDICE? DID CHARLEY PRIDE’S WILL TREAT HIS SECRET SON UNFAIRLY? SIX STEPS TO REDUCE RISK OF A DISGRUNTLED BENEFICIARY

Posted at 18:49h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Lawsuits, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Wills

It was recently reported in the Dallas Morning News that Tyler Pride (“Tyler”)”, who is the biological son of famed country-western singer Charley Pride (“Charley”), has contested the Last Will and Testament of his father. Tyler was not born of Charley’s long-time marriage to Rozene...

17 Jun IS THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL A VALID WILL?

Posted at 16:04h in Wills

If a will written on the fender of a tractor or on the back of a photo or even a blank piece of paper with indentions could be considered valid by a court, could your handwriting on a wall be considered a valid will? It...

26 May CHARLES MANSON’S “GRANDSON” NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE DNA TEST IN HELTER SKELTER PROBATE BATTLE

Posted at 22:05h in Inheritance, Wills

A California appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling requiring the DNA test of Jason Freeman (who has alleged to be the only living descendant and heir of notorious “Helter Skelter” murderer Charles Manson) to determine if he is in fact a blood descendant...

20 Apr ONLINE WILLS CAN FLATLINE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES

Posted at 01:47h in Wills

Although not all online or store-bought Wills create legal problems, the following factual situation is an example of the potentially perilous path that an unwitting individual may traverse when doing their own Will. FACTS: Wife (hereinafter referred to as “Zsa Zsa”) has only a few months...

24 Feb SUSPENDERS ON SUSPENSION – LARRY KING’S WILL LEAVES NOTHING TO ESTRANGED WIFE

Posted at 09:00h in Wills

The handwritten Last Will and Testament of famed broadcaster, Larry King, omits his estranged wife, Shawn King (“Shawn”), and she is contesting. Larry King filed for divorce from Shawn (his seventh wife) in August 2019, and his new Will was handwritten on October 17, 2019....

01 Feb WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY (USUALLY)

Posted at 09:00h in Probate Administration, Wills

How to probate a copy of a Will It is often necessary to transfer title of assets of the deceased or to pay any debts due by the deceased through the process (called probate) of getting approval of the court that the Will of the deceased...

02 Nov COMPREHENSIVE TO DO CHECKLIST AFTER LOVED ONE DIES (36 ITEMS TO CONSIDER)

Posted at 09:00h in Inheritance, Transfer of Death, Wills

While the loss of a loved one may be emotionally devastating, the tasks to accomplish after one dies could be overwhelming. As a result, we have compiled a checklist of some of the important things to consider in a somewhat chronological order as follows: Get a...