estate planning Tag

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)...

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...

01 Sep 10 REASONS WHY WILLS AND TRUSTS ARE OFTEN BETTER THAN BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS

Posted at 11:11h in Beneficiary, Trusts, Wills

It is not unusual for many to merely focus on avoidance of probate – the process where the court decides whether the will is valid so that the executor can pay the bills and distribute the assets of the deceased. So many just name the...

11 Aug DID THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS (OZZY OSBOURNE) HAVE ENLIGHTENED ESTATE PLANNING?

Posted at 09:03h in Copyright, Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills

Sharon Osbourne (wife of the late rock and roll singer, Ozzy Osbourne) once said, “I don’t want someone who has never met my husband owning his name and likeness and selling t-shirts everywhere. No, it stays in the Osbourne family.” However, did he have proper estate...

04 Aug DID O.J. SIMPSON AND HIS SON CONSPIRE TO DEFRAUD O.J.’S CREDITORS?

Posted at 08:51h in Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Home Equity, Medicaid, Mortgage, Probate

Malcolm LaVergne, the special administrator of O.J. Simpson’s estate, has sued Primary Holdings, LLC, owned by O.J. Simpson’s son, Justin Simpson, for claiming that he is the owner of O.J. Simpson’s Las Vegas home. Originally, O.J. purchased the home with the help of Primary Holdings, LLC,...

14 Jul IS JIMMY BUFFETT’S ESTATE “WASTING AWAY IN MARGARITAVILLE” DUE TO CO-TRUSTEES SUING EACH OTHER

Posted at 13:12h in Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts

Jimmy Buffett’s widow and co-trustee of his trust, Jane Slagsvol, and his longtime financial advisor, accountant, and co-trustee of his trust, Richard Mozenter, have filed suits to remove each other as a trustee. The trust estate is worth an estimated $275 million dollars (which includes...

07 Jul FREQUENT FLYER MILES OFTEN CRASH AFTER DEATH

Posted at 13:01h in Digital Assets, Estate Planning, Inheritance

Many accumulate frequent flyer miles or loyalty rewards for traveling with airlines. However, most of the larger commercial airlines do not permit mileage or points to transfer upon the death of the person who accumulated the mileage or points (the “member”). The policies of each...

23 Jun OPTIONS IN HANDLING A DECEASED FAMILY MEMBER’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

Posted at 14:53h in Deceased Privacy Protection, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Power of Attorney, Wills

Have you ever been notified of a friend’s birthday even after their death? Sometimes family members (parent, sibling, child, spouse) or executors fail to notify Facebook of the account holder’s death. Instead of doing nothing, there are 2 options: (1) deletion of the account or...

16 Jun FATHER ATTEMPTS TOTAL PICK OF “AMERICAN PICKERS” STAR’S ESTATE BY WILL CHALLENGE

Posted at 14:46h in Estate Planning, Guardianship, Last Will and Testament, Wills

The last will and testament of Frank Fritz (who was a star on the popular television show “American Pickers” on the History Channel) has been challenged by his father, Bill Fritz, due to lack of capacity. Frank was a co-host on the show (where he and...

09 Jun CELEBRITY CASE UPDATE: ELIZABETH HURLEY’S SON LOSES MILLIONS FROM TRUST DUE TO BEING ILLEGITIMATE

Posted at 14:39h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Trusts

A California appeals court has ruled that neither Damian Hurley (whose mother is famous actress, Elizabeth Hurley) nor Kira Bonder, the illegitimate children of the late Stephen Bing, could receive hundreds of millions of trust funds from their paternal grandfather, Dr. Peter Bing, since they...

23 May POPE FRANCIS’ LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT COMPARED TO THE 3 POPES BEFORE HIM

Posted at 10:37h in Charitable Giving, Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Wills

Unlike the last will and testament that one might consider in the United States, the last will and testament of Pope Francis focused on where he should be buried (Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome) where he had prayed often. His will stated “I...

28 Apr IS A HOUSEBOAT A HOME? lAWS ADRIFT – WILL PROTECTION SINK?

Posted at 18:22h in Asset Protection, Bankruptcy, Medicaid Planning, Property Taxes, Taxes, Wills

Laws vary on whether a houseboat is a home, if it is protected from creditors or if there can even be any tax benefits. Medicaid, bankruptcy and the Internal Revenue Code all address treatment of houseboats. MEDICAID TREATMENT OF HOUSEBOATS AS HOME: Under long-term care Medicaid...

15 Apr GENE HACKMAN’S ESTATE – WILL HIS CHILDREN BE “UNFORGIVEN”?

Posted at 16:24h in Alzheimer’s, Estate Planning, Special Needs Trust, Trusts, Wills

Oscar winning movie star, Gene Hackman, died on February 18, 2025, about a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The couple lived in New Mexico, a community property state. They wed in 1991. Hackman had a large estate estimated to be around eighty million dollar...

24 Mar Homestead Protection Under Texas and Federal Laws

Posted at 12:20h in Estate Planning

The most valuable asset that many own is their home. However, sometimes creditors sue to collect debts such as credit card bills, medical bills, personal loans, etc. Bankruptcy can protect your homestead from unsecured creditors – especially if you choose a Texas bankruptcy exemption. Although...

21 Mar Government Assistance for Care Could Depend on Homestead Definition- Homestead Resource Exclusion Differences Between Medicaid and Veteran’s Benefits

Posted at 12:03h in Medicaid Planning, Veterans

Public benefits (such as long-term care Medicaid and non-service-connected disability benefits for wartime veterans or his or her surviving spouse) are “means-tested”. In other words, the government looks at your resources when you apply to determine if you are eligible for the government to help...

19 Mar Common-law Marriage Proof Paramount in Inheritance, Divorce and Other Legal Rights

Posted at 11:45h in Common-law Marriage, Divorce

Although a common-law spouse has the same protections and rights as a traditional ceremonial marriage, proof is often required of marriage to be afforded such marital rights, protections and privileges under Texas law. Therefore, if the proof is precarious, the legal rights (ranging from inheritance,...

17 Mar Charles Manson’s Helter-skelter Probate Estate War Continues

Posted at 11:40h in Estate Planning

Will the battle over Charles Manson’s $1 million estate last longer than the time Manson spent in prison (Manson actually spent 47 years in jail until his death in 2017)? The court case has been ongoing for over 7 years. On February 21, 2025, a...

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