probate 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...

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...

02 Apr CELEBRITY ESTATE PLANNING COURT DECISION UPDATES FROM “GAME OF THRONES” TO “GRACE FOR GRACELAND”

Posted at 21:32h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Guardianship

For the past several years, we have reported on many ongoing court cases concerning celebrities of their estate planning or court cases contesting their planning. The following are a few of the updates since our previous articles: RUPERT MURDOCH -Murdoch failed in his attempt to...

27 Nov Estate Planning Decision Tree Chart for Will vs. Revocable Living Trust – 20 Issues

Posted at 10:23h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Business, Divorce, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Lady Bird Deed, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Taxes, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Wills

Estate Planning Decision Tree Chart for Will vs. Revocable Living Trust – 20 Issues One of the most common dilemmas in estate planning is whether it is better to have a Will or a Revocable Living Trust (RLT). There are numerous types of trusts, but this...

22 Jan A Will Contest That Would Make Jerry Springer Smile

Posted at 12:44h in Beneficiary, Divorce, Estate Planning, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Wills

Anna, the niece and the surviving “spouse” of her uncle, attempted to probate his will in which she was the primary beneficiary. Julie, one of the 3 children of the deceased, contests the will since Texas law prohibits marriage to a niece (or to a...

25 Oct 10 New Laws That Concern Elders, Estate Planning And Probate

Posted at 10:18h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Business, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Trusts, Wills

Although there are dozens of new laws in Texas, the following (in no particular order) are just some that affect estate planning, probate, guardianship and the elderly. Homesteads Held in Revocable Trusts Need Specific Language to Have Homestead Property Tax Exemption and Homestead Exemption for Creditor...

05 Oct When Are Rumors Of A Missing Person’s Death No Longer Greatly Exaggerated In Probate?

Posted at 11:25h in Estate Planning, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration

Where there is a will there is a way (and even if there is no will, there is a way – it’s just more costly). The probate process is designed so that an executor or administrator can pay the debts of the deceased and distribute the...

14 Sep Did Aretha Franklin’s Last Wishes Get R-E-S-P-E-C-T After Will Fight?

Posted at 09:03h in Business, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Music, Probate Administration, Taxes, Wills

Aretha Franklin died in 2018 leaving 2 handwritten wills resulting in an expensive legal battle between her children over which will would prevail. In July 2023, a Michigan jury decided her most recent handwritten will (written by her in 2014) found in a spiral notebook...

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