Julian Lennon sued The John Lennon Estate for his share in his Father's $800 Million fortune. A lengthy and expensive 16-year legal battle ensued. Yoko Ono got full control over Lennon’s estate, his original song rights, and his image with no provision made for Julian in Lennon's will.
An end is finally in sight for the disputes over James Brown's estate. The singer's heirs have fought over the estate for the last 15 years, resulting in a dozen lawsuits that tied up the singer’s publishing rights and intended charitable endeavors.
We lost talk show legend, Larry King, in January 2021. He had been star of our television screens for decades and had certainly led an interesting life. When he passed he left behind six ex-wives, with the seventh ex-wife pending, five children and a supposedly "secret" handwritten will.
Estate disputes highlight the need to be clear about our intentions when it comes to estate planning. A well-drafted will can lead to a lot less heartache for your family.
"Heir", "descendant", "next of kin" and "beneficiary" are often mistakenly used interchangeably. They each have distinct meanings which are important to know in order to make sure your assets go to the people you want them to go to when you pass away.
It’s never too early to start planning your estate. There are a few initiatives you can take now to begin the process. While larger estates may have different concerns than smaller ones, the key is to recognize that planning is the issue, not size!
When creating an estate plan, it’s important to consider your beneficiaries very carefully.
Preparing your estate could be a difficult and confusing endeavour without the help of an attorney who can help you ensure that your will is as clear and unambiguous as possible.
