Prior to his recent death, Robin Williams had publically lamented his economic losses during his lifetime. Although he had earned millions he had lost more than $30,000,000.00 to his two divorced wives. His third and current wife was living in a separate bedroom at the time that he committed suicide. Possibly the third divorce was... [Read More]
Category: Famous People Estate Planning
Be Wary of “Do It Yourself” Estate Planning
The Florida Supreme Court recently upheld a decision that left very valuable assets to relatives that the widow did not want to receive the assets. This is because she had done a “Do It Yourself” online Will and had inadvertently left valuable assets to the wrong relatives. She wasn’t an experienced Estate Planning attorney and... [Read More]
Donald Sterling Trust Upheld
The Mental Disability Estate Planning done inside Donald and Shelly Sterling’s Living Trust was upheld by the Court. This went through the Court in several weeks avoiding what could have been years of expensive and painful litigation. By Donald and Shelly Sterling, owners of the NBA Los Angeles Clippers Professional Basketball Team, having Mental Disability... [Read More]
Donald Sterling v. Casey Kasem – Estate Planning
The recent Donald Sterling and Casey Kasem cases served to illustrate when Mental Disability Planning is made a part of the client’s Estate Planning. It was done in the Donald Sterling case inside of his Living Trust aka Revocable Living Trust. A mechanism was designed in the Trust so that Mental Disability Provisions could be... [Read More]
Donald Sterling’s Estate Planning – Part 3
On July 7, 2014 a Los Angeles judge will have a hearing to determine whether or not Donald Sterling is capable of serving as Trustee of his and his wife’s Trust. The Trust controls the entity which holds the Los Angeles Clippers, a NBA professional basketball team. Under the Sterling’s Estate Planning their Trust contains... [Read More]
Donald Sterling’s Estate Planning – Part 2
As more news comes out regarding the Estate Planning of Mental Incapacity of NBA Team Owner Donald Sterling, it appears that Donald Sterling was ruled an incompetent adult by two physicians. That was sufficient under the terms of the Living Trust that Donald shared with his wife, Shelly, so that under said Trust he could... [Read More]
Baseball Great Tony Gwynn Dies at 54
Hall of Fame baseball player Tony Gwynn died at the age of 54 after a long battle with cancer. I have always been amazed by how many widows I have met who were in their 50’s. It seems many men, and women, die of heart attacks or cancer more so in their 50’s. Our odds... [Read More]
Casey Kasem Estate Planning Woes
Radio icon Casey Kasem famous for his national “America’s Top 40” weekly radio show, is in the spotlight for his Estate Planning woes. There appears to be an ongoing wrestling match between Casey Kasem’s wife and his adult children from a prior marriage over physical possession of Casey Kasem. He is reported to be suffering... [Read More]
Donald Sterling’s Mental Incapacity
Professional basketball team owner Donald Sterling’s has reportedly been declared Mentally Incompetent under the terms of his Trust with his wife according to Sports Illustrated. Apparently under the terms of Donald Sterling’s Trust he can be declared an incompetent adult by two physicians, which apparently has been done, placing his wife in control under their... [Read More]
James Brown’s Estate Planning Blues
As a movie about James Brown, “the Godfather of Soul”, hits cinemas we remember the disastrous Estate Planning he left behind. James Brown’s Will attempted to create a Trust under a Will for education of poor children for the bulk of his assets, also for education for his grandchildren, some personal items to his adult... [Read More]