Estate Planning
Elvis Presley’s legacy lives on through his iconic home, Graceland, and the empire built around it. However, his estate has been the subject of intense litigation over the years, with recent battles highlighting how estate disputes can evolve and impact significant family assets. The Presley family has experienced a particularly complicated legal journey regarding the…
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Did you know that approximately 7 out of 10 Americans don’t have a will? Despite having vast wealth and resources, even some of the world’s most famous celebrities fail to create a proper estate plan. The consequences? Years of legal battles, family disputes, and unnecessary financial losses. A prime example is Prince, whose $156 million…
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Estate litigation often involves complex disputes where attorneys who drafted estate documents may be called to testify. Whether it’s to explain the intent behind a will’s provisions or clarify the circumstances of its creation, lawyers play a critical role in resolving these disputes. The North Carolina State Bar’s 2024 Formal Ethics Opinion 3 outlines important…
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The recent passing of iconic actor John Amos sparked a family feud over his will. His daughter, Shannon Amos, is alleging that her brother, K.C., and others colluded to manipulate their father’s estate. According to Shannon, John was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2016, a condition that gradually impaired his cognitive abilities. She claims…
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The recent allegations surrounding Teresa Reveles, Richard Simmons’ longtime house manager and friend, have shed a disturbing light on the complexities of estate planning and the potential for conflict among trustees. Reveles, who served as Simmons’ house manager for 36 years, has filed a petition to be reinstated as a co-trustee of the late fitness…
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On April 10, 2024, Orenthal James Simpson (O.J. Simpson) passed away at the age of 76. This event reignited a decades-old civil case stemming from the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. In 1997, a civil jury found Simpson liable for their deaths and ordered him to pay a staggering $33.5 million…
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Are you a cat person or a dog person? The truth is many of us love animals. In fact, approximately 68 percent of American households own at least one pet. In some of those households, care for a pet is part of the estate plan. Consider, for example, millionaire head of Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, who…
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American singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin passed away on August 16 at the age of 76 after battling advanced pancreatic cancer. In the days following her passing, her four sons filed documents with the Michigan Probate Court stating that Aretha passed without a will or trust, and claimed to be interested parties in her estate.…
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Elder abuse refers to intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or associate of an elderly individual, which causes harm.[1] Financial elder abuse occurs when a trusted friend or family member obtains access to a senior’s financial accounts and uses the assets therein for personal gain. Unfortunately, this abuse is widespread in the United States…
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A diagnosis of dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s disease and other memory loss and/or cognitive reasoning disorders, is potentially devastating for both the patient and their family. Following a dementia diagnosis, it is important to execute these four essential planning documents to avoid further hardship in the form of costly court battles. (1)…
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