Estate Planning
As we recognize Pride Month this June, it’s a timely moment to discuss the estate planning and litigation concerns that continue to affect LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. While the legalization of same-sex marriage marked a major step forward, it didn’t erase the risks that arise when estate plans are unclear, outdated, or contested. For LGBTQ+…
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Collectibles often tell a story far richer than their price tag suggests. Whether it’s a Super Bowl ring, a vintage comic collection, or a signed baseball bat, these items can hold enormous sentimental and financial value. But when someone passes away without a clear estate plan, such prized possessions can become flashpoints in family disputes.…
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The unexpected death of singer Liam Payne shocked fans around the world. But the legal aftermath may prove just as unsettling—Payne reportedly passed away without a will, leaving behind an estate estimated at £24,279,728 (about $32 million). According to court documents, his estate now faces the complex process of intestate succession, where English and Welch…
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Managing an estate across multiple countries can transform a straightforward inheritance into an overwhelming legal and tax nightmare. For cross-border families—those with international marriages, investments in multiple countries, or assets scattered around the globe—estates become far more complicated. Variations in tax laws, inheritance systems, and legal frameworks governing estate distribution can lead to costly litigation,…
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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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