NC Fiduciary Litigation Commentary

Lord & Lindley - Lawyers in Charlotte NC

Beach Boys Founder Brian Wilson Placed Under Conservatorship After Wife’s Death

May 17, 2024

Legendary musician Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys, was recently placed under a conservatorship by a Los Angeles court. This decision comes more than three months after the passing of his wife Melinda, who served as his primary caregiver. Following Melinda’s death, the responsibility of caring for Brian has fallen on his longtime publicist…

Family Feud Erupts at Longtime Charlotte Nursery Company

May 10, 2024

Baucom’s Nursery Co., a family-owned business that has been a staple in Charlotte for over 75 years, is embroiled in a bitter legal battle. The lawsuit pits Amon (Chip) Baucom Jr.’s side of the family against Gary Baucom’s side, with accusations of fraud, embezzlement, and self-enrichment flying. The dispute centers around allegations of financial mismanagement…

O.J. Simpson’s Executor of Estate Planning Faces Complications with Goldman and Brown Family Payout — Why is This Judgement Still Enforceable After All These Years?

April 19, 2024

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…

Jay Leno’s Request For Conservatorship of His Wife’s Estate is Granted — Understanding Guardianships and How They Keep Your Loved Ones Safe

April 12, 2024

Former host of the “Tonight Show” Jay Leno was granted conservatorship of his wife Mavis Leno’s estate on Tuesday. In a Los Angeles courtroom, the judge determined that the conservatorship would be “necessary and appropriate” for this case given that Mavis Leno has Alzheimer’s and experiences advanced dementia. According to the files released after the…

Dr. Oz Claims His Sister Forged Their Late Father’s Will—how Would He Make This Claim in North Carolina?

April 6, 2022

Famous TV doctor Mehmet Oz—better known as “Dr. Oz”—recently accused his sister, Nazlim, of forging their late father’s will and stealing millions from his estate.  A 2008 will left all of Mustafa Oz’s assets to the Mustafa Oz Foundation, a United States organization, and left Dr. Oz in charge of the foundation; however, Nazlim presented a…

Disinherited Spouses and the Right Of Elective Share

November 14, 2019

Ric Ocasek, famed singer for The Cars, recently passed away leaving behind a will that purportedly removes his estranged wife, Paulina Porizkova, as a beneficiary of his estate.  Ocasek and Porizkova were in the process of divorcing when Ocasek died; however, the divorce was not finalized, and the two were still legally married.  Removing one’s…

Interpretation Of a Will: What Do Per Capita and Per Stirpes Mean?

September 12, 2019

The North Carolina Court of Appeals recently released an opinion in the matter Brawley v. Sherrill.  The parties were disputing the interpretation of a will, which provided per capita distribution of estate assets to the testator’s children, but per stirpes distribution to her grandchildren.  What do these terms mean, and how do they work together…

Wrongful Death Actions

August 1, 2019

Adam Patrick Browne’s life tragically ended on October 8, 2018.  He was run over by a car driven by his former fiancée, Victoria Keaveny, after she consumed alcohol at a restaurant in Gastonia, North Carolina. Pursuant to a settlement filed under seal in Gaston County Superior Court, that restaurant will pay wrongful death proceeds to…

John Singleton Conservatorship and Estate

May 1, 2019

John Singleton entered Hollywood in a truly historic fashion.  Not only was he the first African American to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Director for his debut film Boyz N the Hood, but he did so at the age of 24, making him the youngest ever nominee for the category.  Sadly, Singleton’s career…

‘I Say a Little Prayer’ that Aretha Franklin’s children have ‘Respect’ and Are Not a ‘Chain of Fools’

August 29, 2018

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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