NC Fiduciary Litigation Commentary
One year after Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned in Costa Rica, his widow filed suit against his mother, who serves as successor trustee of his family trust, seeking more than $1.2 million. The claim is straightforward: Warner signed a prenuptial agreement promising to buy a $1,000,000 term life insurance policy naming his wife as beneficiary, pay her…
Every few months, a client calls convinced that a parent’s estate plan was obviously the product of manipulation. The plan changed late in life. It favored a caregiver, a new spouse, or one child over the others, and the family takes that unfairness as proof enough. It isn’t. North Carolina courts don’t ask whether a…
On June 1st, a Kendall County judge sentenced Karen Kay Hogan, a 69-year-old wills and trust attorney from San Antonio, to 20 years in prison for stealing over $500,000 from six children whose parents died in a murder-suicide three and a half years earlier. A Texas probate court appointed Hogan to administer both estates. She…
A will is one of the most important legal documents a person can create, yet it is often one of the most overlooked. Many people assume they do not need one because they are young, do not have significant assets, or believe their family will “figure it out.” Unfortunately, that assumption can create unnecessary legal…
The recent court battle over the estate of Tony Hsieh, former CEO of Zappos, reads more like a legal thriller than a probate case. After Hsieh’s death in 2020 without a known will, his $500 million estate was expected to pass to his parents under intestacy laws. Then, years later, a seven-page “surprise will” arrived…
The tragic case unfolding in Clovis, New Mexico — where 19-year-old Darren Munoz is accused of hiring a friend to murder his father and stepmother so he could allegedly secure an inheritance — highlights how dangerous financial misconceptions and family conflict can become. Investigators say Munoz believed his father owned a convenience-store franchise and that…
When legendary actress and director Diane Keaton passed away on October 11, 2025, the world mourned the loss of one of Hollywood’s most distinctive talents. Known for her wit, style, and timeless roles in Annie Hall, Father of the Bride, and The First Wives Club, Keaton was also a devoted animal lover. Her beloved Golden…
The recent passing of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, born Terry Bollea, has left fans mourning around the world—and revealed a striking family decision behind the scenes. According to Yahoo News, Hogan’s daughter, Brooke Hogan, requested to be completely removed from her father’s will in 2023, over a year before his sudden death at 71. Her…
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+…
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…