Paradise Lost: The Jimmy Buffett Estate Battle

Jimmy Buffett was known for his laid-back musical style and “Margaritaville” state of mind. Unfortunately, his legacy has become anything but chill, as his widow and estate manager are now locked in a bitter battle for control over his $275 million fortune. The relaxed island vibes have given way to anxiety-filled courtroom drama—and apparently, his […]

What Will Happen to Your Art When You Die?

Whether you have a carefully curated collection or just paintings bought as souvenirs from foreign travels, without proper planning and realistic expectations, your cherished art might end up in the trash or at a Goodwill shop. Many of us purchase paintings, ceramics, or sculptures to add beauty to our homes. Others acquire art believing it […]

Zappos’ Owner’s Lost Will

In an extraordinary twist to an already unusual case, the will of tech entrepreneur Tony Hsieh was discovered in February 2025—nearly 4½ years after his tragic death in a house fire. The document wasn’t found in a safety deposit box, attorney’s office, or court records, but mysteriously among the belongings of a recently deceased man […]

“I left my heart” (and my family ripped it apart)

Just months after the legendary Tony Bennett passed away in 2023 at the age of 96, a bitter family feud erupted. His daughters, Antonia and Johanna Bennett, have filed not one, but two lawsuits against their older brother, Danny, who serves as trustee of their father’s trust and executor of his estate. Their accusations center […]

The Final Gift: Why You Should Plan Your Funeral Now

In the thoughtful process of estate planning, we often focus on distributing assets, creating wills, and establishing trusts. Yet one crucial aspect frequently remains overlooked until it’s too late: funeral planning. This oversight can lead to significant emotional and financial strain on those we leave behind during their most vulnerable moments of grief. The Immediate […]

A Tale of Two Taxes: Capital and Estate

Capital and Estate: A Tale of Two Taxes A client holding Bitcoin, which had increased twentyfold in value, had a dilemma. Now ready to sell, the client wondered: which option would be more tax-efficient—selling the bitcoin now or leaving it to their children? Both choices present tax challenges, whether in the form of income taxes […]

Ten Commandments of Estate Planning Conversations

Good estate planners give their clients space for their emotional and spiritual needs. AI and online will preparation apps will never take account of your full self.  Among the lessons that attorneys must learn and clients can glean are ways to have difficult conversations about disability, dying, and death. The key to those conversations is […]

Where’s Your Will?

What do Chadwick Boseman, Norm MacDonald, Bob Saget, and Gilbert Gottfried have in common? They all died without a will. The situation is common but the consequences require a bit of analysis. According to the Gallup polls, less than half of Americans have a will. A person who dies without a will is intestate. Intestacy […]

Rupert Murdoch’s Trust Issues

The HBO program, Succession, echoed in a Nevada courtroom recently. The cable program imagined the machinations of a powerful media family, both craven and conservative. In real life, the succession of Rupert Murdoch, owner of News Corp. and Fox Corporation, was set when Murdoch transferred controlling ownership to an irrevocable trust. Since Murdoch’s retirement and […]

Estate Tax Changes Ahead: What You Need to Know

The current lifetime gift and estate tax exemption increases to $13.99 million per person ($27.98 million for married couples). However, this exemption will expire at the end of 2025. If no new law is passed, the exemption will drop to approximately $7 million per person ($14 million for married couples), leading to higher estate tax […]

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