Some of our clients have valuable personal property, such as artwork, antiques, baseball cards, figurines and the like. They may wish to leave such collections in their Wills to a particular person. In other cases, none of the potential survivors is interested in possessing and storing such a collection. This…
Articles Posted in Estate Administration
All Shook Up
We were “all shook up” to hear the surprising news of the untimely death of Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. Ms. Presley passed away in California. She may have had a Will that directed the disposition of her assets. This post will address the legal result if…
Power Play: Legal Dispute Concerning “Mr. Ranger’s” Will
It is not uncommon for children from a prior marriage to have a legal dispute with a surviving spouse concerning a Will. The New York Post recently reported that the children of deceased hockey legend Rod Gilbert have sued his surviving widow concerning the disposition of his estate. Hockey Hall…
Crash
News outlets have reported on the untimely death of actress Anne Heche. The late actress was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs when she crashed into a Los Angeles area home. She died shortly thereafter from injuries suffered in the crash. As to the unlucky homeowner,…
Her Majesty’s Riches
Long-time royal watchers were dismayed to hear the news of the death of Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. This author and others admired Her Majesty’s service to her country and her longevity. While we obviously do not have royalty in the United States, many of us consider our ancestors to…
Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision- Possible Implications for Same-Sex Marriage & Estate Planning
Many of our readers are aware that the United States Supreme Court recently overturned Roe v. Wade, its landmark decision wherein it determined that the right to privacy derived from the 14th Amendment to the Constitution applies to abortion rights. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , found that abortion…
“Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood”: Legal Issues Raised by the Death of DMX
News outlets have reported the recent death of rap icon DMX, whose real name was Earl Simmons. The New York rapper was born in Mount Vernon and raised in Yonkers, the territory served by our law firm. Two candlelight vigils are being held for DMX in order to soothe his…
Is a Handwritten Will Valid in New York?
Many of our readers were heartbroken when the prolific television interviewer Larry King recently passed away. He was married many times. At the time of his death, he had filed for divorce from his seventh wife, Shawn. Shortly after he started the divorce case, he allegedly prepared a handwritten amendment…
An Improbable Relationship Leads to a Contested Will
Successful contemporary art dealer Andre Zarre passed away and left his massive multi-million dollar estate solely to a deli worker, who was also nominated as Executor to the estate. Does this situation strike our readers as a legal result that can be contested? The answer is yes, for the reasons…
My Best Friend’s Girl
News outlets have recently reported the death of an eighties icon, the “Cars” lead singer Rick Ocasek. When he passed away, he was in the process of divorcing his wife of several decades who was “…dancing ‘neath the starry sky…”. The Will filed for his estate stated that although his…