Archive for the ‘Trial and Heirs’ Category

Tom Carvel was the creator of soft serve ice cream and one of the founding fathers of the franchise system in America.  When his ice cream truck suffered a flat tire in New York in 1934, he sold his melting ice cream from a parking lot.  Those humble beginnings led to the first soft-serve ice cream store and eventually grew into the Carvel ice cream chain with 850 locations.  Carvel died in 1990 at age 84, with a fortune conservatively estimated at around $80 million.  The legal fighting started soon thereafter.   And it hasn’t stopped yet

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A tale of fortune, fraud, ice cream, and murder?

The Brooke Astor trial was a fascinating portrayal of greed and exploitation involving New York’s upper, upper crust society.  You can read The Probate Lawyer Blog’s coverage of the Brooke Astor case here .  Brooke Astor’s son, Anthony Marshall, and one of her attorneys, Francis X. Morrissey, Jr., were convicted of fraud, larceny, conspiracy and a host of related charges related to management of her financial affairs and changes to her will that occurred after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Because of this, Anthony Marshall, who is 85 years old, faces up to 25 years in jail.  But whether he actually sees any jail time is a big question.  He will certainly appeal the verdict and his lawyers will pull out every trick in the book to try to keep the millionaire from seeing the inside of a jail cell

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Will Brooke Astor’s son ever see jail time? Should he?

Across the country in December, families will be coming together for the holidays.  Sometimes the holidays are one of the few times of year that family members see each other. They eat, share stories, and laugh together

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Five Estate Planning Tips For Holiday Conversations

My co-author, Danielle Mayoras, and I have been blown away by the early book reviews we’ve gotten so far.  Here are a couple highlights: [Trial & Heirs] ignited a lively discussion with family and friends during a holiday gathering.  Everybody who has read or discussed it has pledged to get their financial affairs in order.  You can’t take it with you, so you want to organize your affairs so that they won’t cause a hassle among your loved ones when you go.   ~Avis Thomas-Lester The Washington Post (Read the full article .) [The celebrities featured in the book] all flubbed their estate planning, costing intended heirs money and/or grief, according to a readable (really) estate planning how-to book, Trial & Heirs. The new book uses these celebrity cliffhanger cases to dish out real-life advice.

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Early Book Reviews of Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!

Across the country in December, families will be coming together for the holidays.  Sometimes the holidays are one of the few times of year that family members see each other.

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Five tips for holiday conversations

CNN and Fortune Magazine recently featured a fascinating article  about the legal battle between John Randloph “Bunky” Hearst, Jr., and his ex-wife.  Bunky is one of the grandsons of famed media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who left behind the powerful Hearst Corp.  William Randolph Hearst died in 1951 with a trust and estate worth about $400 million in today’s dollars.  But, more importantly, his trust established a corporate framework that enabled his board of trustees to expand the Hearst holdings into a multi-billion dollar media empire, owning hundreds of magazines, newspapers, television stations, 20% of ESPN, and more.  Here is the wikipedia page about Hearst Corp. that overviews how expansive it is.  William Randolph Hearst’s estate plan is a great example of how trusts can be used to maximize financial legacies and protect your heirs.  While most people don’t have to establish complicated boards to manage extensive business holdings like Hearst, everyone can learn a lesson here.  Livings trusts are the best way to pass along assets (be they vast or limited) because they can be individually tailored to meet the needs of any family.  Do you have modest assets and children who are good with money?  Maybe you want your trust to leave it to them all at once.  Or do you have a greater net worth, or perhaps heirs who would do more harm than good with money left to them?  If so, consider following William Randolph Hearst’s example.

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Hearst Family Legal Battle teaches important lessons

A couple weeks ago, I wrote how  Katherine Jackson had a surprising “change of heart” by dropping her challenge to the executors for Michael’s estate.  In fact, her husband Joe Jackson was shocked — his lawyer called the move “despicable”.  Well, if this exclusive report from the United Kingdom website News of the World is accurate, we now know why Katherine did so. According to this report (which has been picked up by MSN Entertainment along with other websites), Katherine made the deal because the executors, John Branca and John McClain, had agreed to add a trusted family member as a third executor.  And, even better, this new executor would have veto power over decisions of Branca and McClain.  So who is the trusted family member?  Taj — Tariano Adaryll Jackson, Michael’s 36-year old nephew and Tito Jackson’s son.  He is reportedly very close to Michael’s children and mother, and was Michael’s favorite nephew.  He’ll be able to give the family a voice

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New Michael Jackson Estate Deal Reported

Watch Andrew and Danielle’s interview with Forbes’ John Dobosz! Hear first hand from the authors what happened to the affairs of Jimi Hendrix, Steve McNair, Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, and Sonny Bono.

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Forbes Interviews Andrew and Danielle!

The 15% pre-sale discount will end on December 1st at midnight (eastern). Visit this page to get your discount code

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Shipping December 1st!

The new book “Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!” is now shipping! Loading Quotes…

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Now Available!