Tag Archives: Celebrities

Danielle Mayoras Dishes the Latest on Celebrity Estate Battles with Fox 2

Click the video below to watch Danielle’s interview with Fox 2. You don’t want to miss this one! Danielle discusses the case of the $13 million cat, Bob Marley, Martin Luther King, Jr., and more!

Trial and Heirs: The $13 Million Cat: MyFoxDETROIT.com

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December 14, 2011 | Leave a comment

Elizabeth Taylor Estate: Will Her Family Fight Over Her Estate?

Widely recognized as one of the best and most popular actresses of all times, Elizabeth Taylor’s death this week at the age of 79 caused great sadness throughout Hollywood — and indeed the whole world. Given her success, both on the screen and off, perhaps it should be no surprise that Elizabeth Taylor’s fortune has just been estimated to be worth as much as one billion dollars. Elizabeth Taylor estate

Why so much? Certainly movie royalties alone could not account for that kind of value in her estate. Instead, as ABC News recently reported, her perfume and other business ventures were groundbreaking and highly profitable.

The ABC News article also included portions of an interview with both of us, in which we addressed what one would expect in terms of estate planning for a person of such great wealth and fame. But, as we explained in the interview, there are many examples of wealthy Hollywood celebrities who pass away with very poor estate planning, or no planning at all.

Michael Jackson had Read more…

March 27, 2011 | Leave a comment

Mickey Rooney Elder Abuse: Says His Stepson Is Abusing Him

Famed 90-year-old actor Mickey Rooney, who has won an Oscar, Emmy and a Golden Globe, now plays a much sadder role.  It’s one that is far more common than most people realize.  Mickey Rooney elder abuse

Mickey Rooney says he has been a victim of elder abuse at the hands of his stepson, who has made him a prisoner in his own home.  In a recent court filing, Rooney alleges that the stepson, Chris Aber, along with Aber’s wife, have taken control of his finances, intercepted his mail and even forced him to do performances he did not wish to do.

Rooney says they’ve also drained almost $400,000 from his bank accounts and refused to give him his own ID cards, passport, and Screen Actor’s Guild card.  In fact, a judge recently ordered Aber to turn the cards over to Rooney within 24 hours.

Mickey Rooney Elder Abuse Testimonial

The court appointed an independent attorney to serve as a temporary conservator to protect Rooney, pending a full evidentiary hearing.  Following the upcoming hearing, scheduled Read more…

February 28, 2011 | 6 Comments

Do Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen Need Conservatorships?

It seems that conservatorships may become a new trend to help wild and out-of-control celebrities in Hollywood.

It sure helped Britney Spears.  After her escapades of a hairless head, posing for the paparazzi with no panties, and excessive partying and drinking, her father, James Spears, filed for conservatorship.  This allowed him to become her legal decision-maker and help turn her life and career around.Lindsay-lohan-mugshot

Then came talk of a conservatorship for Lindsay Lohan.  She’s had multiple DUI arrests and been sentenced to jail time and rehab, more than once.  Most recently, she’s facing a possible felony sentence for allegedly lifting a diamond necklace from a jewelry store.

A few months ago, Lindsay bristled at the reports that her father was attempting to file for conservatorship over her.  Michael Lohan did not end up filing the court case, but with this latest criminal trouble, can another attempt be far off?

Most recently, Martin Sheen and his wife are said to be considering filing for conservatorship for Charlie Sheen.  With the recent Read more…

February 24, 2011 | Leave a comment

Dementia of Jazz Singer Etta James Sparks Family Fight

Famed R&B/Blues/Jazz singer Etta James, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member whose biggest hit was At Last, now suffers from advanced dementia (likely Alzheimer’s disease) and leukemia.  According to her doctor, she can’t sign her own name and needs help even with basic life functions like eating, dressing and hygiene.  Etta is only 72 years old.  Etta-james

To make matters worse, her mental incapacity has sparked a family squabble that has led to a lawsuit.  Her husband of 41 years, Artis Mills, filed a court proceeding to take control of about one million dollars of bank accounts in Etta’s sole name.  Mills says he needs to money to pay for her care and keep her at home, rather than in a nursing home.  In most states, this would be done through a conservatorship proceeding (called “guardianship of the estate” in some states).

Since California is a community-property state, and because Mills is the spouse, his lawyer instead opted to file a separate lawsuit which asks for Etta’s money

Read more…

January 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

10 Celebrity Estate Planning Mistakes

The Business Insider recently published an article featuring Trial & Heirs‘ Top 10 Celebrity Estate Planning Mistakes.  Here they are: Michael-jackson-thriller

1. Jimi Hendrix’s Critical Error:  Doing Nothing

If you do not plan your own estate while alive, you could end up like Jimi Hendrix and have someone that you barely knew controlling your legacy.  Hendrix’s legacy was fought over in court more than 30 years after he died.

2. Justice Warren Burger’s Critical Error:  Doing It Yourself

Former Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger created his own will with 176 words but he left out key provisions and his family paid the price.

3. Heath Ledger’s Critical Error:  Not Updating

Heath Ledger never updated his will with the birth of his daughter, leading to chaos and family members fighting through the press.

4. Princess Diana’s Critical Error: Taking Shortcuts

Princess Diana used a “letter of wishes” leaving personal items to her godchildren instead of specifying her wishes in a will or trust.

5. Florence Griffith-Joyner’s (Flo Jo) Critical Error:  Forgetting Read more…

December 20, 2010 | Leave a comment

Joe Jackson still shut out from Michael’s estate claims

Michael Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, just won’t stop pursuing claims involving his late son’s estate, even though judges keep telling him to . . . [wait for it] . . . Beat It!   Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson’s efforts to have the administrators of the King of Pop’s estate removed in court have failed.  Here’s our last article discussing his failed attempts.  The probate judge ruled he didn’t have legal “standing” (meaning the right to bring the claim in court) to fight against the executors because he was not a beneficiary.  In other words, because he wouldn’t inherit anything, it wasn’t his right to complain about what the executors were doing.

Joe Jackson Files Lawsuit Video

So, of course, Joe appealed.  The Court of Appeals has recently upheld the ruling of the probate judge and agreed that Joe had no claim.  So, he’s most likely out of luck with that claim.

But, wait, he has more!  Or does he?  Joe had filed a claim seeking $500 million dollars against Dr. Conrad Murray, AEG, Read more…

November 3, 2010 | 6 Comments

It’s baaaack … The Anna Nicole Smith Case

It has to rank as one of the craziest, lengthiest and most-watched probate litigation court cases of all time.  It officially started as Vicki Lynn Marshall (a/k/a Anna Nicole Smith) vs. E. Pierce Marshall (son and sole beneficiary of the late oil tycoon, J. Howard Marshall).  Anna-Nicole-Smith-Estate-Trial-and-Heirs

Originally, the Smith team won an $88 million against her “step-son”, Pierce, but that victory was taken away by the Court of Appeals, which ended the fight.  That is, it was over until the United States Supreme Court ruled in Smith’s favor and reinstated the case.

Then Pierce died, followed by Anna Nicole Smith.  But, just because they both passed away doesn’t mean the fighting stopped!  Their two estates have continued to battle over the billions left behind by Smith’s 90-year-old husband, 15 years after he died.

Then, this past March, the Court of Appeals again threw out the case (on a different legal ground).  Once again Smith’s estate, with the infamous Howard K. Stern at the helm, asked the Supreme Court to step Read more…

October 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

Katherine Jackson brings wrongful death lawsuit against AEG

When Joe Jackson sued for the death of his son Michael Jackson, Katherine Jackson initially said she wanted nothing to do with it.  Now Michael’s mother, who is also the guardian of his children, has started her own lawsuit against the concert promotion company that, she claims, pushed Michael to his death. Katherine Jackson lawsuit

Katherine Jackson’s lawsuit blames AEG for the King of Pop’s death and seeks damages on behalf of Katherine and Michael’s children.  You can download and read the lawsuit here courtesy of TMZ.com.

Katherine Jackson lawsuit

Among other reasons, it accuses AEG of negligently hiring, failing to supervise and controlling Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor who has been criminally charged for causing the death by using Propofol (and other drugs) to help Michael sleep, when it was not medically appropriate.

Interestingly, the lawsuit does not name Dr. Murray as a defendant.  Rather, it targets AEG and various officers and employees with the company.

In the lawsuit, Katherine alleges that AEG and the other defendants interfered with the doctor-patient relationship Read more…

September 22, 2010 | 6 Comments

Motion Magazine book review of Trial and Heirs

Review of “Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights!” by Motion Magazine, part of LegalNews.com:

Anna Nicole Smith, Ray Charles, Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger …  what do they all have in common?

They were all celebrities, they’re no longer among the living, and they all can teach us a lesson.

At least according to husband and wife legacy expert attorneys Andrew W. Mayoras and Danielle B. Mayoras, authors of “Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!” The book dishes out drama using celebrity cases to highlight the importance of proper estate planning.

The Mayorases compiled and researched these high-profile celebrity cases with Danielle, who specializes in estate planning education, taking on the title of “Queen of Heirs” while Andrew used his probate litigation experience as “King of Trials.”

Satisfying readers’ voyeuristic side with the engaging stories of celebrity heir in-fighting isn’t the book’s only draw.

Featured on The Rachael Ray Show, WGN Chicago, and Forbes.com, “Trial & Heirs” can be utilized by those seeking to spark the

Read more…

March 2, 2010 | Leave a comment