The Legacy
Update Archives

After months of preparation, it's hard to believe that tonight at 8pm EST is the premiere of out TV Special, Trial & Heirs: Protect Your Family Fortune!

Have you ever thought about how legal shows on TV always wrap up the cases by the end of the hour? It's too bad that cases can't end that quickly in real life. That's never more true than with estate battles, which can drag on for years. The celebrity updates in this month's issue definitely illustrate this point!

Do you want to know the truth about trusts? How about the real estate ins-and-outs that affect your estate planning? What about the latest in the estate battles of the rich and famous?

Protect Your Legacy From Being a Wet Mess

April rains in a slew of celebrity cases that highlight the same lesson. What is it? Don't rely on oral promises! Michael Jackson, James Brown, and Gary Coleman all left their intentions unclear through oral promises as opposed to putting their wishes in writing. You can read about the cases below to make sure that you don't make the same mistakes! Elizabeth Taylor, on the other hand, seems to have done it right. We'll see what happens as Elizabeth Taylor's estate progresses. Hopefully, it will run smoothly. One thing is for certain, make sure that you, your loved ones, and your clients put legacy wishes in writing through the properly-drafted estate planning documents.

You don't have to be famous for your family and your legacy to be plagued by court battles, confusion, and expensive attorney fees. Good estate planning protects your legacy the same way that an umbrella protects you from the April rain. Make sure not to leave a wet mess when you pass away!

What a month for celebrity news! They say that "March comes in like a lion" and boy did it ever! The celebrity legal news was off the charts from Charlie Sheen, Dennis Hopper, Mickey Rooney, Malcolm X and more! In this month's Legacy Update, we keep you posted on the latest in all of these cases. We also included a segment with "Mary Talks Money" from ABC's Live Well Network and an interview with The Street. Let's hope that March "goes out like a lamb" because we'll be traveling to Chicago for some speaking events (sponsored by Arden Courts) and an interview with NBC-5. If you're in the Chicago area and want to join us, visit www.trialandheirs.com/events.

This January, we spent some time in New York with the Senior Editor of Forbes Magazine, John Dobosz. While we were there, we discussed a few of our tips for 2011, including tips on the new estate tax laws and the growing epidemic of financial exploitation. You can watch our interviews with John as well as read our article "Trial & Heirs' Top Tips for 2011," below. Of course, we also included the latest scoops on celebrity estates including, a new battle erupting in the Michael Jackson estate, Elizabeth Edwards, Stieg Larsson--the author of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Ronni Chasen--Hollywood publicist, and there's even a family feud (some say it involves an evil stepmother!) between Walt Disney's heirs.

It's that time of year again! The time of year when families come together to celebrate the holidays. The month of December can be absolutely blissful or one of intense stress. (We hope that it's blissful for you!) In this month's Legacy Update, The Washington Post points out that celebrity estate stories can lead to "lively" holiday conversations. To help you start these conversations, we have our Top Five Tips for Holiday Conversations, which we hope you put to good use! You'll also find an article from Forbes.com on estate planning mistakes to avoid. And yes...we didn't forget to include all of the juicy updates on celebrity cases for your reading enjoyment this holiday season!

Please join In this month's Legacy Update, read the latest famous Trial & Heirs and Fox 2 for a special event in honor of National Alzheimer's Awareness Month.

In this month's Legacy Update, read the latest famous fortune fight updates about Dennis Hopper, Lisa Marie Presley, Michael Jackson, John Steinbeck and Anna Nicole Smith. Of course, as The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review points out, we provide lessons for your families and clients along with each of the celebrity cases. This month we also included some behind-the-scenes information about why we wrote Trial & Heirs in an excerpt from our Spinal Column Newsweekly interview.

What can you learn from Michael Crichton, Bob Marley and Babe Ruth? Read Insurance News Net's article on "The Lessons of Famously Bad Estate Planning," to find out Danielle's tips. Have heirs of the late owner of the Detroit Pistons, Bill Davidson, escaped an inevitable feud? Andy talks with the Detroit Free Press about Davidson's case and what families need to know to avoid the breeding ground for a "knock-down drag-out fight." What did Minding Our Elders say about Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights! ? All of these questions will be answered in this month's Legacy Update. Of course, we also included highlights from the latest cases, including an update on Gary Coleman's contentious clash, Elvis's supposed death 33 years ago, Michael Jackson's father's refusal to stay out of the King of Pop's business, and possibly another Brooke Astor case in the making.

Did George Steinbrenner's family really hit a home run with estate taxes? What did Inman News think of Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights! ? How can you have access to daily legal tips, facts, stats and more to help your family and clients? All of these questions will be answered in this month's Legacy Update. Of course, we also included the latest cases that you need to know including, one of the greatest art controversies of our time, the chess master--Bobby Fischer--who died without even a simple will, the battle Lucille Ball's daughter waged to recover her mother's heirlooms, and the ongoing estate of football player Steve McNair.

In this month's Legacy Update, learn about life insurance beneficiary designations from the Trial & Heirs' excerpt on Whitney Houston featured in The Huffington Post. Also, read the Top Five Tips that you need to know about estate planning in the event of a divorce by looking at the Trial & Heirs' article in Forbes, which examines the cases of Gary Coleman, Dennis Hopper, Tiger Woods and Ron Perelman. Listen to Danielle's interview on CBS radio to learn from Frank Sinatra, Ted Kennedy and Florence Griffith Joyner a/k/a Flo Jo. And, don't forget to check out the latest celebrity updates, including a woman who leaves a mansion and $3 million to her dogs, one of the world's richest men, and the Gary Coleman and Michael Jackson estates.

In this month's Legacy Update, read the juicy scoop on the Dennis Hopper case! We shared our thoughts on the upcoming court battle surrounding his estate with ABCnews.com. Also included are a peek at Michael Jackson's Trust as well as the controversy surrounding Gary Coleman's death and updates on the estates of Mel Simon, Elvis Presley (yes, you read that right!), and the famous songwriter, Danny Tate. You can also read tips from Palm Beach Daily News on avoiding costly estate planning missteps and the Michigan Bar Journal's review of Trial & Heirs.

In this month's Legacy Update, read the latest cases including a fascinating legal battle involving frozen sperm, a wealthy family who is convinced that their 74-year old mother was murdered for a 15 million dollar life insurance policy, Mark Twain's will from 100 years ago, and the most recent developments in Michael Jackson and Steve McNair estates.

Danielle Mayoras, an estate planning attorney, and Andrew Mayoras, a probate litigation attorney, educate audiences across the United States through speaking engagements, print, broadcast and social media. The duo consistently draws rave reviews and is in high demand for both consumer and professional presentations. They’ve been featured on the Rachael Ray Show, Forbes, and WGN-TV, and in the Associated Press, The Huffington Post, Kiplinger's, LA Times, The Washington Post, among others.

The 6 Most Controversial Celebrity Wills: Michael Jackson, Leona Helmsley, Princess Diana, and more. Who got the money? Who had the biggest family feuds? The mistakes that were made — and what we can learn from them. Danielle Mayoras: Get Them Jamming On Estate Planning - Putting affairs in order before it’s too late is important. Celebrity stories can help spring clients into action.