Probate wars of the rich and famous : an insider's guide to estate planning and probate litigation

Surrogate Court dockets are filled with cases involving family members fighting over the assets and intentions of a deceased parent or spouse. iProbate Wars of the Rich & Famous: An Insider's Guide to Estate Planning and Probate Litigation/i tracks the estate litigation cases of Anna Nicole Smith, Brooke Astor, Michael Jackson, Nina Wang, Jerry Garcia and Leona Helmsley and identifies the five universal factors that caused such disputes. Each chapter provides estate planning insights designed to help individuals plan their estates without causing litigation. If, however, probate litigation cannot be avoided, the book also provides invaluable lessons about undue influence claims, how to remove a fiduciary, demanding an estate accounting and claims seeking to set aside lifetime transfers that undermined the decedents intentions. Few - if any ' estate planning books utilize colorful celebrity accounts to provide meaningful insights and actionable advice.;""Contents""; ""Title""; ""Copyright""; ""Acknowledgments""; ""About the Author""; ""Introduction""; ""Chapter 1: Legacy of a Lifetime""; ""Legacy Lesson #1: The Estate Planning Effect""; ""Legacy Lesson #2: Passing the Torch without Getting Burned""; ""Legacy Lesson #3: The Holistic Approach""; ""Legacy Lesson #4: Dropping the Gauntlet""; ""Chapter 2: Stripping and Being Stripped""; ""Legacy Lesson #5: The Elective Share and Prenuptial Agreement""; ""Legacy Lesson #6: Providing Equitably Both for a Second Spouse and Children from a Prior Marriage"" ""Contents"" ""Title"" ""Copyright"" ""Acknowledgments"" ""About the Author"" ""Introduction"" ""Chapter 1: Legacy of a Lifetime"" ""Legacy Lesson #1: The Estate Planning Effect"" ""Legacy Lesson #2: Passing the Torch without Getting Burned"" ""Legacy Lesson #3: The Holistic Approach"" ""Legacy Lesson #4: Dropping the Gauntlet"" ""Chapter 2: Stripping and Being Stripped"" ""Legacy Lesson #5: The Elective Share and Prenuptial Agreement"" ""Legacy Lesson #6: Providing Equitably Both for a Second Spouse and Children from a Prior Marriage"" ""Legacy Lesson #7: Disinheriting a Family Member""""Chapter 3: The Astor Disaster: A Legacy of Influence and Undue Influence"" ""Legacy Lesson #8: Monitor the Health and the Wealth of a Loved One Who Is III and Vulnerable"" ""Legacy Lesson #9: Anatomy of a Contested Estate"" ""Legacy Lesson #10: Influence or Undue Influence?"" ""Legacy Lesson #11: By Gift or by Theft?"" ""Legacy Lesson #12: Time in a Bottleâ€"Good Days and Bad Days"" ""Legacy Lesson #13: Protecting against Fraud"" ""Chapter 4: The Benevolent Queen of Mean"" ""Legacy Lesson #14: Protect the Pooch"" ""Legacy Lesson #15: The Grim Reaperâ€TMs Silver Lining""""Legacy Lesson #16: A Generation Skipped"" ""Legacy Lesson #17: Buried, But Not Resting Peacefully"" ""Legacy Lesson #18: The Mission Statement: A Legacy Builder or Buster"" ""Chapter 5: A Sweet and Sour Legacy"" ""The Nina Wang Signature"" ""Legacy Lesson #19: A Stitch in Time Saves Nine"" ""Legacy Lesson #20: Respecting the Formalities of a Will Signing"" ""Legacy Lesson #21: Clarity versus Ambiguity"" ""Legacy Lesson #22: Videotaping a Will Signing"" ""Chapter 6: Is This It?"" ""Legacy Lesson #23: Raising Helen"" ""Legacy Lesson #24: If You Want Privacy, Use a Revocable Trust""""Legacy Lesson #25: The Business of the Business"" ""Chapter 7: Lessons from the Dead"" ""Legacy Lesson #26: A Legacy in the Hands of Fiduciaries"" ""Legacy Lesson #27: Heirlooms Can Define a Legacy"" ""Chapter 8: At the End of the Day"" ""Appendix A: Fact Sheet for Last Will and Testament"" ""Appendix B: Probate Litigation Fact Sheet"" ""Bibliography"" ""Index""

Praise for Probate Wars of the Rich & Famous

"If you want a treasure trove of good counsel, a fresh, creative and novel approach to legacy building, or just to be entertained—read this book."
—H. Edward Wilkin III, CPA

"If the author's objective was to encourage readers to think about their own legacies and educate readers about the estates of the rich and famous—with a healthy dose of comedic surprises—then Fishkind has accomplished his objective."
—Leslie E. Streitfeld, CLU, ChFC, CEP, LUTCF, RFC

"Fishkind's Probate Wars is entertaining, educational from a historical perspective, and very instructive from a legal and practical perspective."
—Marshall Paul, Esq.

"Russell Fishkind did a magnificent job putting a spotlight on his 'legacy lessons' by using the very public disasters of the rich and famous. A humorous look at a serious topic."
—William McDevitt, CPA

"Don't be caught dead without reading Probate Wars of the Rich and Famous!"
—William L. Melillo, Jr., President, OIC

"A truly unique look at the lives and deaths of Anna Nicole, Michael Jackson, Jerry Garcia, Brooke Astor and Leona Helmsley through lenses I had never worn. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bravo!"
—Linda Hanley, President, NJALS

"An outstanding take on how life's journeys can be undermined by ineffective estate planning. If a family's battling over the assets of a departed soul, Fishkind gives the reader terrific practical advice. Well done."
—Erik Wildstein, President, The Wildstein Group

AARP Digital Editions offer you practical tips, proven solutions, and expert guidance. Surrogate Court dockets are filled with cases involving family members fighting over the assets and intentions of a deceased parent or spouse. Probate Wars of the Rich & Famous: An Insider's Guide to Estate Planning and Probate Litigation tracks the estate litigation cases of Anna Nicole Smith, Brooke Astor, Michael Jackson, Nina Wang, Jerry Garcia and Leona Helmsley and identifies the five universal factors that caused such disputes. Each chapter provides estate planning insights designed to help individuals plan their estates without causing litigation. If, however, probate litigation cannot be avoided, the book also provides invaluable lessons about undue influence claims, how to remove a fiduciary, demanding an estate accounting and claims seeking to set aside lifetime transfers that undermined the decedents intentions. Few - if any – estate planning books utilize colorful celebrity accounts to provide meaningful insights and actionable advice.

Surrogate Court dockets are filled with cases involving family members fighting over the assets and intentions of a deceased parent or spouse. Probate Wars of the Rich & Famous: An Insider's Guide to Estate Planning and Probate Litigation tracks the estate litigation cases of Anna Nicole Smith, Brooke Astor, Michael Jackson, Nina Wang, Jerry Garcia and Leona Helmsley and identifies the five universal factors that caused such disputes. Each chapter provides estate planning insights designed to help individuals plan their estates without causing litigation. If, however, probate litigation cannot be avoided, the book also provides invaluable lessons about undue influence claims, how to remove a fiduciary, demanding an estate accounting and claims seeking to set aside lifetime transfers that undermined the decedents intentions. Few - if any – estate planning books utilize colorful celebrity accounts to provide meaningful insights and actionable advice.

A comprehensive resource focused on today's most important estate planning issues Estate planning is the process by which you review your asset base, assess the needs of your loved ones, and, with the assistance of a qualified estate planner, implement a plan for passing on wealth.