
Gifts, Generosity or Undue Influence? is the first of a series of posts that we're calling - for lack of a better title - Famous Estate Cases. We think there's nothing quite as instructive about probate, wills, estates, disinheritance, undue influence and so everything else we write about than re...

We deal with probating poorly written wills and trusts fairly often; we deal with disinherited heirs even more. It’s interesting, rewarding work, but it never occurred to us that it was interesting enough for a movie plot. Until someone reminded us of this: Ned Racine was a nice guy, very much la...

Paul Getty was not shy about letting the world know he was its richest man. He was also renown as a miser. In the Ebenezer Scrooge way. He reveled in the fact that the guest rooms in his English estate had payphones. When his grandson was kidnapped in Italy in the early 70’s Getty first refused to...

What happens when an executor or administrator has gone silent and despite your best efforts will not communicate with you. You've called. You've sent letters. You even tried certified mail. And yet, you receive no response. You begin to get a little suspicious. Why would the executor or administra...

In part one of this series, we looked at the implications when the deceased leaves a last will and testament. In this second part, we will discuss the differences when there is no last will and testament. Without a Will When no will is left by the deceased, it will often require more coordination ...