Probate Wars of the Rich and Famous: An Insider's Guide to Estate Planning and Probate Litigation

Acknowledgments xiAbout the Author xiiiIntroduction 1Chapter 1 Legacy of a Lifetime 5Legacy Lesson #1: The Estate Planning Effect 9Legacy Lesson #2: Passing the Torch without Getting Burned 10Legacy Lesson #3: The Holistic Approach 11Legacy Lesson #4: Dropping the Gauntlet 12Chapter 2 Stripping and Being Stripped 13Legacy Lesson #5: The Elective Share and Prenuptial Agreement 27Legacy Lesson #6: Providing Equitably Both for a Second Spouse and Children from a Prior Marriage 28Legacy Lesson #7: Disinheriting a Family Member 30Chapter 3 The Astor Disaster: A Legacy of Influence and Undue Influence 33Legacy Lesson #8: Monitor the Health and the Wealth of a Loved One Who Is Ill and Vulnerable 79Legacy Lesson #9: Anatomy of a Contested Estate 88Legacy Lesson #10: Influence or Undue Influence? 91Legacy Lesson #11: By Gift or by Theft? 94Legacy Lesson #12: Time in a Bottle--Good Days and Bad Days 97Legacy Lesson #13: Protecting against Fraud 99Chapter 4 The Benevolent Queen of Mean 105Legacy Lesson #14: Protect the Pooch 119Legacy Lesson #15: The Grim Reaper's Silver Lining 124Legacy Lesson #16: A Generation Skipped 127Legacy Lesson #17: Buried, But Not Resting Peacefully 129Legacy Lesson #18: The Mission Statement: A Legacy Builder or Buster 134Chapter 5 A Sweet and Sour Legacy 139Legacy Lesson #19: A Stitch in Time Saves Nine 148Legacy Lesson #20: Respecting the Formalities of a Will Signing 149Legacy Lesson #21: Clarity versus Ambiguity 150Legacy Lesson #22: Videotaping a Will Signing 151Chapter 6 Is This It? 153Legacy Lesson #23: Raising Helen 168Legacy Lesson #24: If You Want Privacy, Use a Revocable Trust 170Legacy Lesson #25: The Business of the Business 171Chapter 7 Lessons from the Dead 183Legacy Lesson #26: A Legacy in the Hands of Fiduciaries 200Legacy Lesson #27: Heirlooms Can Define a Legacy 202Chapter 8 At the End of the Day 205Appendix A Fact Sheet for Last Will and Testament 209Appendix B Probate Litigation Fact Sheet 221Bibliography 229Index 251