BLOG

Howard Hughes sadly died on April 6th, 1976 at 70 years of age. However after many lawsuits, and multiple faked and forged wills, a judge eventually declared the billionaire had died intestate. It took 34 years to finally settle the estate.

When Marvin Gaye died he left behind an incredible catalog of the music he had created, but also a mountain of debt he owed and back taxes as well. To further complicate matters, the Motown star and soul icon died without a will leaving his family without clear instruction on how his estate should be administrated, and a puzzle as to how to pay his debts.

Chris Cornell died in March 2017. He had his estate planning documents in order, but that did not avoid several legal filings against the estate. And four years after his death, there are still multiple disputes with the estate pending.

Julian Lennon sued The John Lennon Estate for his share in his Father's $800 Million fortune. A lengthy and expensive 16-year legal battle ensued. Yoko Ono got full control over Lennon’s estate, his original song rights, and his image with no provision made for Julian in Lennon's will.

When Philip Seymour Hoffman died, he left behind a will that was over a decade old. The will had been drafted by his real estate attorney/CPA rather than someone who specialized in estate planning. In spite of having three children, a trust had only been set up for the eldest son and the hefty fortune that was left to his girlfriend was subject to an enormous estate tax bill.

In June, Professor Stephen Hawking’s estate struck a deal with the University Library in Cambridge and the Science Museum to receive some of his possessions in lieu of inheritance tax. Acquired items included his wheelchair, a pair of his glasses, scientific bets signed with a thumbprint, papers on theoretical physics and even his scripts from The Simpsons. How did this donation benefit the estate?

An end is finally in sight for the disputes over James Brown's estate. The singer's heirs have fought over the estate for the last 15 years, resulting in a dozen lawsuits that tied up the singer’s publishing rights and intended charitable endeavors.

Many practice yoga for the exercise, health, and fitness benefits, not to mention the benefits for your mind. But a yoga mindset really can help you manage more than just your mental health. It can help you build focus on your finances as well as your future.

To a lot of people, the idea of leaving money in their will to a pet instead of their own family seems to be the remit of the eccentric and the wealthy. However, over the years, it is becoming a surprisingly common arrangement to ensure our furry family members are taken care of after we are gone.

Eddie Van Halen died in October 2020, after losing his battle with cancer. The iconic guitarist's passing was met with extreme sadness. He was just 65 years old. He left behind one son, an ex-wife - with whom he maintained a close friendship - and a wife. He had a net worth of $100 Million, and one of the most asked questions about Eddie’s death is who inherited his money and estate.