Shields and Boris Blog on Elder Care, Health Care, and Caring in General

Unexpected problems resulting from an untimely death

News about the sudden and unexpected death of pop legend Michael Jackson has shaken the world, leaving fans, friends, and family reeling.  As the dust begins to settle the question becomes: what will happen to Jackson’s estate?

It is not yet known if Jackson had a will, however that has not stopped speculation about what will happen to his three children and his varied and unusual estate holdings.  It could take years and a great deal of money to untangle his affairs, and the chance of legal battles erupting is high.

What can we learn from Mr. Jackson’s tragic and untimely death?  As estate planning attorneys, naturally we want to use this opportunity to stress the importance of making estate planning a priority in your life.

Keep in mind that creating a good estate plan is only the first step, albeit a very important one.  Once you have an estate plan completed, be sure that you review it every few years to ensure that it is still accurate and that your wishes have not changed.

In addition, if you experience a significant “life event” (birth, marriage, divorce, death) make sure that any necessary changes are made to your estate plan.  If you move to another state, you should also take some time to ensure that your plan meets all the legal requirements of your new home town.

The bottom line is that you can avoid a costly, protracted battle among your heirs and their lawyers by keeping on top of your estate plan, while at the same time feeling confident that your wishes and desires will be respected after you pass.