When legendary musician Aretha Franklin died in 2018, her family believed she did not have a Will.  When going through her home in May 2019, two handwritten documents were discovered that appeared to express her last wishes.  Three of Franklin’s four sons, Kecalf, Edward, and Ted, disputed which document should prevail as her will.  Her […]

Having a Will and other estate planning documents prepared is rarely top of mind.  However, August is National “Make-a-Will” month and the perfect time to consider arranging your estate plan (or reviewing a previously drafted estate plan to ensure it reflects your current wishes) before the busyness of the fall and the end of 2023 […]

World-renowned 42 and Black Panther actor Chadwick Bowman died in September 2020 after a 4-year battle with colon cancer.  Mr. Boseman did not have a Will when he died at the young age of 43.  Fortunately, all accounts reveal that Mr. Boseman’s spouse and the appointed Administrator of his estate, Taylor Simone Ledward, applied to […]

No, we’re not talking about legendary Philadelphia 76ers star, Allen Iverson.  We’re talking about Artificial Intelligence and its developing role in the practice of law.  Let’s walk through (a touch more polite than a “step over”, if you catch my drift) a recent cautionary tale regarding the use of A.I. by tenured attorneys. New York […]

Stephen “tWitch” Boss, known for his work as a professional dancer, choreographer, and producer, tragically died by suicide on December 13, 2022.  The famed dancer died intestate, and left behind his spouse, Allison Holker, also a professional dancer, and three minor children.  Holker filed a California Spousal Property Petition in an effort to prove she […]

Iconic musician Bob Marley did not have a will when he died in 1981, at just age 36.  Mr. Marley believed that executing a Will was against his Rastafarian beliefs.  After his death, it took over ten years for Jamaican courts to administer Mr. Marley’s multi-million-dollar estate between his surviving family, which included his spouse, […]

At only 53 years old, actress Anne Heche died in 2022 as a result of a car accident.  She did not execute a Will before her tragic death.  Ms. Heche’s 20-year old son, Homer Laffoon, petitioned the Los Angeles Superior Court to be appointed administrator of his mother’s estate, claiming that he and his 13-year […]

Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of rock n’ roll legend Elvis Presley, died at age 54 on January 12, 2023.  Lisa Marie was survived by her mother, Priscilla Presley, as well as by her three children, Riley Keough (age 33), and twin 14-year old daughters, Harper and Finley.  Before she died, Lisa Marie had executed a […]

In re: Estate of Harriet Ross, Docket No. A-3757-20 (N.J. Super. App. Div. January 20, 2023) Defendant Jeffrey Ross (“Jeffrey”) appealed three orders: (1) an April 16, 2021, Order granting the motion to enforce a second settlement agreement filed by Plaintiff Leslie Ross (“Leslie”); (2) a May 21, 2021, Order amending the April 16, 2021, […]

Estate of Tanaka v. Kazary, 2023 WL 382310 (N.J. Super. App. Div. January 25, 2023) Sayoko Tanaka (“Tanaka”) and Keith Rosello (“Rosello”), a married couple, were tragically struck by a vehicle and killed on December 1, 2017.  Tanaka died before reaching the hospital, while Rosello lived another four months before succumbing to his extensive injuries.  […]