Lessons Learned from the Godfather of Soul

The estates of celebrities often make glossy headlines, since many millions of dollars are involved as the heirs make their claims. On the August 1st edition of Life Happens, we illustrate how a famous case can tell us a lot about what works…and what doesn’t work in estate planning. In particular, hosts Aaron Connor and Stefan Dunkelgrun discuss the estate of the Godfather of Soul: James Brown.

From an estate planning perspective, James Brown had done many things right. He had created a will and a trust, which bequeathed a large amount to charity. But after his death, litigation erupted, finally leading to a recent ruling by a North Carolina court that his 4thmarriage was invalid. Stefan and Aaron will fill in the details of this fascinating case and how to design plans that carry out your wishes – and prevent your heirs from going to court.

Aaron and Stefan also touch on other celebrity estates; plus: how estates can be amended, so listen to this great podcast, and call Pierro, Connor & Strauss for a personalized review of your own planning.