Not every pet whose owner passes away is as lucky as those owned by a woman in the Raleigh area. When she was in home hospice care and two days before she passed away, at the point when she was no longer aware of her surroundings, the founder of a no-kill cat shelter and adoption […]

This is an unusual case concerning a rare and valuable World War II fighter pilot’s jacket, which made its way to court in part because of the value of the jacket. One family member made a strategic move that changed the dynamics completely. Long before America was officially involved in World War II, that is, […]

Nude photographs of the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat were posted on several art websites, and the estate’s attorneys furiously demanded that they be taken down. But no one is certain if the artist himself wanted the photos to be online Several nude photographs of the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat were taken by his ex-girlfriend Paige Powell. […]

Creating a plan for estates that include illiquid assets like art collections requires careful planning and specialized knowledge. Depending on the value of the collection, heirs may end up with an unexpected tax bill that could take a big bite out of their inheritance. If your parents collected decades of issues of old magazines, it’s […]

When one of the creators of The Simpsons passed away, he left his beloved dog in the care of a dear friend. But the estate of Sam Simon has so far not been able to reach an agreement with how much money is needed to care for the dog. Let’s just say that the friend […]

Beloved and respected actor and director Lord Richard Attenborough included his final wishes in his will, which were extremely specific and somewhat unusual. Because he made his wishes clear, they will be carried out by his heirs. When the probate records of Richard Attenborough were made public, the wishes of this English icon, who passed […]

Unpleasant as it is, it’s not unusual for family members to sue each other over inheritance disputes. Usually the animosity is directed against each other. In this case, however, the actions of a now disbarred attorney have made an unpleasant inheritance battle far more complicated. When Fritz Detmer passed away, he left his son, Tols […]

Probate records are part of the public record and can be seen by anyone. But judges do have the ability to seal probate records if they deem it necessary or appropriate. One case in Oklahoma shows how unusual it is for this to happen. Those who wish to keep their wills, assets and lives private […]

The widow of eccentric entertainment lawyer Johanan Vigoda has sued legendary musician Stevie Wonder for millions in unpaid royalties. The dispute centers on a contractual provision in the contract. The irony: Vigoda was responsible for getting Wonder out of a bad contract early in his career. When Stevie Wonder signed a contract with Motown Records, […]