Skip to content
Browse All Posts
  • Estates Gone Wrong
  • Featured Topics
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Related Resources
  • Legacy Lexicon
  • Estates Gone Wrong
  • Featured Topics
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Related Resources
  • Legacy Lexicon
High-profile estate disputes can offer invaluable lessons in effective estate planning. One prominent case is that of oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II and his brief marriage to Anna Nicole Smith. 23 Sep
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Infamous Feuds

Estate Planning Lessons from J. Howard Marshall II’s Case

The Barclay family feud started with accusations of privacy breach at the family-owned Ritz hotel. Open discussions about succession, good structuring and mediation could help a family business avoid going the same way as the Barclay's. 22 Jul
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Infamous Feuds

Rise and Fall of an Empire: The Barclay Family Feud

UK docuseries "Inheritance Wars" features gripping and shocking true stories of families dragged through the courts by grief and greed... 17 Sep
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Dramatized Content, Family Disputes

Inheritance Wars | UK Documentary Series | 2023

Kate Rothko Prizel, the daughter of renowned abstract artist Mark Rothko, once said being 19 was the worst year of her life. Still only a teenager, in 1970, Prizel was embroiled in a bitter legal battle with her father’s estate executors and the directors of the Marlborough Fine Art gallery. 10 Aug
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Infamous Feuds

How Greed Rocked the Art World: The Estate of Mark Rothko

Estate planning plays a crucial role in crime dramas like The Sixth Commandment, where financial manipulation and inheritance fraud drive the plot. 17 Jul
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Dramatized Content, Family Disputes

The Sixth Commandment | True Crime Drama | 2023

The Top 10 Estate Battles Of All Time | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong 01 Apr
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Celebrity Estates, Curated Content

Probate Disputes: The Top 10 Estate Battles Of All Time

04 Nov
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Dramatized Content, Family Disputes

The Estate | American Comedy Film | 2022

Inside The Bitter Family Feuds of America’s Richest Billionaire Clans 17 Dec
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Infamous Feuds

Inside The Bitter Feuds of America’s Richest Families

Disney is one of the biggest media companies in the world, with an estimated net worth of nearly $130 billion. From a family-trust-fund feud to generous philanthropic endeavors, here's a look at the three generations of the Disney family. 11 Feb
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Infamous Feuds

Disney Family Feud as Heirs Battle for $400 Million Trust Fund

Gore-Tex Heiress, Susan Gore, has been denied the right to adopt her 65-year-old ex-husband as a means to boost her family's inheritance fortune. 21 Mar
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Infamous Feuds

Court Ruling: Heiress Cannot Adopt Ex-Husband for Inheritance

A French court has found eight people guilty of exploiting 92-year-old L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, one of the world's richest people. The verdict brings to an end a long-running case that began with a feud between Mrs Bettencourt and daughter. 28 May
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Infamous Feuds

The Exploitation of L’Oreal Heiress Liliane Bettencourt

This unscripted streaming docuseries delves into the drama that unfolds when grief and greed collide, exposing family secrets and highlighting the potential for conflict and legal battles over inheritances.  03 Nov
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Dramatized Content, Family Disputes

The Will: Family Secrets Revealed | Unscripted Series

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Search

Topics:

  • Beneficiary Rights (28)
  • Bizarre Bequests (32)
  • Celebrity Estates (60)
  • Charitable Misgivings (32)
  • Common Mistakes (52)
  • Communication Breakdowns (46)
  • Digital Distress (58)
  • Family Disputes (69)
  • Guardian Safeguards (38)
  • Infamous Feuds (34)
  • Law Reform (38)
  • Life Events (32)
  • Long-Term Care Crisis (36)
  • Property Pitfalls (54)
  • Squandered Legacies (28)
  • Succession Lessons (42)
  • Tax-Smart Strategies (38)
  • Unique Assets & Interests (40)

Recent:

A will is intended to provide clear instructions about the distribution of a person’s property after death. But what happens when an important clause is missing? This recent Ontario court case is a useful reminder of the difficulties that can arise...

What Happens When a Will is Missing an Important Clause?

In many cases, an executor’s first instinct is not to call a lawyer. It is to ask Google. The problem? Google can provide thousands of answers, many of which are incomplete, inaccurate, or based on another jurisdiction. Executors need practical guidance tailored to the particular estate they are administering.

Cautionary Guidance for Executors: Google at Your Own Risk!

Many people hear “executor” and think it means reading the will and writing a few checks. In reality, executors can face personal liability. Find out exactly what you're agreeing to, before you agree...

Agreeing To Serve As Executor: Not As Simple As It Sounds

Holograph wills and codicils are often viewed as a simple and inexpensive way to record testamentary wishes. Ironically, the very simplicity that makes holograph codicils attractive can also make them extraordinarily vulnerable...

Ontario Case Study: The Hidden Risks of a DIY Codicil

Story Submission

We know, this can be a very sensitive topic. If you have a personal story or a cautionary tale —a link to a specific article, blog post, or recommended resource that you found particularly helpful in your own estate planning and administration journey— anonymous submissions are welcomed and encouraged.

Share Your Story

Search:

Follow:

Explore:

Administration Canada Capacity Court Battles Court Rulings Debt Definitions Designations Eldercare End-of-Life Planning Estate Tax Executor Fiduciary Duty Glossary Guardianship Guide High Net Worth Industry Expert International Jurisdictions Law Reform Lawsuits Litigation Philanthropy Powers of Attorney Probate Professional Advisor Real Estate Resources Roles Siblings Statistics Strategies Succession Survivorship Tax Technology Terminology Testator Intent Transparency Trustee Trusts United States Vulnerable Adults Watchable
©estatesgonewrong.com