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Detroit Free Press article on celebrity estate fights

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

This past Sunday’s Detroit Free Press featured an article, written by business columnist Susan Tompor, about “Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights!” and how families can learn from celebrity estate fights.  Here’s part of it: What can you learn about estate planning from TMZ.com, the celebrity gossip site?  Plenty. Errors involving celebrity estates can motivate everyday families to talk ahead of time about who gets Mom’s blown-glass collection — long before things get overblown. Or at least that’s the theory being promoted by Troy attorneys Danielle B. and Andrew W. Mayoras. “The reality is we’re a celebrity-based culture, for better or worse,” said Danielle, an estate planning attorney. The couple, both partners at Barron, Rosenberg, Mayoras & Mayoras in Troy, popped up last year on TV’s “Rachael Ray Show” — you can see the interview on YouTube.com — to talk about their book, “Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!” Andrew also has a blog, www.probatelawyerblog.com , that tracks the twists and turns in celebrity estate battles, such as the struggle over Michael Jackson’s will and the potential tax nightmare facing the widow of slain NFL quarterback Steve McNair. “The celebrity-gossip angle of the stories does make it more interesting for people,” said Danielle. Sure, celebrities live on another financial planet, and usually leave a lot more to fight over than the rest of us do. They also can afford far more legal advice. Anyone can make mistakes Even so, “Trial & Heirs” and the blog show how anyone can mess things up when it comes to giving away their wealth after death. Jackson, for example, died at 50 but had made a will and set up a trust for his children. But like so many everyday fathers or mothers, he didn’t take the next key step — funding the trust or re-titling his assets into it. Now, it’s a family mess. Danielle said Andrew’s grandfather almost faced the same issue — until she raised the issue with him. Another bit of advice from the book: It is usually not advisable to choose your estate planning attorney to also serve as your trustee. Sonny Bono, the Detroit native who made his name as a 1960s pop singer before entering politics and winning election to Congress, died in a skiing accident at age 62 without a will. His widow had to deal with claims filed by creditors against his estate, including one filed by Sonny’s second wife and original singing partner, Cher, who said she was owed money from their divorce. And then a man came out of the blue and filed a legal claim saying he was Bono’s son. A valid will — which two out of three people don’t have — could have solved many problems, according to “Trial & Heirs.” The authors stress that estate plans need to be updated when couples divorce, have another child or have a family member with special needs. You can read the full article here . By Andrew W. Mayoras and Danielle B. Mayoras, co-authors of “Trial and Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!” and husband-and-wife legacy expert attorneys. As educators across the United States through speaking engagements, print, broadcast, and social media, Danielle and Andrew consistently draw rave reviews and are in high demand. Email them at  contact@trialandheirs.com .

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Detroit Free Press article on celebrity estate fights

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The crazy claims of the Michael Jackson Estate

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Given MJ’s eccentricities in life, and the craziness that has surrounded his estate since he died, it is no surprise that Michael Jackson’s estate executors are busy denying wild claims left and right.  TMZ has a list of the wackiest ones: Jose Freddie Vallejos asked for $3.3 million to reimburse Los Angeles for the costs of the King of Pop’s memorial service. A homeschooler, Claire McMillan, is seeking $2 million. Michael, according to Nona Paris Lola Ankhesenamun Jackson (try saying that three times fast), was actually married to her, so Nona of course wants custody of the three kids. Richard Lapointe claimed he’s owed $5 million for a memorabilia auction that was wrongly canceled. And, best of all, a woman is convinced that Jackson wiretapped her telephone and had organized criminals watch her.  She wants a mere $50 million. You can read TMZ’s coverage of these claims , which were all formally denied last week by Howard Weitzman, the estate’s attorney.  This means the claimants now have to initial legal action to try to prove that their claims are valid, if they still want to pursue their demands for dough. Oh — let’s not forget the claim of the secret love child.  What celebrity estate mess, with fortune-seekers coming out of the woodwork, would be complete without the claim of a secret child?  25-year-old Prince Michael Malachi Jet Jackson is asking for a DNA sample so he can prove he’s really Michael’s eldest son.  Hey, as wacky as MJ was in life–who knows–maybe some of these claimants are actually telling the truth.  Stayed tuned to find out! But, bad news for Prince Michael Mala(etc.).  Michael, Sr.’s will ( which you can read here ) states that he had no other children and he intentionally did not leave anything for any other heirs (except for this three legitimate children and his mother, who are beneficiaries of his trust).  This means that even if this secret child is telling the truth, he won’t inherit anything (at least, it would be very unlikely because of the language of the will). That’s one of the reasons why it is important to work with a good estate planning attorney.  You never know what kind of crazy people will surface when someone dies, with hands extended looking for money.  If Michael Jackson had properly funded his trust, then his entire estate could have been handled in private, outside of court.  This would have made it much tougher for these crazy creditors to try to stake a claim in probate court . Of course, without crazy creditors, it just wouldn’t have felt right, would it? By Andrew W. Mayoras and Danielle B. Mayoras, co-authors of “Trial and Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!” and husband-and-wife legacy expert attorneys. As educators across the United States through speaking engagements, print, broadcast, and social media, Danielle and Andrew consistently draw rave reviews and are in high demand. Email them at  contact@trialandheirs.com .

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The crazy claims of the Michael Jackson Estate

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Motion Magazine book review of Trial & Heirs

March 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Review of “Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights!” by Motion Magazine, part of LegalNews.com: Anna Nicole Smith, Ray Charles, Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger …  what do they all have in common? They were all celebrities, they’re no longer among the living, and they all can teach us a lesson. At least according to husband and wife legacy expert attorneys Andrew W. Mayoras and Danielle B. Mayoras, authors of “Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!” The book dishes out drama using celebrity cases to highlight the importance of proper estate planning. The Mayorases compiled and researched these high-profile celebrity cases with Danielle, who specializes in estate planning education, taking on the title of “Queen of Heirs” while Andrew used his probate litigation experience as “King of Trials.” Satisfying readers’ voyeuristic side with the engaging stories of celebrity heir in-fighting isn’t the book’s only draw. Featured on The Rachael Ray Show, WGN Chicago, and Forbes.com, “Trial & Heirs” can be utilized by those seeking to spark the dreaded family discussion about planning for a loved one’s passing. “We have tips to avoid family fights and we have ideas to spark family discussion,” Danielle says of the book. “So not only is it a good tool for the general public, but the goal was to give professionals a vehicle to start conversations with their clients…they can talk about Princess Di and Frank Sinatra and Jimi Hendrix…really start the conversation.” And while the book provides readers with titillating true tales of celebrity courtroom cattiness at its very best, it also details how problems can be avoided. In addition, definitions of legal terminology commonly used in estate planning are placed strategically throughout the book. “I think there’s a sensationalism in our culture where there’s this celebrity stardom everybody wants to read about,” Danielle says.“We wanted to take that sensationalistic or tabloid aspect to kind of fool people. They might be reading it for the tabloid aspect but they don’t realize initially that they’re getting taught and they’re learning.” But what can these celebrity stories teach the everyday person? “Celebrities’ families are fighting about the same issues,” Andrew points out. “My clients fight about the exact same issues that are in the book. “Simple common mistakes the celebrities make are the same mistakes we see everyday people making,” he adds. “Different dollar figures, but the concepts apply to everybody.” The response to “Trial & Heirs,” which came out in November, has been amazing, according to the authors. “We’ve had attorneys from around the country contact us and say, ‘I want to buy these in bulk and provide them to my clients,’” Danielle explains. “It’s a great tool for attorneys to be able to turn over – especially if they have a stubborn client and maybe the client has a situation like one of the celebrities in the book – to say, ‘By the way, take a look at this case.’” According to Andrew, “One of the principal themes we keep saying in the book is ‘Don’t do it yourself…You need a good attorney.’ “The book has tips to find a good attorney and things to talk about with your attorney,” he says. “It’s really a call to action for people to find and work with a good attorney because too many people try to do it themselves and that’s what leads to a lot of the celebrity mishaps that we cover in the book.” Tabloid stories and their juicy details aside, the book provides insight into the oftentimes taboo world of estate planning. “It’s a way to get people to open their eyes and think about these things and have family discussions,” Andrew says. “A lot of these family fights can be prevented if people are proactive and they can avoid a lot of the heartache.” By Christine L. Mobley You can read the article here.   By Andrew W. Mayoras and Danielle B. Mayoras, co-authors of “Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!” and husband-and-wife legacy expert attorneys. As educators across the United States through speaking engagements, print, broadcast, and social media, Danielle and Andrew consistently draw rave reviews and are in high demand. Email them at contact @ trialandheirs.com.

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Motion Magazine book review of Trial & Heirs

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Michael Jackson executors sorting through requests for money

January 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It’s been seven months since the King of Pop died suddenly at the age of 50, and fights surrounding his estate seem like they may last for many years to come. Creditors are coming out of the woodwork, with new ones surfacing on a weekly basis. The latest, a management company, joins a series of business, medical and spiritual advisers and others who insist they are owed money, totaling more than $20 million, already. That total will certainly climb. The estate co-executors, John Branca and John McClain, have to sort through the requests for money and try to determine the legitimate ones from the ones that are, well, more fiction than fact. It’s common when someone wealthy and eccentric passes to have all sorts of people saying they are entitled to money. (Jerry Garcia, James Brown, and Marlon Brando are a few notable examples that we cover in Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights! ). One of the more interesting requests is from Michael’s father, Joe Jackson, who wants $15,000 per month in support.  He says that his famous son supported him financially while he was alive and that he doesn’t really have any other source of income.  Executors Branca and McClain recently filed an opposition to the request. As they point out, Joe Jackson is not a beneficiary of Michael’s will or trust, which would normally end the story.  However, in California, the law allows him to receive support if he can prove he was financially dependent on his famous son while alive.  His attorney promises to show that they were not only close, but that Michael did in fact support his father. Branca and McClain say they want to preserve money for Michael’s beneficiaries – his kids, mother and still unnamed (at least publicly) charities.  An admirable position, to be sure, but rather interesting in light of something else the pair did a few days ago. Branca and McClain asked the California judge overseeing the estate for permission to pay themselves 10% of earnings they create for the estate for business deals they reach using some of Michael’s assets.  Specifically, they want to take unreleased music he recorded and promote it, keeping the 10% fee as a commission.  They aren’t asking for this fee for money made from Michael’s previously-released music, “This Is It” movie proceeds, and his share of the Sony-ATV music catalog. The co-executors point out that this is actually less than what advisers for other musicians’ estates receive (15 to 25% they say).  But, normally, an estate executor would hire an outside adviser to negotiate deals like this.  Branca and McClain want to do it themselves and receive this fee. This is curious, especially for Branca, because was also Michael Jackson’s attorney.  In fact, he was the attorney who reportedly drafted the 2002 will through which he was named as an executor.  An attorney who prepares a will or trust and then is put in a position to earn a hefty fee through that very document does raise some questions.  And Branca and McClain both aren’t shy about trying to make money from their positions as executors. Is this consistent with trying to maximize what Michael’s children, mother and favorite charities receive?  That is what they point to as driving their efforts to oppose Joe Jackson’s request for money. Of course, by allowing them a percentage-based fee, it would maximize their incentive to generate more money for the estate.  But, that is part of their job, already. But, it’s not like executors receiving a percentage fee is unheard of.  Corporate executors and trustees (banks, for example) are often named by wealthier people to administer their affairs after death, and in those cases, they are usually paid a percentage fee as their payment. And, if Michael Jackson’s estate is going to pay someone a fee to do this anyways, why not pay them?  They are an experienced entertainment lawyer and music executor, so they are qualified for the job, it would appear. Ah, the complex world of estate and trust administration.  It isn’t always black and white.  This is true for wealthy estates, and modest ones as well.  While most families don’t have to worry about what percentage of music royalties should be paid to whom, questions of whether executors and trustees are being fair, charging too much money, or treating the beneficiaries equally arise time and time again. If you are in a situation and have a question of whether an estate is being properly administered, don’t hesitate to consult with an experienced probate attorney . Posted by:  Author and probate attorney Andrew W. Mayoras, co-author of Trial & Heirs :  Famous Fortune Fights! and co-founder and shareholder of The Center for Probate Litigation and The Center for Elder Law in metro-Detroit, Michigan, which concentrate in probate litigation, estate planning, and elder law.  You can email him at awmayoras @ trialandheirs.com.

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Michael Jackson executors sorting through requests for money

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The 6 Most Controversial Celebrity Wills: Michael Jackson, Leona Helmsley, Princess Diana and More

January 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Who got the money? Who had the biggest family feuds? The mistakes that were made — and what we can learn from them. Two legal experts in estate planning and the authors of Trial & Heirs have the scoop. If the recent and sudden death of Michael Jackson taught us something – other than the side effects of too much prescription medication – it’s the importance of a will or trust. Wills and trusts are taboo topics. We’re usually far more inclined to talk about Botox injections or mammograms than how we plan to divide our assets. But (and sorry for speaking so morbidly) once you’re dead, it’ll be far too late to finally address it. That’s why regardless of your age and health (Jackson was 50 and about to go on tour), it’s important to have a proper will — not just for your peace of mind, but for your family’s peace of mind too. In addition to the King of Pop’s highly publicized estate battles, here’s a glimpse at more late celebrities, who cast a spotlight on the importance of pre-mortem planning. From Leona Helmsley (leaving $12 million to her dog) to former Senator Edward Kennedy (having a confidant as his administrator), here’s a look at how these celebrities divvied up their estates – plus the mistakes they made that you should want to avoid. 1. One of the more recent (and brutal) family fortune battles was started by billionaire Revlon Chairman Ronald Perelman . Who incurred Perelman’s wrath? Besides his ex-wife Ellen Barkin , his infirm, paralyzed and elderly ex-father-in-law, Robert Cohen. Perelman claimed Cohen had promised half his extensive fortune to Claudia Cohen, Perelman’s other ex-wife, who had passed away and whose estate Perelman controls. Despite clear instructions in Claudia’s will to preserve the relationship between their daughter and the Cohen family, Perelman launched a series of vicious lawsuits that pitted them against each other. Perelman has lost on every claim, but vows to appeal in spite of the millions in legal fees he has already spent from Claudia’s estate. *Tip: The only reason Perelman could cause so much trouble was because Claudia Cohen named him as executor of her estate. Choose wisely when naming your executor or trustee or your family may literally pay the price! (Photo © Getty Images/Ron Perelman with ex-wife Ellen Barkin) 2. Sen. Edward ( Ted) Kennedy’s will provided the world a peek behind the curtain of the famed Kennedy family. It revealed that he created a living trust and directed that all of his assets pass into his trust. Who did he pick to administer his estate? Instead of choosing his second wife or any of his children, he chose a trusted family friend and confidant, Paul G. Kirk Jr. This is a classic second-marriage situation. Kennedy may have chosen Kirk because he wanted someone outside of the family to administrator the estate to avoid family friction. *Tip: In second marriages or situations where there is likely to be family conflict, choosing a family friend or trusted adviser makes good sense. Proper estate planning involves taking precautions ahead of time to avoid a family fight down the road. (Photo © AP ) 3. While there was little he could do to surprise anyone given his past eccentricities, when Michael Jackson died suddenly, it caught the world off guard . The good news is that Jackson had a trust, the Michael Jackson Family Trust. A trust keeps affairs private and outside of the probate court — at least when it’s used properly. In Jackson’s case, however, he didn’t transfer his assets into the trust and as a result, his estate went through the very public court process. The general public learned about all of the fighting going on in Jackson’s estate as well as financial information, such as his mother’s monthly grooming expenses of $1,000 and his family’s monthly allowance of $86,000. *Tip: A trust, unlike a will, can avoid the probate court process when used properly. By not transferring assets into your trust, however, you undermine some of the key benefits of a trust — privacy, avoiding probate court and decreasing the chances of a family fight. (Photo © Getty Images) 4. Leona Helmsley chose to disinherit two of her grandchildren while leaving $12 million to Trouble , her well-named Maltese. Faced with these glaring inequities, Helmsley’s two excluded grandchildren filed a lawsuit claiming that she was not mentally fit or competent to create the will and trust. After battling i t out in the probate court for seven months, the two grandchildren received $6 million plus legal fees. Poor Trouble had his inheritance reduced to a paltry $2 million. Hopefully, this would be enough for a secured home, well-paid guardian, grooming and a lifetime supply of dog bones. *Tip: Family conflicts are not unusual when someone passes away, whether the estate is modest or grand. Good estate planning is the best prevention, but if you find yourself in the middle of a dispute, consider a settlement before the fight reaches absurd costs. (Photo © AP ) 5. Unfortunately, the estate of Princess Diana was not handled with the same grace, dignity and class that she exuded in life. Diana left a “letter of wishes” asking her executors to “divide, at [their] discretion,” her personal property and give one quarter to her godchildren. Each godchild would have received property worth 100,000 pounds ($162,700). But Diana’s executors never did so. In fact, the executors convinced the court to disregard the “letter of wishes,” without even notifying the godchildren. Instead of 100,000 pounds, each godchild received only a single memento, such as an incomplete tea set, commercially available watercolor painting or, according to one godchild’s parent, a “grubby trinket.” * Tip: Don’t undermine your will or trust by taking shortcuts. Ideally, your intent should be incorporated into your will or trust and not placed into a separate document. A separate personal property list can work, but giving the executors “discretion” to follow it means that your wishes may not be carried out. 6. Warren Burger wrote his own will consisting of a total of 176 words … for a $1.8 million estate. If you do the math, it’s $10,000 per wor d. The former Chief Justice of the United State Supreme Court could have used a few more words to avoid legal fees. His estate was forced to spend thousands of extra dollars in probate court because his will failed to give his co-executors the power they needed to sell real estate, pay taxes and otherwise manage the estate. *Tip: Even if you are the former Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and wish to write your own will, at least have it reviewed by a legal expert. A “homemade” will is usually better than no will at all, but can have important provisions missing. By using a good estate planning attorney to prepare your will, later your family can save thousands of dollars in court costs. (Courtesy photograph) By Danielle B. Mayoras and Andrew W. Mayoras. Originally published by The Women On The Web at WOWOWOW.COM

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The 6 Most Controversial Celebrity Wills: Michael Jackson, Leona Helmsley, Princess Diana and More

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Five tips for holiday conversations

December 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Across the country in December, families will be coming together for the holidays.  Sometimes the holidays are one of the few times of year that family members see each other. They eat, share stories, and laugh together. Of course, there may be a few family squabbles, but hopefully no mash-potato flinging. Or will there be? Overall, the holidays are rare opportunities for family members to have face-to-face conversations. One critical conversation is talking about estate planning — what happens legally when a loved one passes away. As confirmed by the Washington Post today, the stories in the book are great conversation starters. Of course you could buy the book, but here are some free tips you can use right away.What questions will these tips help you answer? What will happen once mom and dad pass away? Have they done their will or trust?  Is it updated?  Where is it? What professionals do they work with? Where are the documents located? The celebrity stories in “Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights!” can help you translate the estate planning talk into a fun and entertaining discussion. Really! Here are some easy-to-use tips and conversation starters taken from the stories in the book. Bring the celebrities home for the holidays. If your family member (mom, dad, sister, aunt, grandma) is reluctant to talk about wills and trusts, begin by sharing some stories about celebrity estate planning.  Start with a story about Ray Charles .  He sat his entire family down (which included 12 kids from 9 different mothers!) and discussed what he planned for his estate after his passing.  Encourage your loved ones to talk to each other like Ray Charles.  Turn the uncomfortable topic of wills and trusts into something entertaining! Find out if your loved ones have done their estate planning. So now you’ve begun the conversation with your family by describing what Ray Charles did, the next question is:  did your loved ones prepare a will or trust yet?  Find out!  Whether we’re 20 or 92 years old, no one is promised tomorrow.  Share the case of Sonny Bono .  He was 62 years old when he unexpectedly passed away in a skiing accident.  Sonny did not have a will or a trust!  His widow endured lots of complications because of Sonny’s lack of planning.  So if your loved ones haven’t done their estate planning, encourage them to make sure to do so. Confirm that they have finished what they started. Maybe you’ve gotten through the first two hurdles, and your family members say, “don’t worry…we’ve taken care of everything”.  Are they sure that they dotted their “i”s and crossed their “t”s?  Share the stories of Heath Ledger who failed to update his will after his daughter was born, and Michael Jackson who caused his family unnecessary trips to the courthouse because he did not properly “fund” his trust. If your loved ones have a will or trust, has it been updated in the recently?  Have they transferred their assets into their trust?  It’s not enough to just “do” the documents, they need to be done the right way and updated with new laws and life changes. Verify that the attorney is a specialist. “Yes,” your loved ones respond, “we just saw our attorney and updated everything.”  Okay… now we’re getting somewhere, but that doesn’t end the conversation.  Does their attorney specialize in estate planning?  If not, going to the attorney to update the documents may not be enough.  Does the attorney use “one size fits all” forms, or customize the documents to your loved one’s needs?  Share the tips on how to make sure that you have a good attorney from “Trial & Heirs” to give your family peace of mind.  Also, make sure that you have the name of the attorney and other professionals in the event that your loved ones unexpectedly pass away. Establish the location of the documents. You’ve almost conquered the list!  You’ve gotten through the first four tips, but where in the world are the documents located?  Your loved ones have done their documents, updated them, and worked with a specialist, but that doesn’t do the family any good if you cannot find them!  Share the story of Florence Griffith Joyner aka Flo-Jo .  Her original estate planning documents were never located and as a result it cost her family a lot of time, money, grief and uncertainty.  Make sure that your loved ones tell you where those critical documents are located and that the trustee or executor can access them.  There’s no point in hiding the will or trust so well that no one can find them or worse, putting them in a safe deposit box that no one can get into! Alright, the holidays are around the corner and now you’re armed with some tips on the conversation that you really need to have with your family this holiday season.  Remember “Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights!” has these stories to start the conversation and so many more!  For more information, sign up for a free preview of the book here . ~Danielle B. Mayoras, JD, CPG Danielle has dedicated her legal career to teaching professionals, businesses and the general public about elder law, special needs planning , and general estate planning.  Danielle is a renowned attorney and Credentialed Professional Gerontologist, educating through speaking engagements, print, and broadcast media across the United States.  Her speaking audiences range from nationally recognized brokerage firms, banks, and insurance companies to attorneys, accountants, and non-profit organizations.  She consistently draws rave reviews from audiences and her speaking skills are in high demand. Read more about Danielle here .

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Five tips for holiday conversations

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New Michael Jackson Estate Deal Reported

November 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

A couple weeks ago, I wrote how  Katherine Jackson had a surprising “change of heart” by dropping her challenge to the executors for Michael’s estate.  In fact, her husband Joe Jackson was shocked — his lawyer called the move “despicable”.  Well, if this exclusive report from the United Kingdom website News of the World is accurate, we now know why Katherine did so. According to this report (which has been picked up by MSN Entertainment along with other websites), Katherine made the deal because the executors, John Branca and John McClain, had agreed to add a trusted family member as a third executor.  And, even better, this new executor would have veto power over decisions of Branca and McClain.  So who is the trusted family member?  Taj — Tariano Adaryll Jackson, Michael’s 36-year old nephew and Tito Jackson’s son.  He is reportedly very close to Michael’s children and mother, and was Michael’s favorite nephew.  He’ll be able to give the family a voice. This explanation makes a lot of sense.  It had been reported for months that Katherine and the two executors had been closing in on a deal where a family member would be added to the estate administration team to address Katherine’s concerns. As a probate lawyer specializing in contested cases like this one, I applaud the fact that Katherine and the two executors were able to settle their dispute.  They had already spent so much time and money fighting in court, putting an end to the challenge only made sense.  It’s very important in cases like this one for people to put emotions aside and try to reach a resolution that makes sense for everyone. Is it easy to do?  No, which is why working with an experienced attorney is a must.  If you find yourself in a mess like this and need the help of a good attorney, you should check out Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights!, which teaches people their legal rights in will and trust disputes, with the help of celebrity stories like this one.  It also helps with tips on finding good attorneys. Or you can visit the Trial & Heirs website  and fill out a questionnaire, and we’ll help you (at no cost) find an attorney. So does this mark the end of the Michael Jackson estate fight?  Maybe.  Joe Jackson reportedly isn’t ready to give up yet.  He is planning to appeal the judge’s decision not to allow him to seek removal of Branca and McClain.  So stay tuned … it may not be over yet! Posted by:  Author and probate attorney Andrew W. Mayoras, co-author of Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights! and co-founder and shareholder of  The Center for Probate Litigation and  The Center for Elder Law   in metro-Detroit, Michigan, which concentrate in probate litigation, estate planning, and elder law.  You can email him at blog @ trialandheirs.com.

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New Michael Jackson Estate Deal Reported

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Forbes Interviews Andrew and Danielle!

November 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Watch Andrew and Danielle’s interview with Forbes’ John Dobosz! Hear first hand from the authors what happened to the affairs of Jimi Hendrix, Steve McNair, Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, and Sonny Bono. You’ll even get a little advice for your own planning with a will or trust.

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Forbes Interviews Andrew and Danielle!

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