Today’s Daily News reports that Menachem Stark, a Brooklyn businessman and landlord who was murdered in January died intestate. While it appears that his partners may contribute to cover his substantial debts in a bankruptcy proceeding, his failure to have a Will can only add to the financial distress of his widow and seven children. Even if the estate is able to weather the bankruptcy, intestacy will limit his widow to an ultimate recovery of half his estate with each of his children recovering one seventh of the other half at age eighteen, subject to the fees that will be generated by court-appointed lawyers who will be needed to serve as guardians ad litem of the children. The addage that "man plans and G*D laughs" takes on a new and bitter meaning in this case which can only serve as a warning to put one’s financial house in order.