Steve Jobs was not able to avoid death but he had considerably better luck with taxes. As John Palley reports in his firm’sProbate Information Blog, without estate planning, Jobs’ estate would have had probate and tax expenses upwards of 3.5 billion (that’s BILLION  with a "B") dollars but that the judicious use of…

It isn’t often that one makes more money in death than in life but apparently that is what has happened with Michael Jackson. The rock icon died broke but, as of last December 31, his latest estate accounting revealed assets of more than three hundred million dollars according toAll Night Spots. As a…

On June 24, the New York State Senate gave its approval to a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in a dramatic late night session. Having already passed the Assembly, the bill was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo at midnight. New York is now the sixth —and largest— jurisdiction to enact a same-sex marriage act. The legal implications of this new legislation will soon be felt across the state.Continue Reading New York’s Historic Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage Has Broad Legal Implications

TheNew York Times has reported that many wealthy Americans seem reluctant to take advantage of the new tax breaks which Congress recently afforded them should they elect to set up trusts which will provide them with substantial breaks on estate taxes. These new tax breaks will expire in just two years so it is a "use it or lose it" proposition promising substantial savings for those super-advantaged folks in a position to benefit from the new law. Since the trusts take up to a year to implement, the window of opportunity is only open for a very short period.Continue Reading We Should All Have This Problem!

It is four years since the death of Anna Nicole Smith from an accidental prescription drug overdose. The smoke has cleared from the great "Who’s Your Daddy ?" controversy which exploded across the nation’s headlines soon after. And now, the ABA Journal reports that her heirs are about to carry on her fight for the fortune of her late husband to the Supreme Court.Continue Reading She’s Baaaack! Anna Nicole Smith’s Case Finally Reaches The Supreme Court

Yesterday we reported on theWashington Post‘s story about the estate of the  late football great Gene Upshaw being settled on the eve of trial. Today’s Post publishes shocking revelations about the final hours of the life of Mr. Upshaw and the controversy surviving what was offered as his "will".Continue Reading The Gene Upshaw Story Continues –How Not To Do It

Today’s Washington Post has reported that an estate contest between members of NFL football great Gene Upshaw’s family has ended in a confidential settlement. Evidently, that portion of his estate which drew the most fire was the disposition of a $15 million deferred compensation fund which the NFL Players Association paid to his widow. This payment had been previously undisclosed and raised a myriad of issues not only in the Upshaw family but also in the NFL where players were aghast that the late head of their union had received such a large benefit.Continue Reading Confidential Settlement In Gene Upshaw Estate

Your faithful lawblogger has just been informed that New York Probate & Estate Litigation.com has been nominated as a candidate to be one of the LexisNexis top 25 Estate, Probate and Elder Law Blogs of 2011 featured on the LexisNexis Estate Practice and Elder Law Community. We’d absolutely LOVE the support of our readers so please…