What Happens If You Don't Have A Will?
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Celebrities who died intestate
It’s not just the families of everyday folk like you and me that suffer the consequences of a loved one dying intestate and without a Will.
Take a look at the hardship, hassle and expense caused by the following celebrities dying without a Will.
Don’t make your families suffer like the following:
Paul Shane
The HI-DE-HI! star and comic did not leave a Will. His estate was eventually shared between his three daughters after a considerable amount of time and legal costs.
Jill Dando
Not having a Will meant her estate went to father and not her fiancé as she would have wished.
Heath Ledger
Did have a Will, however it was not up-to-date. As a result of this, his youngest daughter Matilda was left out completely.
Bob Marley
Had six children by different mothers and three by his wife. Marley did not make a Will. He left an estimated $30 million, and dozens of claimants, which led to massive squabbles over his legacy causing huge legal bills.
Barry White
Left children, ex- wives and girlfriends all fighting over his fortune when he died.
John Denver
Did not leave a Will when he crashed his plane and died in 1997. His family then had to wait six long years while the estate ground through probate court.
Jimi Hendrix
Died in 1970 and the battle over his estate raged on for many years costing $1000s in legal fees.
The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr
Died without drafting a Will causing considerable cost and distress to his loved ones.
Stieg Larsson
The author of "The Girl who Played with Fire" died without leaving a Will. His estate was then inherited by his father, rather than his partner.
Amy Winehouse
Died in intestate, probate records revealed that her £3 million fortune eventually went to her parents.
Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (Sonny and Cher)
Died without a Will. His widow headed to the Court to be appointed the Estate's Administrator. Ex-wife Cher then arrived as a claimant also and a “love child” surfaced soon thereafter, making the situation even more difficult and costly.
Pablo Picasso
Died intestate and left no Will, it took 6 years to settle his estate at a cost of $30 million. His assets were eventually divided up among six heirs.
Michael Jackson
Although a Will was later discovered, immediately following Michael Jackson’s death, his mother filed court papers claiming that Jackson died intestate.
Howard Hughes
When he died, his Will was “discovered” at the headquarters of the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City. The Will, however, was proved to be a forgery in a Nevada court and his estate was after many, many years eventually divided among his 22 cousins.
Tupac Shakur
Died without a will and his mother had the expense and hassle of going to Court to receive even a penny.
Billie Holiday
Died in July 1959 and left no Will.
Marvin Gaye
Reportedly left no Will.
Sam Cooke
Reportedly died without a Will.
Abraham Lincoln
The 16th US president and a lawyer left no Will.
James Brown (Godfather of Soul)
Had a Will; however, it had not been updated.
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