Without estate planning you leave the people you care about without any guidance as to what you want. Creating a will or trust can help make sure there is a smooth transition after your death. Unfortunately, there are many that do not take the steps to ensure they died without a mess left behind. Celebrities are not exempt from estate planning failures.

Tupac Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur died in 1996 when he was shot 4 times at a stoplight. Although he has had a very successful estate after his death, he passed without any will. After he died his mother, Afeni Shakur, became the sole heir and administrator of his estate.

Because there was no will left, the entire estate had to go through the probate process which included having to pay off all obligations and debts to others. Another consequence of there being no will is that there was no written statement saying the mother was the only heir. Because of the lack of statement, Tupac’s father sued to have 50% of the estate but eventually lost in court.

Chadwick Boseman

The actor that became famous for his role in Black Panther died from colon cancer at the age of 42. Although the actor died at a relatively young age, he had amassed quite the estate from acting. He also had 3 years before his death where he was aware of his worsening situation but still decided not to get a will
 

The lack of a will left his widow, Taylor Sigmon Ledward, to go through the lengthy probate process to claim his estate.

Stanley “Stan Lee” Liber

Stan Lee, the co-creator of the Marvel Comics, left very confusing instructions following his death and it led to legal trouble for his family and many of those around him.

Many people were uncertain if he had left a will or a trust. Another issue is that into his incapacity he had been tricked into signing away his estate, including his name and likeness.

With his wife of 70 years already dead, the $50 million estate ended up going to his daughter, even though it had been reported that they had a falling out years before.

Lee did not plan for what happened after he left and it creates many legal problems and headaches for those left.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Even Princess Diana was not immune to complexities following her death because of lack of estate planning.

Princess Diana died in a tragic car accident after her divorce in 1996.

While Diana did have a will prepared which was specific about who received what, there was an addition of her “Letter of Wishes” which was added as a late amendment to her will.

The letter gave her godchildren a portion of a quarter of her estate. The issue is that the letters were not a legal document and would have acted as a supplement to her original will.

The executors of the will disregarded the letters and chose to follow the original will instructions.

Aretha Franklin

An incredibly beloved singer-songwriter, Aretha Franklin passed away at the age of 76 in 2018 due to pancreatic cancer.

Because no one could find a will for Franklin, her possessions were split up equally among her four kids.

Eventually, letters were discovered that were handwritten and unauthenticated. They contained special provisions for her child with disabilities, Clarence, but did not outline how to split up the estate.

Over a year after her death her family members were still arguing to get the letters invalidated.

The Bottom Line for Those That Died Without an Estate Plan

It is important to understand that this is not a completed list. Michael Jackson, Prince, Sonny Bono, and John Denver all died with little to no estate planning.

While this is a list of celebrities that failed at estate planning, planning for your passing is not something just for the rich and famous. The article provides cautionary tales of those that didn’t plan and the consequences of their actions.

You can do better. Contact an estate planner today and help make sure that your beneficiaries enjoy what you’ve worked for your whole life.