Andy Mayoras

While spending years in litigation over a single piece of art is unusual, family fights over valuable or sentimental personal property left by a deceased loved one are far from uncommon. The mess involving a Warhol portrait of Farrah Fawcett offers an important estate planning lesson for advisors.

As the court battle between Michael Jackson’s heirs and entertainment company AEG heads to the jury, the case highlights five legal challenges and complications that the estate executors have had to worry about in the last few months alone.

A terminal diagnosis for Simpson's co-creator Sam Simon pushed him to immediately address his estate and charitable giving plans. His story offers an important lesson for your clients.

To put it bluntly, James Gandolfini’s estate is a mess. His faulty estate planning provides a good lesson of the types of complications that can arise for clients who rely heavily on a will.

You can do your clients a great service by sharing this story and reminding them that gifts of valuable personal property need to be well-documented with good estate planning, so that their loved ones don’t have to fight in court over whether a valid gift was made or not.

The battle over the estate of the Godfather of Soul started not long after James Brown died in 2006. Now, the South Carolina Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that may finally lay the epic feud to rest, and could establish an interested precedent for your clients.

How many people would jump at the chance to trade places with 15-year-old twins who stand to inherit one billion dollars in six years? Andy and Danielle Mayoras warn: be careful what you wish for.

Chicago businessman Urooj Khan jumped for joy when he learned he had the winning numbers for a million-dollar lottery drawing last summer. Too bad he never had a chance to enjoy it.

Jenni Rivera was a singer-songwriter, actress and Telemundo TV star who died tragically and now her estate will be as rocky as her life.

Abraham Lincoln is one of the most notable examples of someone dying without a will. This begs the question, what happened to Lincoln’s estate after he died?

One could only imagine what George Jefferson — the wise-cracking character who was “movin’ on up” on the 1970's TV hit, The Jeffersons — would have said about this predicament. The body of actor Sherman Hemsley, who played George Jefferson, has been kept on ice for the last 3 1/2 months.

The heirs of the two co-creators of the legendary comic book hero have been battling the powerful media conglomerates, Warner Bros. and DC Comics, for many years in a series of (seemingly) never-ending lawsuits. While most of your clients will never have to worry about something as valuable as Superman copyrights, it is very common for disputes to arise regarding an estate, trust or assets of someone who passed away. 

Whitney Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston, and sister-in-law, Marion Houston, filed a request in court to change the terms of Whitney Houston’s will. They want to delay when Bobbi Kristina receives her inheritance in order to protect her. The will created a “testamentary trust” for Bobbi Kristina. Andy and Danielle Mayoras explain what a testamentary trust is (and how you could use it with your clients.)

Insurance is an important part of all your clients' financial plans. The current controversy surrounding Michael Jackson's estate and litigation serves as a stark reminder to your clients to be careful and make full disclosure so their heirs don't have to face a lawsuit over an insurance claim when they die.

Legacy expert attorneys Danielle and Andy Mayoras say the circumstances surrounding the late musician's estate serve as the latest reminder that having the proper estate planning instructions in place - and keeping them updated - is extremely important for every client.

Fighting over estates is never pretty. These court battles are emotional, draining, and sometimes downright nasty for everyone involved. When they happen to the estate of a beloved American icon, it's even more tragic.

Legacy expert attorneys Danielle and Andy Mayoras say the untimely death and shoddy estate planning efforts of renowned artist Thomas Kinkade serve as a prime example of why clients should update their wills on a regular – and sober – basis.

Legacy expert attorneys Danielle and Andy Mayoras say that the inventors of Gore-Tex, the breathable, waterproof fabric used by many outdoorsmen, illustrate why advanced estate planning is critical.

Legacy expert attorneys Danielle and Andy Mayoras say the saga surrounding the estate of one-time child TV star Gary Coleman provides yet another learning opportunity for advisors and their estate planning clients.

Legacy expert attorneys Danielle and Andy Mayoras say advisors can point to the bigamy scandal surrounding actress Reese Witherspoon’s family as yet another example of why it’s so important for clients to have their estate planning and legal affairs in order.