topic Re: Good grief, no will in Community Chat

Good grief, no will

chrystaltree — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 17:55:57 GMT

I heard on the tv this morning that Aretha had no will. The woman was with tens of millions of dollars and had a terminal illness. It boggles the mind that she did not have a will. She had sons who will now have to go through the courts to work it out and with her wealth and royalties from her music and contracts, it will be complicated and take a long time. The lawyers will make a bundle off it. And that's if everything goes smoothly.

But the thing that really bothered me is that a woman of such wealth didn't feel the need to leave any money to charities or special people in her life. Perhaps other relatives or friends that she was close to. Not just money. Jewelry, art work. My bff and I have been friends for 37 years, before I was even married. She held high level corporate jobs, and has more money and resources than anyone I know or will know. She wants for nothing. Still. She's in my will, I want her to have the pearls that I inherited from my mother and a diamond and sapphire pin that was passed down from my grandmother. She collects antique jewelry and would appreciate them in a way that my daughters would not. That's what popped into my head when I heard "no will". Inheritance laws protect her sons but what about other people she cared for who cared for her?

Re: Good grief, no will

SilleeMee — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:01:37 GMT

If you asked me, her story kind of says something about her family and it should have been brought up by someone in it. If I was one of her sons then I would have brought it to the attention of her financial manager(s) before her death.

Re: Good grief, no will

Mistreatedbycs — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:08:08 GMT

The only people who will benefit from her death will be the lawyers.

The one lawyer was quoted that he tried, well, he didn't try hard enough nor do I believe he wanted to. If everything was done ahead of time, his share would be greatly reduced as to how much he will be charging now.

Re: Good grief, no will

RainCityWoman — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:08:38 GMT

Well, legally it should be divided equally among her sons. Hopefully, others don't come out of the woodwork making claims, and more importantly, hopefully the brothers will treat each other with fairness and love.

Re: Good grief, no will

Lisa Y — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:10:42 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
I heard on the tv this morning that Aretha had no will. The woman was with tens of millions of dollars and had a terminal illness. It boggles the mind that she did not have a will. She had sons who will now have to go through the courts to work it out and with her wealth and royalties from her music and contracts, it will be complicated and take a long time. The lawyers will make a bundle off it. And that's if everything goes smoothly.

But the thing that really bothered me is that a woman of such wealth didn't feel the need to leave any money to charities or special people in her life. Perhaps other relatives or friends that she was close to. Not just money. Jewelry, art work. My bff and I have been friends for 37 years, before I was even married. She held high level corporate jobs, and has more money and resources than anyone I know or will know. She wants for nothing. Still. She's in my will, I want her to have the pearls that I inherited from my mother and a diamond and sapphire pin that was passed down from my grandmother. She collects antique jewelry and would appreciate them in a way that my daughters would not. That's what popped into my head when I heard "no will". Inheritance laws protect her sons but what about other people she cared for who cared for her?

Re: Good grief, no will

beckyb1012 — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:11:04 GMT

If she died Intestate then the laws/statutes of her state must be followed for distribution of her Estate. Still the attorney retained will make more for filing a Dependent Administration Probate as opposed to an Independent Administration. If they even choose to probate her Estate. Her children (if no spouse) may decide just to follow the law of her State.

Re: Good grief, no will

YorkieonmyPillow — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:12:40 GMT

@chrystaltree How do you know she didn't leave special things to her friends or charities? She may have distributed all that before she passed.

She was worth 80 million, is what I heard.

I don't know why she wouldn't do a will - maybe she was afraid if she made a will, someone would bump her off.

Some people have odd beliefs (if it IS odd).

She had her purse with her within sight when she performed, else she wouldn't go onstage.

Re: Good grief, no will

Cakers3 — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:16:27 GMT

Aretha was paid in cash because in earlier times African-American performers were often not paid what they were promised-or not paid at all.

Aretha was paid upfront or didn't sing. We have to remember the time period she came from when she started out. She also paid all her staff cash from that, too.

However, because of no taxes taken out for her or those in her employ, she faced quite a bit of trouble with the IRS.

Her will (or lack of ) is her business. I don't know why people are bothered that she didn't leave $$ or other material things to those less fortunate-her estate, her decision.

Besides, we don't know if she has anything set up in trust for any charities or for other people. She could very well have taken care of more than we know.

RIP, Queen of Soul.

Re: Good grief, no will

FranandZoe — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:22:05 GMT

She must have had her reasons.

My husband's cousin - very wealthy - died intestate and he was an attorney.

Re: Good grief, no will

YorkieonmyPillow — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:22:48 GMT

@Cakers3 I know what her rationale was for the cash payments - I'm just making the point that some people have odd ways when it comes to their money and what happens to it/where it goes, etc.

I did read one of her sons was special-needs and required care, I believe. But her jewelry (if she had any), and other items, she may have distributed; we don't know....

Re: Good grief, no will

Skyegirl21 — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:28:54 GMT

I heard this Okay and was shocked- she was battling pancreatic cancer, one of the worst killer... No one thought to prepare documents? It’s extremely odd, or else very intentional-

Re: Good grief, no will

Mominohio — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:30:57 GMT

No one really knows all the dysfunction in other people's families, and I'm sure this one was/is no different, and has it's share.

People will do what they are going to do, and they are not going to do what they don't want to do. Who knows the reasons she did this, maybe she had some (not good ones, but maybe to make someone work for what they were going to get, or to make life difficult for someone?).

Yep the lawyers are going to be the ones to get rich, and I'm guessing she was either super stubborn about this, or had some hidden agenda, or simply didn't care about the money.

Millions of people have parents pass on and get nothing, because they have nothing or because their parents think they should make their own way. Maybe she thought something like that. Maybe she was just not interested in what happened to her estate.

Re: Good grief, no will

software — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:39:14 GMT

I don't know the big deal about a will,

It's so easy to do.

I have had one for years, I'm not in good health, I've been living on borrowed time for many years. But I don't have a big estate. But I do want my kids to get it and it not be up for grabs in the hands of a judge.

My plan is to distribute before I go, even with a will, Probate is a PITA.

Maybe she didn't trust lawyers or paperwork.

If she does have a special needs son, she should have taken care of him.

Maybe she did, in another way

Re: Good grief, no will

SeaMaiden — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:42:46 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
I heard on the tv this morning that Aretha had no will. The woman was with tens of millions of dollars and had a terminal illness. It boggles the mind that she did not have a will. She had sons who will now have to go through the courts to work it out and with her wealth and royalties from her music and contracts, it will be complicated and take a long time. The lawyers will make a bundle off it. And that's if everything goes smoothly.

But the thing that really bothered me is that a woman of such wealth didn't feel the need to leave any money to charities or special people in her life. Perhaps other relatives or friends that she was close to. Not just money. Jewelry, art work. My bff and I have been friends for 37 years, before I was even married. She held high level corporate jobs, and has more money and resources than anyone I know or will know. She wants for nothing. Still. She's in my will, I want her to have the pearls that I inherited from my mother and a diamond and sapphire pin that was passed down from my grandmother. She collects antique jewelry and would appreciate them in a way that my daughters would not. That's what popped into my head when I heard "no will". Inheritance laws protect her sons but what about other people she cared for who cared for her?

@chrystaltree It was her choice...her business what she did or who she left anything to.....who are YOU to judge? What YOU DO Is YOUR BUSINESS. So mind your own and do not let what someone else does BOTHER YOU as you put it.

Re: Good grief, no will

CrazyDaisy — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:44:30 GMT

My understanding that in MI if a person has no will, an executor will be appointed by the court and distribute the assets between her 4 children equally. Perhaps that is what she intended all along. The executor will get of some sort of payment usually established by the law.

Re: Good grief, no will

Mz iMac — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:45:20 GMT

@Cakers3 "Her will (or lack of ) is her business. I don't know why people are bothered that she didn't leave $$ or other material things to those less fortunate-her estate, her decision."

As for the rest of your post....

Re: Good grief, no will

Junebug54 — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:49:31 GMT

@SeaMaiden Totally agree with you. Some of the things posters stress over are ridiculous. Her money her choice..

Re: Good grief, no will

GenXmuse — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:49:32 GMT

Just another high horse to climb on top of.

Re: Good grief, no will

Cakers3 — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:57:25 GMT

@GenXmuse wrote:
Just another high horse to climb on top of.

@GenXmuse Hee hee.

Re: Good grief, no will

bikerbabe — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:58:08 GMT

Aretha supported many charities during her lifetime and was active in the civil rights movement.