Probate of ordinary man’s estate is detailed in novella-like New York Times story

George Bell died alone in New York City and no one noticed for days. But the life of the Queens man became front-page news in the New York Times (reg. req.) Sunday. The newspaper focused on Bell in a magazine-length story that describes in detail the arc of his life…

Oct 21, 2015 12:40 PM CDT

Day Pitney to open in Florida by merging with small trusts and estates firm

Day Pitney has announce a planned merger with a small Florida trusts and estates firm. The merger with Chapin Ballerano & Cheslack, which is to take place on Jan. 1, will establish a Florida practice for Day Pitney, a Northeast regional law firm that lists close to 300 lawyers on…

Oct 19, 2015 9:05 AM CDT

Is will bequeathing millions to the attorney who wrote it valid? That depends, says court

Mark Papazian, a Michigan lawyer who drafted a will and trust for a long-time friend and client, must prove that he did not exert undue influence in order to keep the $14 million the man left him and his two children. Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct hold that attorneys can’t…

Oct 9, 2015 12:35 PM CDT

Rule that forgives the dead allows convicted lawyer’s family to claw back forfeited cash, judge says

The family of a convicted lawyer who forfeited $150,000 in an alleged pension fund bribery scheme will get the money back because he died before sentencing and appeal, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds ruled for the estate of Detroit pension fund lawyer Ronald Zajac, who…

Oct 6, 2015 7:41 AM CDT

Did owner want dog’s $140K yearly bills paid by estate? Animal groups growl over lack of trust money

When Simpsons show co-creator Sam Simon died in March from colon cancer, the ultra-wealthy 59-year-old left his beloved but ailing and aggressive 125-pound dog in good hands. However, it appears that he didn’t provide financially for his 5-year-old Cane Corso, Colombo, whose food, training and medical expenses had been adding…

Sep 30, 2015 3:30 PM CDT

Indicted estate planning lawyer to take plea; victims say she stole millions

There was a free lunch for many estate-planning clients of Wisconsin attorney Sarah Laux, who talked about trusts at seminars at which food was provided. But she wound up owing $626,000 to eight of her clients, as she admitted in a petition seeking to give up her law license, the…

Sep 29, 2015 1:35 PM CDT

Lawyer gets 48 months for defrauding estate of $2.3M

A suburban Philadelphia lawyer who diverted more than $2.3 million from a $6 million estate into his law firm accounts was sentenced Thursday to 48 months in federal prison. Randall Scott, 72, pleaded guilty earlier this year to mail fraud and tax charges. Between December 2005 and October 2011 he…

Sep 11, 2015 9:20 AM CDT

Estate of heiress who left hundreds of millions loses $4M legal battle with NYC hospital

A public administrator representing the estate of copper heiress Huguette Clark filed too late in an effort to recover some $4 million in gifts she made to the New York City hospital in which she spent the final 19 years of her life, a state court judge has ruled. However,…

Aug 26, 2015 4:25 PM CDT

Lawyer’s double-murder trial delayed over use of subpoena rather than warrant for cellphone search

A Missouri lawyer accused of wielding a power of attorney as a lethal weapon in the murder of her father has sidestepped a second trial over his slaying. Jury selection had been scheduled to begin Monday in the double-murder trial of Susan Elizabeth Van Note, who is also accused in…

Aug 14, 2015 2:35 PM CDT

Delaware leads the way in adopting legislation allowing estate executors access to online accounts

Jul 1, 2015 4:30 AM CDT

Warring parties in Robin Williams estate case make progress, with mediator’s help

The widow and three adult children of actor Robin Williams are still at odds over the ownership of some of his personal belongings and the money needed to maintain his widow’s home. But, with the help of a mediator, they have resolved issues concerning a number of other items, so…

Jun 1, 2015 4:30 PM CDT

Lawyer is accused of stealing $1.8M from estate bequeathed to Connecticut town

The town of Oxford, Connecticut, is re-evaluating payment plans for a library after federal prosecutors accused a lawyer of stealing $1.8 million from an estate bequeathed mostly to the town. Lawyer Peter Clark, 57, of Woodbury is charged with one count of mail fraud, according to an FBI press release.…

May 22, 2015 9:24 AM CDT

Donald Sterling’s wife wins another round: Judge says ex-companion must return $2.6M to family trust

The wife of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has won another round in an ongoing court battle over family assets. Agreeing with Rochelle “Shelly” Sterling that a $1.8 million home and $800,000 in luxury vehicles and cash gifts came out of the married couple’s community property, a Los…

Apr 15, 2015 2:15 PM CDT

Lawyer whose family was to get $14M from client’s estate: Ethical issue shouldn’t invalidate will

Initially, a Michigan divorce attorney denied that he had prepared a will for a longtime friend that left $10 million in trust for the lawyer’s two children and gave the attorney another $4 million. But as a probate-court trial loomed in a Charlevoix County will contest brought by relatives of…

Apr 13, 2015 12:20 PM CDT

Stop efforts to close Sweet Briar, lawsuits by county attorney and alumna urge Virginia court

Echoing arguments made by unhappy alumnae about the planned closing of Sweet Briar College, the county attorney for Amherst County, Virginia, has filed suit seeking a court order to reconfigure its leadership. Filed Monday, the suit seeks an injunction, putting what amounts to a receiver in charge, and asking the…

Mar 31, 2015 1:55 PM CDT