Celebrity estates were top of mind this July. Check out these progress reports on the Estate of Gene Hackman, Chadwick Boseman and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Gene Hackman: Estate Administration Takes Longer Than You Think
Actor Gene Hackman died in February of 2025 in his New Mexico home. He executed a valid will in 2005 and the will was probated in New Mexico. Pursuant to the terms of the will, Julia Peters was appointed as Personal Representative. According to a Page Six article, the Personal Representative made filing in Court related to the probate, but now, the Actor’s estimated $80 million estate has stalled because Peter is still working through tax issues with the IRS. A New Mexico court even issued a notice of inactivity because no recent filings had been made.
What can we learn from this? Large estates (and not so large estates) take time to administer. They can remain open for years and it goes way beyond, the task of just reading the will. This is true even if the will is perfect! Personal representatives have to collect assets, settle up with creditors, make sure taxes get paid and more. Beneficiaries should not expect an estate to be administered in a few months, especially estates with complicated assets.
Chadwick Boseman: Picking the Right Fiduciary
Nearly six years after Chadwick Boseman’s death, his brothers have petitioned a California court to remove his widow as administrator. She was appointed when Chadwick died without a will, only six days after their wedding in 2020. The brothers allege she has failed to complete the administration, distribute certain assets, and provide sufficient transparency regarding intellectual property, residuals, and other estate assets. His widow has not publicly responded to the allegations. The article states Mr. Boseman’s brothers are seeking to appoint Jason Rubin, a private professional fiduciary and forensic accountant, as administrator of Chadwick’s estate in place of his widow.
What can we learn from this? Having a will is important. It’s not just about who will receive assets on your death. It is also about choosing who will administer your estate. Choosing the right person to administer your estate, whether it is your spouse, family, friend or a professional fiduciary, can be helpful in avoiding fighting over your estate.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner: Revisiting Your Estate Plan
The widow of Malcolm-Jamal Warner has filed lawsuits against her mother-in-law seeking approximately $1.2 million, alleging that an older family trust excludes both her and the couple’s 9 year old daughter despite Warner’s intent to provide for them. The litigation centers on a premarital agreement, trust provisions, and life insurance benefits.
What can we learn from this? When your life changes, so should your estate plan. If you find yourself getting married, welcoming a new child or grandchild, mourning a loved one, or moving, it is a good time to update your estate plan. Even if there haven’t been any major changes, it is good to pull out your estate plans and review every 5-7 years. A lot of us don’t think about updating our estate plans during times of major change, because there are a lot of other things taking up space in our minds. But, taking the hour or two to sit down and re-read your estate plans can save your family a lot of headaches in the future.
Also, want to learn more about children born after the execution of an estate planning document in Arizona? Check out this newsletter!
