Aretha

[old2soon]

     Just read where she died WITHOUT a will! Also read where she was worth 10s of millions of $$$. Doncha just KNOW the hanger ons and the never wuzs and the leeches WILL bill crawlin outa the woodwork.  Or am I FAR too skeptical?  RIDE SAFE.

[bscrive]

Nope. 

Look at what happened to Prince's estate after he died.  He didn't have a will either.

[Jess from VA]

Neither did Howard Hughes.  (crazy as a bed bug at the end)

Please people, make a damn will.  So many do not, simply because they do not want to deal with the certainty of their death.  Most states allow a holographic (handwritten) will signed in front of a notary, so you don't need some spendy lawyer.  Make it simple and clear, and do not complicate it with 20 specific bequests of this and that to particular people.  Remember that things like insurance and 401Ks and bank accounts can have named beneficiaries (if not joint owners) (in event of your death), and does not need a will.  A house (any real estate) MUST be probated if there is no survivor (joint owner) on the deed.  

If you die intestate (no will) it all goes to surviving spouse OR to kids in equal shares, then parents.  But that still requires probate for many things.  It's your life savings and property, make sure it goes where you want, with none to courts and lawyers and banks and other riff raff.

If you will cut someone out who would normally take a share, say you are leaving them out (or giving them $5) intentionally (don't say becaues they are an asshole, you don't have to say why).  When ordinary takers are left out without mention, they often fight for a share.  Mention they are out.

Do it.  

[bassman]

https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/aretha-franklin/2018/08/22/aretha-franklin-fortune/1001566002/

Understand her net worth at death was between 80-100 million - that could increase dramatically with the sales of her records after death.

Interesting story I heard over the weekend about Aretha:  she was infamous about ALWAYS carrying her purse on-stage with her every time she performed.  It seems she got burned in her early career when she performed and never got paid.  After that, she insisted and her contract stated she would be paid IN CASH before she stepped on stage and sang one note.  She normally stuck the money in the purse but there are other stories about her occasionally sticking money down the front of her blouse/dress/outfit - can't confirm or deny that one however.

P.S.  Do what Jess says and get your legal documents in order - NOW.

[Jess from VA]

That story is nearly identical to Chuck Berry.

He wanted cash up front before every show.

And frugal:   He would drive himself to his concerts, carry his own guitar and amplifier in the trunk and have the concert promoter hire a local band to back him up.  When the show was over, he'd load up his car and split.  Berry famously insisted on being given $2,500 in a paper bag before he would appear in Hail! Hail! Rock ’N’ Roll, a concert film celebrating his 60th birthday.  At death the value of Berry’s estate was estimated at $50 million -- “conservatively.”

Count up how many other artists and rockers lived to 90.

[old2soon]

Will is done and my last wishes should be carried out as m Church IS the executor of my will. AND my wishes as regards both ex wives and 6 children-ALL Adults now-are spelled out. No where near the loot of a rock star BUT the most recent ex tried unsucessfully to access my 401K after I had changed the codes!    Darn-wunder HOW dat happened!  Sooooooo listen to Jess and git er done A S A P.    RIDE SAFE.