Wills, Trusts, & Estate Planning › Art, Entertainment & Sports Law

Estate Planning: Lessons Learned From Angelina Jolie

Estate Planning: Lessons Learned From Angelina Jolie Angelina Jolie disclosed that she had a double mastectomy and that she would have her ovaries removed to help prevent breast and ovarian cancer that she may be...more

When Athletes Retire, Is the Next Step Bankruptcy or Paradise?

The "paradise" stories for the post-playing careers of professional athletes are without a doubt under told. The success of Roger Staubach in building a real estate empire, the multiple businesses of NBA all-stars Magic...more

Estate Planning: Lessons Learned From Lil Wayne

Estate Planning: Lessons Learned From Lil Wayne Lil Wayne was hospitalized In California in March of 2013 after suffering from several severe seizures. Lil Wayne also known as Dwayne Carter is best known as a...more

Estate Planning: Lessons Learned From Lakers Owner Jerry Buss

Estate Planning: Lessons Learned From Lakers Owner Jerry Buss Jerry Buss died in February 2013 at age 80 from kidney failure after a battle with cancer. Buss is best known as the owner of one of America's most high profile...more

Art is Long, Life is Short: Estate Planning for the Artist and the Art Collector

I. NON-CHARITABLE TRANSFERS DURING LIFE Art is particularly well-suited for charitable transfers if the circumstances fit, but not all collectors or artists want to leave their art to a charitable organization. In...more

Forget about Georgia - Ray Charles' Children have Copyright Royalties on their mind.

**UPDATED BELOW** When Ray Charles passed away in 2004, his twelve children had accepted a $500,000 irrevocable trust and agreed that they would not seek anything further from his estate following his death. Now, some...more

Forget about Georgia - Ray Charles' Children have Copyright Royalties on their mind.

When Ray Charles passed away in 2004, his twelve children had accepted a $500,000 irrevocable trust and agreed that they would not seek anything further from his estate following his death. Now, some eight years later, his...more

Estate Planning For Actors And Athletes September 19, 2012

In This Presentation: General Estate Planning Opportunities; Challenges and Opportunities Relating To Public Persona; Special Asset Types and Character of Property; Alternative Family Structure Opportunities; and...more

Bruce Willis and Music, Social Media after Death

A strange rumor making the rounds of cyberspace during the first week of September captivated us for 15 minutes: actor Bruce Willis, angered over the idea that he would not someday be able to leave his valuable iTunes...more

Advanced Estate and Tax Planning for Art and Other Fine Collections

A composite of studies of trust and estate attorneys, trust officers, and financial planners revealed that: • Fewer than 10% of plans for their clients addressed art, antiques, and collectibles • Fewer than 10% used art...more

Whitney’s Will is Public

Whitney Houston’s Last Will and Living Testament was leaked by the tabloids this week. Of course, it did not take much detective work for the tabloids to “leak” Whitney’s estate plan, as all wills must pass through probate...more

A Wish List for Whitney Houston’s Daughter and the Families of Other Artists

The recent attention paid to the probate of the will of the late Whitney Houston is only a very small slice of a very complex estate. The complexity is primarily due to certain assets that are part of the estate and must be...more

Section 2704 Tackles Estate For A Claims Court Loss

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: A company formed to operate an NFL franchise runs afoul of Section 2704 at the death of its principal stockholder. While the estate put forth some creative arguments to elude the grasp of Section 2704,...more

Authentication Board to Death by Lawsuits

The recent news that the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board, Inc. will dissolve in early 2012 brings the role of authentication boards in the art world to the fore once again. The Board, which has been charged with...more

PLR 201119003 No Gifts Triggered by Trust Transfers to Resolve Family Discord

Erskine Summary: The IRS has privately ruled that transactions between a marital trust and a decedent's children from his first marriage to resolve discord between his surviving spouse and her stepchildren over the management...more

Tax Planning with copyrights for artists and collectors

The IRS treats the tangible artwork and the intangible copyrights as two separate assets, so collectors and artists have an advantage on gifting each separately to charitable and non-charitable beneficiaries for both estate...more

The Art Of Taxes: Major Changes To The Federal Transfer Tax System

Ars longs, vita brevis. Art is immortal, artists are mortal. Taxes impinge on every part of the art world and are a concern for both artists and collectors. Planning for and administering estates of artists and owners of art...more

Never Underestimate the Power of Addiction

THE POWER OF ADDICTION Never, ever, I mean do not underestimate the power of addiction. Whether it is your addiction, a family member’s addiction or a friend’s addiction, it is all the same. Some are more self...more

Protecting An Artist's Legacy Through Estate Planing, Probate and Post-Death Administratin Part 2

Part 2 of 2: In the US alone, thousands of copyright creators and/or copyright owners die each year. How many of these folks create a comprehensive estate plan, or even a basic will or simple trust? The goal of estate...more

Protecting An Artist's Legacy Through Estate Planing, Probate and Post-Death Administratin Part 1

Part 1 of 2: In the US alone, thousands of copyright creators and/or copyright owners die each year. How many of these folks create a comprehensive estate plan, or even a basic will or simple trust? The goal of estate...more

The Titanic of Estate Planning

There is no doubt that planning your estate means having to think of your death, and the ones left behind. It's not a happy subject, but it is one that must be done for the sake of everyone involved. The next time you think...more

THE BOSS’S ENDURING EMPIRE: Analyzing Estate Tax Consequences of George Steinbrenner's Passing

The death of George Steinbrenner on July 13, 2010 serves as an interesting study into the effect of the temporary repeal of the federal estate tax – and the failure of Congress to correct the problem before the end of 2009. ...more

Last Will of Michael Joseph Jackson

Last Will of Michael Joseph Jackson

The Last Will of Michael Joseph Jackson dated July 7, 2002....more

Audio Interview: Legal Issues Surrounding Michael Jackson Estate

In the document viewing window below, click the blue line under CREATE PROTECT BLAWGCAST (which takes you to a different document viewing window) to hear my interview with California probate attorney Jennifer Sawday on the...more

Estate of Michael Joseph Jackson aka Michael Jackson

Petition for Letters of Special Administration

Petition for Letters of Special Administration in the Estate of Michael Joseph Jackson aka Michael Jackson....more