The recent death of singer Amy Winehouse is a familiar tragedy amongst a long line of celebrities that have passed away at an early age when they were in the prime of their lives and careers. And while some poor choices in her life may have led to her death, it seems she actually made some very good choices when it came to her estate litigation.
She is estimated to have been worth close to $16 million dollars at the time of her death. And no doubt her estate will continue to grow with the increase in sales of her music since her passing. According to sources close to Winehouse, after she divorced her ex-husband in 2009, she took the necessary estate litigation precautions and updated her will. An update that excluded him as a beneficiary and left the bulk of her assets to her immediate family including her mother, father, and older brother. This update is very important given that under English law, even though divorced, it is assumed that the spouse or ex-spouse be the natural inheritor in absence of a will that specifically excludes them to be the inheritor.
If this is indeed the case, it shows how proper estate litigation even in times of emotional distress like a divorce, can save your entire estate from going to an ex-spouse against your wishes.
Consider contacting a professional estate litigation Lawyer to update your will or trust if you've recently experienced a divorce.
*This blog entry was not written by an Attorney and should not be constituted as professional legal advice.