Why Estate Plans Need To Be Updated

Louisiana residents should ensure that they review their estate plans regularly. Director John Singleton, who died suddenly of a stroke in April, had a will from 1993 that had never been updated. Instead of a trust that would keep his estate plan private, make his wishes clear and appoint one or more people to handle his intellectual property, the will names the only one of his five children who had been born at that point as the heir.

California law states that children born after the time a will is created can inherit equally with a few exceptions, such as those who will inherit via a life insurance policy or other means. However, there is still likely to be conflict around Singleton’s estate. His family argued publicly over whether he would survive his stroke, who should be appointed conservator and his cause of death. His mother filed his will with the probate court, but one of his daughters challenged her efforts to become executor.