Tag: legal

A Fast Look At Paul Walker’s Estate

Nydia Menendez
Paul Walker

by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez In late 2013, while on Thanksgiving break during filming for his upcoming movie, Furious 7, Paul Walker died in a tragic car accident. Ironically, many fans remember him by one of his famous quotes: “If one day the speed kills me, don’t cry. Because I was smiling.” Walker was only 40 years of age and was survived by his parents and his 15-year-old daughter, Meadow. Even though young at the time of his passing, Paul Walker understood the importance of managing his Estate in…

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Leona Helmsley – Is $12 Million Too Much To Care For A Dog?

Nydia Menendez

by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez Leona Helmsley was a hotel heiress, which means she was very wealthy! And, although many people referred to Leona as the Queen of Mean, I don’t. Leona had a white Maltese named Trouble, which she adored. So, if she loved a dog, how mean could she be, right? In my book, anyone who cares that much for animals must have a heart. Leona passed away in 2007. Fortunately, she had done Estate Planning. Good for her. In her Estate Plan, Leona left the bulk…

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Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis – A First Lady’s Final Estate

Nydia Menendez
jackie onassis

by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, known more commonly as simply “Jackie”, was the wife of our 35th President, John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in November 1963. The scene of her at her husband’s side during that tragic event is etched into the minds of millions of people around the world. After President Kennedy’s assassination, Jackie did not pursue public office or any type of celebrity life. She sought to live privately with her kids. Still, there was one paparazzo who mercilessly followed her and…

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Prince’s Estate Was $300 Million … What Could Go Wrong?

Nydia Menendez

by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez. When rock and roll legend Prince Rogers Nelson, known simply as Prince, died suddenly in April of 2016, his fans were filled with questions. Today, years later, all his heirs are asking questions. But it’s no longer, “What happened?” It’s “What WILL happen” … to the estimated one to three hundred-million-dollar value of Prince’s Estate? Prince died without an Estate Plan of any kind. Not even a Will. And Prince’s assets are confusing: cash, investments, royalties from music and merchandise, a Caribbean villa, and…

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Tiger King, Estate Poor

Nydia Menendez
Carole Baskin

by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez Have you seen the Netflix “Tiger King” series? During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with people stuck at home in quarantine, this series went viral, being watched by over 64 million households. The show focuses on infamous zookeeper, “Joe Exotic.” But the third episode, titled “The Secret” really got me interested because it was about Carole Baskin, the founder of “Big Cat Rescue,” which is Joe Exotic’s chief rival. Carole Baskin married millionaire Don Lewis in 1991. Together the couple co-founded “Wildlife on…

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The Queen of Salsa’s Estate Plan … Complicated By Mr. Knight

Nydia Menendez
celia cruz

by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez Celia Cruz was a Cuban American salsa singer who became a legendary icon of the Latin Music world. She was known as The Queen of Salsa – a title well deserved, because her style and music definitely reigned supreme. She was famous for her vibrant voice, flamboyant costumes, brightly colored wigs, and her signature line, Azúcar! The Queen of Salsa was born in Santos Suárez, a working-class neighborhood in Havana, Cuba. She started her musical career at a very early age. Although her father…

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Was Aretha Franklin’s Will Found in The Sofa Cushions?

Nydia Menendez
aretha franklin

by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez Aretha Franklin was known as the Queen of Soul. Her tunes were not just harmonically excellent, but the lyrics were inspiring, uplifting and absolutely empowering. Remember, Aretha hit big in the post Civil Rights era. So, in my eyes she was iconic on so many levels. Aretha passed away in March of 2018. She was only 76 years old. When she died her family believed she had no Will or any other form of Estate Planning. Under Michigan law, that meant her Estate would…

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Is Your Power of Attorney Powerful Enough?

Nydia Menendez
Is Your Power of Attorney Powerful Enough

by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez A Durable Power of Attorney is a powerful tool that should be part of every Estate Plan. In the right hands it can make the difference between having a voice in our affairs in the event we become disabled or pass away, or not having one if we fail to designate the right person to make these decisions for us. What is a Power of Attorney?  A Power of Attorney is a legal document delegating authority from one person – the “Principal” – to…

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What Are Advance Health Care Directives?

Nydia Menendez
What Are Advance Health Care Directives

by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez When we start thinking of Estate Planning, we consider documents such as Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney. However, people frequently overlook a set of documents which, in my opinion, are the most critical in an Estate Plan: the Advance Health Care Directives. And because they are so important, we deemed it fit to prepare this article.  Why are Advance Health Care Directives Important? The Advance Health Care Directives include three main documents: the Living Will, the Designation of a Health Care Surrogate, and…

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Do I Need a Will or a Trust?

Nydia Menendez
Do I Need a Will or a Trust

by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez If you have reached a time in life when you are planning for the future, you have most likely have come across two of the most commonly known Estate Planning tools: A Last Will And Testament and A Revocable Living Trust. Both documents provide instructions on how your assets will be distributed when you pass away. However, it is important to know the differences between these two alternatives work and what it means to have one or the other. Having a Last Will Everyone…

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