What would you leave behind for those you love when you’re gone?

Leave a legacy not a mess.

A #Thread of people you know who died without a Will (and left a mess for their families).

Martin Luther King Jnr.

As a civil rights activist who faced death threats, it is surprising that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. didn’t make a will. And while he was assassinated in 1968, his family fought for control over his estate for over 30years.

While he was out busy fighting the war for civil rights, he neglected his estate preparations and died without a will. This marred his legacy a bit, as it caused a lot of infighting between his children.

In 2014 they battled over his Nobel Peace Prize medal and personal traveling Bible. His daughter wants to keep these items, and his sons want to sell them.

Did he leave a legacy or mess?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Billie Holiday (44 years old).

Billie Holiday was an incredibly influential jazz and pop singer, known mostly for her vocal talent and great improvisation skills. Her style allowed her to easily overcome her limited range and lack of formal education.

She was a successful concert performer throughout the 1950s with two further sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall.

She won four Grammy Awards throughout her career.

She died with very little to her name – the modern-day equivalent of about $6300.

Without a will, her estate and future royalties were left to her estranged husband Louis McKay.

He was a Mafia enforcer, and an abusive husband. They had been estranged at the time of her death, but not divorced – so, by intestacy laws, he gained control of the estate.

Tupac Shakur (25 years old)

Often hailed as one of the most influential rappers of all time, Tupac Shakur sold over 75 million records during his time in the music game.

He was a fantastic lyricist, usually writing about gang life and other realities of growing up in Harlem.

Shakur was known for his prolific canon of music and poetry, often writing about the social injustice that plagued inner-city communities.

Additionally, Shakur is often praised for his poetry, compelling acting, and tremendous work ethic.

Tupac died violently, in a likely-gang-related shooting that occurred in Las Vegas in 1996.

He died without a Will, and his estate was transferred to his mother after a trial which denied William Garland (his alleged father) any inheritance.

Pablo Picasso (91years).

Pablo Picasso was one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, famous for paintings like ‘Guernica’ and for the art movement known as Cubism.

Because of his superstition about death, Pablo Picasso did not make out a will.

It took more than six years of bitter negotiations for Picasso’s estate to be settled (for a pricey $30 million) after he died in 1973.

Picasso left a massive amount of valuable assets including 45,000 works of art, five homes, $4.5 million cash, $1.3 in gold, stocks, and bonds.

In 1980 the Picasso estate was appraised at $250 million, but experts have said the true value was actually in the billions.

As he had no will, his wife ended up taking control of the estate.

However, she cut out his kids and grandkids until she ended her own life.

His assets were eventually divided up among about seven heirs.

Bob Marley (36 year old).

The Father of modern reggae Bob Marley is considered a global symbol of Jamaican music and culture and identity, and was controversial in his outspoken support for the legalization of marijuana, while he also advocated for Pan-Africanism.

He died from a malignant series of tumors that was first discovered in 1977.

While it may seem surprising that singer and songwriter Bob Marley—diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 1977 and dying four years later at the young age of 36—didn't have a will.

Apparently......

....his religious beliefs prevented him from making a will.

He was right about celebrating eternal life through music but inadvertently created a mess that would last decades.

Marvin Gaye (44 years old).

Marvin Gaye, is one of the more influential musicians of our time. He released many songs throughout the years, each with his own personal style and edge that set his music apart from the rest.

Marvin Gaye was one of the greatest soul singers of all time.

He had been married twice, had three children.

In the mid 1970’s Marvin filed for bankruptcy and encountered tax difficulties. He developed a serious addiction to cocaine and by 1980, owed $4.5m in taxes.

He was eventually shot to death by his father after an argument.

When he was killed Marvin’s estate, was $9.2 million in debt and without a will.

Legacy or mess?

Famous or not, everyone should have a will.

It is simple to do and it saves your family a lot of money and headaches. And, as illustrated by the stories above, you’re never too young—or too smart or too powerful—to have a Will.

Leave a legacy not a mess!

Do not leave a mess for your family when you're gone!

Do you need a Will?

Yes you do.

Find out why here http://www.wingmanlegal.com/estate-planning/do-you-need-a-will/