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Home / Uncategorized / Anna Nicole Smith Can Teach Us a Few Things

Anna Nicole Smith Can Teach Us a Few Things

June 23, 2022 by Brandon McGee

Life lessons from Anna Nicole Smith.

Anna Nicole Smith has become a household name.  But that was not always the case.  She was born as Vickie Lynn Hogan and grew up about 80 miles south of Dallas, Texas.  She was raised by her mother and, at age 17, she married Billy Smith, age 16, a cook at the restaurant where she worked.  She divorced Smith after a brief marriage which produced her son, Daniel.  She worked various jobs to support herself and Daniel, including as an exotic dancer in a Houston nightclub, where she was known as “Anna Nicole,” as well as other stage names.  It was here that she met J. Howard Marshall, a frequent customer at the club.  Marshall, 63 years older than Anna Nicole, began financing her lifestyle and career.  Soon, she became Playboy’s Playmate of the Year and a model for Guess?TM jeans.  The two married in 1994.

life lessons

According to Anna Nicole, Marshall promised her half of his estate upon his death.  After a year of marriage, Marshall died, leaving a will that disinherited one son and did not mention Anna Nicole.  Litigation ensued between Anna Nicole and Marshall’s other son, Pierce. More than a decade later, both Marshall’s son, Pierce, and Anna Nicole’s son, Daniel, are dead. However, the litigation continues.

Anna Nicole’s situation demonstrates life lessons as to why communication about your affairs before your death is so important and can prevent disputes down the road when you are no longer available to arbitrate disputes and explain your reasoning.  When unusual events are involved, such as marrying someone 63 years younger or disinheriting your spouse, it is even more important to communicate your wishes before your death.

If you expect problems, you may consider using a “no contest” clause in your estate plan.  Such a clause disinherits anyone who challenges your estate plan.  In order to make such a clause effective, you may want to consider leaving something to those to be disinherited so that they have something to lose by challenging.

A qualified estate planning attorney can help you determine the best way to communicate your wishes and can help you minimize the risk of a successful challenge to your estate plan.

Compliments of the McGee Law Firm, Attorney Brandon McGee

Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

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Brandon McGee
Brandon McGee
Brandon McGee enjoys a successful law practice focusing on estate planning, elder law, Medicaid preplanning and crisis planning, and probate. Brandon and his team combine legal skills with compassion and understanding to develop estate plans that are personalized to the needs of each of their clients.
Brandon McGee
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About Brandon McGee

Brandon McGee enjoys a successful law practice focusing on estate planning, elder law, Medicaid preplanning and crisis planning, and probate. Brandon and his team combine legal skills with compassion and understanding to develop estate plans that are personalized to the needs of each of their clients.

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Client Review
May 25, 2021
    

Brandon McGee is knowledgeable, experienced and professional regarding Estate Planning. The entire process of multiple meetings to establish our input, draft and sign documents and fund the Trust were well organized and clearly explained. At completion, we were presented with a very well organized binder with the documents (both paper and electronic) and lists for future action.  In short, we find Brandon McGee and his staff to be competent, professional and friendly. ~ Brian C.

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