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07.27.2023
“You Better ‘Think’ About Preparing an Estate Plan”- Celebrity Estate Plans (Part 8): Aretha Franklin
When legendary musician Aretha Franklin died in 2018, her family believed she did not have a Will. When going through her home in May 2019, two handwritten documents were discovered that appeared to express her last wishes. Three of Franklin’s four sons, Kecalf, Edward, and Ted, disputed which document should prevail as her will. Her […]
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07.27.2023
August is National “Make-a-Will” Month!
Having a Will and other estate planning documents prepared is rarely top of mind. However, August is National “Make-a-Will” month and the perfect time to consider arranging your estate plan (or reviewing a previously drafted estate plan to ensure it reflects your current wishes) before the busyness of the fall and the end of 2023 […]
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07.27.2023
Factual Issues Require Resolution to Determine LLC Ownership
Ballingall v. Ballingall, No. A-2494-21, 2023 WL 3698577 (N.J. Super. App. Div. May 30, 2023) This dispute arose among siblings Carol Ballingall (“Carol”), JoAnn Strack (“JoAnn”), and David Ballingall (“David”) over the control of four limited liability companies (“LLCs”). Carol and JoAnn appealed an Order granting summary judgment for their brother, David. The Order declared […]
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07.26.2023
Discovery Should Have Been Allowed in Undue Influence Suit
In re Estate of Counselman, Docket No. A-1456-21 (N.J. Super. App. Div. June 28, 2023) This decision focused on whether summary disposition was proper in a will contest rooted in a writing intended as a will. The decedent, Elizabeth Counselman (“Counselman”), left an estate valued at more than $4 million. Plaintiff Carl Oxholm, III (“Oxholm”) […]
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Featured Contributor
Melissa Osorio Dibble
Melissa Osorio Dibble is an associate in the Litigation Department. She concentrates her practice in the area of Estate and Trust Litigation.