Mary Goodblood grew up believing that she was the only daughter of Cash Goodblood. One day, 25 years after Cash died, and to no one’s surprise after the lucrative sale of the Goodblood family business was plastered on the front page of the local newspaper, Mary received a Facebook message from a woman named Désirée that said “Hi, I think your Dad is also my Dad. Do you want to exchange DNA?” After doing some research, Mary discovered that Désirée’s mom, Candy Onenight, had a very brief relationship with Cash long before Cash and Mary’s mom married. Cash died thinking that he left everything to his wife Martha Goodblood and their daughter Mary under his will and trust.Continue Reading “Hi, I Think Your Dad is Also My Dad” – Inheritance Without a Will

Monitoring his emails and gazing at the sights on Elafonisi beach in Crete, attorney Al B. Wise receives a desperate 4:30 a.m. (Texas time) email from his best client Betty Makit Williams – “Going under Slim Cutter’s knife in four hours for emergency surgery. No will. Can you get me one in case I don’t make it?” Sadly, Betty Makit did not make it. Did her will on a Post It?

Yes, at least in Texas. Knowing that a formal will was out of the question, Al B. Wise advised Betty Makit to write a holographic will – her last will and testament, completely in her own handwriting and signed by her. In addition to a will on a Post It note, Texas heirs have successfully probated wills written on a bedroom wall and on the fender of a vehicle. Even a Canadian will of a man trapped underneath was successful by probating the tractor’s fender as the will. About half of the states permit holographic wills.Continue Reading Last-Minute Wills….What Counts?