Estate Planning Horror Stories
Estate planning might not sound thrilling, but failing to create one can lead to dramatic (and costly) consequences for the people you love most. Below are four real-life inspired cautionary tales that reveal what can happen when estate planning is overlooked or mishandled.
The Ex-Spouse Estate Plan Twist
The Trust with Nothing in it
The Forgotten Children
The Disinherited Partner
1. The Ex-Spouse Estate Plan Twist
Jason M., a devoted single father, had finally made it through a grueling, high-conflict divorce. His focus was on raising his three kids and rebuilding his life, but he never got around to setting up a will or trust.
Then tragedy struck. Jason passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind a significant estate. Because he died without a will (intestate), the court appointed someone to manage his children’s inheritance: his ex-wife. Unfortunately, she was the last person Jason would have wanted overseeing his assets.
Moral of the story: Life doesn’t wait. After a divorce—or any major change—create or update your estate plan immediately to ensure your wishes are followed.
2. The Trust With Nothing In It
Claudia and Martin Evans worked with an attorney to set up a trust for their son, Leo. They thought they were being proactive and responsible. However, they were never advised to re-title their assets into the trust. When both parents passed away in an accident, the trust was empty.
Leo was forced to go through probate and hire a lawyer to fight to have the assets transferred into the trust posthumously. What should have been a simple transfer became a months-long legal mess.
Moral of the story: A trust is only as good as the assets placed inside it. Make sure you fund your trust properly.
3. The Forgotten Children
Filmmaker Daniel Blackwell had a will that left everything to his firstborn son. At the time, it made perfect sense. But over the next decade, Daniel had five more children with three different women and never updated his estate plan.
When he passed away, only one child was named in the will. The rest were left to challenge their exclusion in court. The case dragged on for years, draining the estate and straining family relationships.
Moral of the story: Estate plans should evolve with your life. Marriages, births, divorces, business changes—all are reasons to revisit and revise your documents.
4. The Disinherited Partner
Jasmine and Owen shared a life together for over 20 years. They owned a home, built a business, and supported one another through everything. But they never legally married.
When Owen died suddenly without a will, Jasmine discovered she had no legal right to inherit anything—not the house they shared, not the business they ran together. Because their state didn’t recognize common-law marriage, Jasmine was left out in the cold.
Moral of the story: If you're unmarried but want to protect your partner, you must include them in your estate plan. Otherwise, the law may not recognize your relationship, no matter how real it was.
Estate Planning Is One of the Greatest Gifts You Can Leave Your Family
Estate planning is one of the most important acts of love and responsibility you can offer your family. It prevents confusion, conflict, and unnecessary court battles. Most importantly, it offers peace of mind for you and those you care about.
How Northern Monarch Capital Can Help
At Northern Monarch Capital, we believe estate planning should be proactive, personalized, and pain-free. That’s why we’ve partnered with Wealth Inc., one of the most innovative digital estate planning platforms available today. Together, we make it easy for you to:
Create or update your will or trust
Protect your children and your partner
Properly fund and maintain your estate plan
Avoid probate pitfalls
Keep your plan updated as life and/or State and Federal laws change
Whether you're starting from scratch or reviewing an outdated plan, our advisors will help you navigate the process with confidence and clarity.
Ready to protect your legacy?
Let’s build your estate plan—your future self (and your loved ones) will thank you.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
