Most California probate proceedings are fairly smooth.  Assuming the estate was solvent and the family gets along decently well, there is not much that can go wrong.  However, when a family does not get a long or someone feels slighted, well then a probate proceeding can air out all of the family’s dirty laundry and be quite an interesting affair.  From time-to-time there are some interesting ones involving famous people.

Once such case involves the Estate of Ike Turner.  Ike and Tina Turner were a dynamic dual at one time.  He was a bandleader, guitarist, and pianist whowas involved in the beginnings of rock ‘n’ roll as well as modern rhythm and blues.  However, he lost a lot because he became addicted to drugs, was sent to prison on drug-related charges, and because of allegations that he abused Tina Turner, his former wife.

Turner died in December 2007 at age 76 with a modest estate of $200,000.  Nevertheless, that estate is the subject of a battle between his children against a woman, Audrey Madison Turner, who he married the year before he died.  The dispute is over two conflicting wills and whether Audrey Madison Turner was actually married to Ike at his death as Ike filed for divorce two months after the marriage. 

Turner never appears to have utilized an attorney to prepare a will or a trust for him.  Rather there are handwritten Wills that he wrote in October 2001, October 13, 2007 and another note that he wrote in November 2007 that potentially revokes his October 2007 handwritten Will.

What is the moral of the story?  While it may sound self-serving, it rarely hurts to see an estate planning attorney to put your affairs in order.  Instead of taking the time to do that, there are now at least two attorneys involved fighting it out over a $200,000 estate.  How much of that will be left when all is said or done?