One of the more tragic stories in the news this year involved the death of Bobbi Kristina Brown, the daughter of Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston. Aside from the suspicious circumstances surrounding her untimely death, the public became familiar with the contentious battle between Bobby Brown and the Houston family to keep Bobbi Kristina on life support, despite the bleak prognosis given by her doctors.
Witnessing Bobbi Kristina’s plight over the past 5 months illustrates the importance of estate planning, regardless of your age. For example, had Bobbi Kristina executed Advanced Directive to Physicians, or a Living Will, she would have determined her own preference for life sustaining treatment, thereby eliminating the confusion and stress caused by family members and their inability to agree on a course of action.
As a Houston Probate Attorney, one of the most common issues I encounter relates to family members not knowing what to do with a will once their loved one has passed on. Understandably, discussing the proper steps handling a loved one’s estate is rarely discussed amongst family members before the loved one passes away. Here are a few things to consider when your loved one has died and left a will behind: