Having Fun with Death & Taxes

How do fraudsters almost steal Graceland? A fabricated $3.8M loan and a forged Florida notary signature. When Lisa Marie Presley passed away, her estate was immediately targeted by an audacious real estate scam. It highlighted a terrifying reality for property owners: simply recording a deed at the county office doesn't actually mean you own the property. In the latest episode of Having Fun with D...

The visionary founder of Zappos left behind a billion-dollar legacy, but his business dealings were managed by 1,000 sticky notes and a "magical" will that appeared out of thin air from Pakistan. In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, estate planning attorneys Leslie Marenco and George Alvarez unpack the "mayhem, chaos, and foolishness" of the Tony Hsieh estate. In this episode, you...

The IRS claimed Michael Jackson's estate owed $700 million in taxes and penalties . Conversely, the estate famously claimed his "Image and Likeness" was only worth $2,105 . In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, Estate Planning Attorney Leslie Marenco and guest tax lawyer Francois Blanco break down the decade-long legal "shit show" that changed celebrity estate law and wealth preser...

Heath Ledger left behind a legendary cinematic legacy and a posthumous Oscar, but his estate plan was stuck in the past. Having written his will five years before his death, the Dark Knight star completely omitted his daughter, Matilda, leaving his $20 million fortune in a state of legal limbo. In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, estate planning attorney Leslie Marenco and guest...

The Queen of Soul left behind an $80 million estate, but it came in a "holographic" will hidden in her living room. In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, estate planning attorney Leslie Marenco and guest Nicole Martins break down the shocking reality of probate litigation. Aretha’s story reveals how even a global icon's planning can turn into a "dumpster fire" of legal battles and...

When U-Haul patriarch Leonard Shoen casually gifted shares to his children, he sparked a decades-long corporate bloodbath and a staggering $1.5 billion legal war. In this episode of Having Fun with Death and Taxes, Estate Planning Attorney Leslie Marenco and Corporate Attorney Kristina Wilson, break down the chaotic, multi-generational legal war behind the U-Haul empire. The family drama escalated...

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, estate planning attorney Leslie Marenco and family law attorney Vanessa Vasquez de Lara break down one of the most chaotic and bizarre celebrity probate battles: the estate of Howard Hughes. When the billionaire aviator and serial entrepreneur died in 1976 at the age of 70, he left behind no known will. What followed was an absolute legal circu...

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes , attorneys Leslie Marenco and Saidin Hernandez break down how NFL owner Joe Robbie’s outdated estate plan triggered family warfare, IRS pressure, and a fire sale of a legendary franchise. Joe Robbie built the Miami Dolphins and privately financed their stadium, but his 1980s-era estate plan relied on a basic pour-over will and revocable trust....

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, host Leslie Marenco and estate planning & tax attorney, Ivan Gomez break down one of the most expensive celebrity estate planning mistakes in history, the $150 million estate of Joan Rivers. Known for her sharp wit and meticulous planning, Rivers appeared to have everything in place, even provisions for her beloved dogs. But a single contra...

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, estate planning attorney Leslie Marenco and family law attorney Veronica Lopez-Calleja break down one of the most complex and prolonged celebrity estate disputes in history: the estate of the “Godfather of Soul,” James Brown. After Brown’s death in 2006, an estate valued at approximately $100 million became entangled in 16 years of litigation i...

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorney Leslie Marenco and estate planning attorney Alina Nuñez unpack the shocking reality behind Marilyn Monroe’s estate. Her entire legacy, later valued at more than $200 million, was governed by a three-page “simple” will. They explore how inadequate estate planning led to public probate, years of legal complications, and a surprising outc...

Lisa Marie Presley was born into about $100 million in Elvis Presley's wealth. Decades later, that fortune was drained mainly. Court filings describe a long slide into debt, unpaid taxes, and high-stakeswith her former business manager. At her death, she reportedly owed more than 1 million dollars to the IRS and millions more to other creditors. In this episode, attorney Leslie Marenco and guest E...

In this episode, host Leslie Marenco sits down with Estate Planning Attorney Ernie Martinez to explore what went wrong with Elvis Presley’s estate. We break down how a flawed Will and Testamentary Trust left the estate vulnerable, how Priscilla Presley turned things around with a professional team, and why a Revocable Living Trust is essential to protect your wealth from family disputes, predators...

The iconic voice behind America’s Top 40 and Shaggy from Scooby-Doo, Casey Kasem, had an $80 million estate, yet he signed his medical directives at a UPS Store. That single decision set off a Probate Disaster involving Guardianship Litigation, a missing persons report, shocking Elder Isolation, and the infamous raw steak lawsuit. In episode 3 of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, host Leslie Mare...

The fight for Tom Petty's music catalog wasn't over his money, it was over three simple words: "equal participation." Join attorney Leslie Marenco and guest invited Manuel Rodriguez, as they discuss how Petty's extensive 80-page Trust failed to define voting rights, pitting his widow against his daughters in a high-stakes Blended Family Probate Nightmare. We expose how one ambiguous sentence can t...

Join us on this episode of the FWD&T as we dive into what really happened after Lakers owner Jerry Buss passed away. His estate plan was meant to keep the team in the family—but what unfolded was a front-row seat to the drama that can follow when trusts, succession plans, and family dynamics collide. We’re joined by our brilliant guest Kristina Wilson as we discuss: ✅ Why Jerry’s plan to divi...

Having Fun with Death & Taxes: Intro

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