When famous people die without proper estate planning, their personal disasters become public lessons for the rest of us. Three recent celebrity deaths: Liam Payne, Aaron Carter, and Anne Heche: offer sobering reminders that even wealthy, successful people can make devastating estate planning mistakes.

Trusts can be used for all kinds of purposes.  One successful businessman, so grief-stricken over the loss of his wife and 2 daughters, used his trust to prepare for their reincarnation.

People were shocked to learn of the death of Michigan native, and comic legend, Robin Williams this past summer. In this article, we will look at the 5 strategies he used to protect his wife and children, avoid probate and taxes, fund his plan, and potentially leave a multi-generational legacy. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman left his family with a mess. An out-of-date will, unnecessary taxes, disinherited children, strange provisions, all exposed in very public Probate - and all of which could have been avoided. Here are 5 significant lessons from his last bad act.