Planning Your Legacy: What Taylor Swift’s “Elizabeth Taylor” Teaches Us About Glamour, Impact, and Estate Planning
Taylor Swift’s “Elizabeth Taylor” is a sparkling anthem about reinvention, fame, and the longing to be remembered. It’s ultimately a song about legacy—the stories that endure after we’re gone. In Nebraska, estate planning is how everyday people shape their own legacies. Whether your focus is protecting family, supporting causes, or safeguarding creative work, estate planning tools like wills, trusts, charitable giving, and intellectual property protection can ensure your values last. This post blends Swift’s cultural commentary with Nebraska law, showing how you can plan your legacy with clarity and confidence.
Why “Elizabeth Taylor” Is a Legacy Anthem
In The Life of a Showgirl, Swift sings:
“All my white diamonds and lovers are forever / In the papers, on the screen and in their minds.”
The lyric captures what it means to leave a mark. Elizabeth Taylor’s legacy wasn’t just films and fame—it included philanthropy and reinvention. Estate planning is how Nebraskans, regardless of fame or fortune, write their own lasting story.
Nebraska Estate Planning: Tools to Preserve Your Legacy
Wills and Trusts
Nebraska recognizes wills under Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 30-2326 to 30-2338 and trusts under the Nebraska Uniform Trust Code (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 30-3801 et seq.). Wills direct how property is distributed and nominate guardians for children. Trusts allow probate avoidance, privacy, and management of assets during incapacity.
Transfer-on-Death (TOD) Deeds
Under Nebraska’s Transfer on Death Deed Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-3401 to 76-3423), real estate can transfer directly to named beneficiaries without probate, provided the deed is executed and recorded before death.
Beneficiary Designations
Life insurance, retirement accounts, and payable-on-death accounts pass outside of probate. These override wills and must be updated after divorce or life changes to avoid unintended transfers.
Charitable Giving: A Legacy That Lives On
Elizabeth Taylor’s activism is part of her enduring legacy. Nebraskans can do the same by incorporating charitable giving into their estate plans. Options include:
Bequests in wills or trusts
Charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) – provide income to beneficiaries during life, with the remainder to charity
Donor-advised funds (DAFs) – tax-advantaged funds that support causes flexibly over time
Nebraska law supports both CRTs and DAFs, offering ways to maximize impact while potentially reducing estate taxes.
Protecting Creative Works and Intellectual Property
For artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators, legacy includes intellectual property (IP). Nebraska protects IP through laws covering trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights. You can preserve creative works by:
Assigning copyrights, trademarks, or patents in your will or trust
Licensing IP to generate ongoing royalties
Naming trustees or successors to manage creative assets
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I include my creative works in my estate plan?
Yes. Intellectual property can be assigned through wills or trusts. Proper planning ensures your art, writing, or business legacy is preserved.
What happens if I die without a will in Nebraska?
Your assets will be distributed under Nebraska’s intestacy statutes, which may not align with your wishes—especially for creative or charitable property.
How can I avoid probate in Nebraska?
Using revocable trusts, TOD deeds, and updated beneficiary designations can transfer many assets directly to heirs without probate.
Is estate planning only for wealthy people?
No. Nebraska estate planning is for everyone. Even modest estates benefit from a will, power of attorney, and healthcare directives.
Can estate planning help me support a charity?
Yes. Charitable trusts, donor-advised funds, and beneficiary designations all allow you to give back as part of your legacy.
Final Takeaway
Taylor Swift’s “Elizabeth Taylor” reminds us that legacy is more than glamour—it’s the mark we leave behind. Nebraska estate planning lets you define what endures: protection for your family, support for causes you care about, or preservation of your creative work.
At Zachary W. Anderson Law, we help Nebraskans write their legacies with clarity and compassion. Whether you need to draft a will, update a trust, or plan for charitable giving, we’ll guide you through each step.
📧 zach@zandersonlaw.com