When James Brown passed away, he had a will, a trust, and an estate worth $100 million. So why did it take nearly 15 years to settle his affairs? The truth is, even with documents in place, poor planning, outdated terms, and family conflicts can send any estate into chaos—especially when intellectual property is involved. Here’s what happened to James Brown’s estate, and how you can avoid the same mistakes.

Having a will is important—but it’s not a guarantee that your wishes will be followed or that your loved ones will be protected from stress and confusion. In this post, I break down the five most common ways wills fall short and what to do instead, especially under Nebraska law. Whether you already have a will or are starting from scratch, this is what you need to know.

Prince died without a will—and the result was six years of legal chaos, family conflict, and millions lost to probate. If it can happen to someone with a $150 million estate, it can happen to anyone. This post breaks down what went wrong, how Nebraska law handles situations like this, and why having a plan isn’t just about money—it’s about peace.

Even a Hollywood legend can get estate planning wrong. Gene Hackman’s outdated will, lack of backups, and missing trust left his $80 million estate in legal limbo—and his family in chaos. If you’re assuming your old will still works or that your spouse will outlive you, this is your reminder: estate planning isn’t something to set and forget. Here’s what went wrong, and how to make sure your plan actually does what it’s supposed to.