Pastor’s Family Feud Continues After Death

Most people hear the word “probate” and they cringe.  To avoid that sinking feeling of what to do when a loved one passes away, many people seek estate planning attorneys to complete a will or trust to prevent the need for a family to fight about a deceased’s possessions in Court.  While a good estate plan can prevent a probate fight, if they are not done properly, they can create an even larger family feud in Probate Court.

Highlighting this fact is the case of prominent national pastor Bishop William Bonner.  His family has filed a case in the Wayne County Probate Court challenging the administration of the Bishop’s will.  The family claims are summarized in the Detroit News Article that can be read at http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2016/01/26/bishop-family-battles-church-estate/79378916/.

Ultimately, the lesson here is, if you don’t have an estate plan, think there are issues with your estate plan, or if things have changed since you dusted it off five or ten years ago, you should talk with an estate planning attorney. 

If you believe that you have been wrongfully left out of a family member’s will, or you suspect problems with an issue, you may have a case.  In those instances, you need to contact a real probate litigator, rather than simply an estate planner.  At FausoneBohn, LLP we have experts who specialize in both.  If you have an estate planning issue, or believe that you may need to go to Court to right a wrong with a loved one’s estate plan, give us a call.