The most recent update on Prince’s estate allows the administrator to sell all six of late musician’s properties; however, this order does not protect the personal components of his life. Like Prince, when you die without a will your court filings are made public in probate court. There are several reasons why you might want this knowledge to be kept secret from the public. Particularly, heirs can be approached by scammers or targeted by criminals. Additionally, public records can invite will contests from unhappy family members. To avoid probate, you should consider probate alternatives, like revocable trusts and beneficiary designations.
See Ettinger Law Firm, Keeping Your Life and Assets Private, New York Estate Planning Attorney Blog, September 14, 2016.
