What is it like to die without a will? What happens? If the guitar legend, Jimi Hendrix, could do one more thing before he passed away in 1970, what would it have been? It is possible he would have executed a will. That’s right, even the rich and famous die without a will occasionally, and their families suffer the consequences. The Hendrix family battled each other over the estate for years. Initially, by intestacy laws, Jimi’s father was the sole heir to his estate. Jimi had two children out of wedlock, and his father chose to deny them any claim on Jimi’s estate. What happened with the estate after that is nothing short of a mess. The court battle within the Hendrix family lasted until 2004. Would Jimi have chosen to provide for his children? Would he have chosen to leave portions of his estate to his siblings or other loved ones? We will never know. Certainly by dying without a valid will, none of his wishes for his estate were ever made known. Jimi Hendrix dies without will We can all learn a lesson from the famous people who die without having their estates in order. While you are living, you have the power to create a will that:

• Specifically states who your assets are left to
• Names a personal representative to handle your estate
• Names a guardian for any minor children you may have
• Decides who takes care of any pets you have
• Is a backup to a trust you may have to ensure everything is covered

You may have a lot of questions running through your mind about wills and trusts, and how your own family may be affected. The attorneys at Ambler Keenan Mitchell Johnson are experienced in estate planning and all the questions that come along with it. Attending a free seminar on Estate Planning Basics or setting up a free, one-hour initial estate planning consultation with an attorney at Ambler Keenan Mitchell Johnson may get you on the path to making sure your estate is in order for you loved ones.