Who was Pablo Picasso?Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter, sculptor, poet, playwright, ceramist, and stage designer. The most well-known periods in his work were the Blue Period, the Rose Period, the African-influenced Period, Analytic Cubism, and Synthetic Cubism. He was one of the most influential artistic figures of the 20^th century.What was his estate worth?His estate consisted of more than 45,000 paintings, sculptures, ceramic objects, lithographs, and sketches. He also owned three villas along the French Riviera. His estate valued today, would be approximately $173 million dollars.What conflict was there with his estate?He died at age 91 in 1973 intestate, meaning he had left no will. He did, however, leave behind a giant tax bill owed to France. Many of his artworks were given to France as payment for his debt.It took 19 lawyers and many years to settle the estate of Pablo Picasso.  Picasso’s illegitimate child, Claude, fought to be legally recognized as an heir. Eventually he, along with five other descendants, were confirmed as heirs, and the estate was settled.What lessons can be learned from the estate of Pablo Picasso?The actual writing and execution of a valid will can avoid many problems that arise in the process of probate. A simple will is not always “simple.” Estate planning attorneys can walk you through the options and requirements of a valid will that encompasses your distribution wishes.If you are interested in creating an estate plan, or would like to make sure your estate plan is up-to-date, call our office for a free, one-hour, no obligation, initial estate planning consultation with one of our qualified estate planning attorneys. 303-407-1542