Michael Jackson Disinherited His Father
After Michael Jackson’s death, attorney John G. Branca produced the last will executed by Michael Jackson in 2002. Jackson's last will left his entire estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. The will makes no mention of Joseph Jackson, Michael Jackson’s father.
The will was submitted for probate in Los Angeles County on July 1, 2009. Branca was appointed co-executor of Jackson’s estate, along with co-executor John McClain. Jackson’s father filed several court actions challenging the validity of Jackson’s 2002 will. Joseph Jackson sought to have a court declare that Michael died without a will, also known as dying intestate. Because Joseph Jackson is not a beneficiary of the will, he had nothing to lose by contesting the will.
The primary beneficiaries of Michael Jackson’s family trust are his mother, Katherine Jackson, his three children, and various charitable organizations. The Los Angeles Superior Court judge in the case previously stated that Joseph Jackson will inherit nothing from his son’s estate. More recently, on October 26, 2010, the California Court of Appeals ruled Joseph Jackson does not have legal standing to intervene in how Michael Jackson’s estate is administered.
Hollywood Icon Joan Crawford Disinherited Two of Her Children
When actress Joan Crawford died in 1977, two of her children, Christina Crawford and Christopher Crawford, learned they had been disinherited. All of Joan Crawford’s children were adopted, yet she left an inheritance to two of her children while disinheriting the other two.
Crawford’s estate was valued at approximately $2 million dollars at the time of her death. In her will, she left $77,500 each to her two younger daughters, Cathy and Cynthia. She also bequeathed money to several other people and numerous charities. Despite this, Crawford left nothing to her eldest children, Christina and Christopher. She used the following language to disinherit them: It is my intention to make no provision herein for my son Christopher or my daughter Christina for reasons which are well known to them. Christina and Christopher contested the will and received a small settlement.
Crawford’s last will was made in 1976. Christina’s best-selling book, Mommie Dearest: A True Story, was published in 1978. Other books written about the legendary Joan Crawford include: Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography and Possessed: The Life of Joan Crawford.
For details about the estates of other celebrities, see our Celebrity Estates page.
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For details about the estates of other celebrities, see our