The Legacy Robin Williams Left Behind: Does it Include an Estate Plan that Protects his Children?

On Monday we lost a comedic genius and now legend. Robin Williams was found dead at the age of 63 years-young in his Tiburon, California home. During his career, Robin Williams transcended the genres by conquering the improv stage, broadway, and both the small and big screens. Mr. Williams was able to entertain every audience by successfully reinventing himself when bringing characters to life, whether he was a cartoon genie, a cross-dressing nanny, or a professor guiding young minds.

Along with grieving fans and heartbroken friends, Robin Williams left behind his wife, Susan Schneider, and his three children from previous marriages. According to Marty L. Oblasser, Wyoming estate planning attorney, “unfortunately, the grieving process is often interrupted by feuding family members who stand to inherit from the decedent’s estate. The loss of Mr. Williams is truly tragic, and hopefully it will not be exacerbated by his blended family’s potential diverging interests.” Oblasser explains that “along with the general public, many celebrities fail to adequately plan for their families upon their deaths. Hopefully, Mr. Williams will not join the ranks of Whitney Houston, Heath Ledger, Stieg Larsson, and recently deceased, Philip Seymour Hoffman, as the details of his estate plan unfold in the not so distant future.”

In addition to sharing his talent with the world, Robin Williams also touched people’s lives through his generosity of entertaining our soldiers during times of war, raising funds for the homeless (to the tune of more than $50 million), and advocating for the children of St. Jude’s Hospital. At this point, it is uncertain whether Mr. Williams’ philanthropic endeavors will continue in his absence. “Mr. Williams’ legacy of generosity will depend on how he structured his estate plan,” says Oblasser. “It is important to formalize your desires to ensure your wishes are followed, rather than relying on your grieving family members to carry the additional burden of making distribution decisions from your estate.”

Currently, Robin Williams’ family is hoping that his tragic death does not overshadow his unparalleled lasting legacy of bringing happiness and joy whenever possible.

The Legacy Planning Group of Schwartz, Bon, Walker & Studer, LLC is dedicated to helping both families and small business around the nation preserve their legacies. For more estate planning information and articles concerning celebrity estate plans visit www.schwartzbon.com and www.facebook.com/wyolegacyplanning.com.

Contact Information

Marty L. Oblasser, J.D.

Attorney

Schwartz, Bon, Walker & Studer, LLC

moblasser@schwartzbon.com