On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant tragically died in a fiery helicopter crash along with his 13 year old daughter and seven other people. When I first heard of the NBA superstar’s death, I wondered if he had a will or an estate plan to provide protection for his wife and surviving children. It is estimated that Bryant made $680 million dollars from his 20-year NBA career and endorsements, which does not include income from his business ventures and likeness rights. Hopefully, given Bryant’s business acumen, he executed a trust or other estate documents to ensure the quick and peaceful transfer of assets to his wife and children. If the documents were prepared properly, the public may never know the full details of his estate and his heirs will be afforded privacy which the probate court does not provide. On the other hand, Bryant was only forty-one years old and may have put off estate planning, believing that death was a distant possibility. Tragedies like Kobe Bryant’s death can happen to anyone, at any time, which is why estate planning is so very important. Estate planning is for everyone, not just the elderly, rich or famous.
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