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November 21, 2008 8:52:45 PM CST

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12 Stories

What Really Happened in Astor's House

Millionaire's former
staff say abusive son bilked her of $60M

New York Post New York Post Nov 16, 08 6:08 PM CST
(Newser) - A new book about Brooke Astor portrays the New York philanthropist as a frail, paranoid 105-year-old pressured to give up her fortune. Drawing on notes from Astor's former staff, Mrs. Astor Regrets describes son Tony Marshall's alleged bilking of her millions. Astor's staff "filled 30 journals over four years with what they described as abuse, neglect and manipulation of the Alzheimer's sufferer," writes Meryl Gordon in her book, excerpted in the New York Post . More »

 Ledger's Estate 
 Goes to Daughter 


Australia's News Network Australia's News Network Sep 29, 08 9:25 CDT
(Newser) - Heath Ledger’s estate will go to his daughter, Matilda, the late actor's dad tells Perth Now . “There is no claim,'' Kim Ledger said of the estimated $16.6 million bequest. “Our family has gifted everything to Matilda.'' Ledger’s will, written before his daughter’s birth in 2005, left everything to his sisters and parents. More »

More about:  Australia • Heath Ledger • will • Matilda Rose Ledger • Kim Ledger

Revlon Boss Goes After Ex-Wife's Family in Court

Billionaire Perelman's lawsuit alleges former brother-in-law connived to grab millions

Bloomberg Bloomberg Jul 11, 08 4:59 PM CDT
(Newser) - Revlon's billionaire chairman has sued his former brother-in-law over millions he says are owed to the estate of his late ex-wife and their daughter, Bloomberg reports. Ron Perelman alleges Robert Cohen was “wanton, willful and malicious” in persuading his parents—one ailing, the other incapacitated—to transfer their assets to him, despite verbal promises they made to their daughter, Perelman’s wife at the time. More »

More about:  lawsuit • will • Ron Perelman • Revlon

Queen of Mean's Billions Go
to the Dogs

With $8B, Helmsley trust will dwarf all animal charities 

New York Times New York Times Jul 2, 08 5:09 CDT
(Newser) - Leona Helmsley made headlines last year for leaving $12 million to her dog while stiffing two of her grandchildren. But the pooch's payday looks like small change compared to the bonanza in store for America's dogs, the New York Times reports. A charitable trust being built with the late hotel tycoon's assets will have up to $8 billion to spend on canine welfare. More »

More about:  dog • inheritance • will • animal shelters • Leona Helmsley

 Ledger's Ex Irate
 Over Will Snub 

Girlfriend claims daughter hasn't received any cut

New York Post New York Post Jun 24, 08 10:56 CDT
(Newser) - Heath Ledger’s ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams is livid at the exclusion of her and her daughter from the execution of Ledger’s will, the NY Post reports. Ledger’s will, which leaves everything to his parents and sisters, predates the birth of their daughter Matilda—who is now the legal beneficiary of his estate and has yet to see a cent, according to Williams. More »

Website Offers Post-Mortem Security

Departed users can leave wills, photos, passwords to family

San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle Mar 14, 08 2:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - Think of it as a safe deposit box for the dearly departed: A website in California allows subscribers to store digital versions of important stuff—wills, photos, credit card numbers, bicycle lock combinations, you name it—so beneficiaries don't have to scramble after the funeral, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Sounds farfetched, but AssetLock.net soon expects to have 1 million American and international clients. More »

More about:  Internet • death • website • Internet security • encryption • will • passwords

Heath's Dad: We'll 'Take Care' of His Daughter

Actor's will pre-dated relationship with Michelle Williams, child's birth

People People Mar 9, 08 9:54 CDT
(Newser) - The father of late actor Heath Ledger vowed that his son's daughter—and her mother, actress Michelle Williams—will be "taken care of" even though they aren't in Ledger's will, which dates from before their relationship and the 2005 birth of their daughter, Matilda Rose. Ledger's 2003 will left everything to his parents and sister, the Daily News reported. More »

In Will, Bhutto Taps Husband as Successor

Zardari, now party co-chair, may aim for PM position

Reuters Reuters Feb 5, 08 1:20 PM CST
(Newser) - Benazir Bhutto's political will, published today, calls for her husband to take control of her party, Reuters reports. "I would like my husband Asif Ali Zardari to lead you in this interim period until you and he decide what is best," says the document. He chose to release Bhutto’s will publicly to address concerns that his leadership is illegitimate. More »

'I've Just Snapped,' Writes Mall Shooter

He apologizes to
family in suicide note

Associated Press Associated Press Dec 7, 07 7:02 PM CST
(Newser) - The Omaha mall gunman apologized to family and friends in a suicide note released today and says he "just snapped" before killing eight people and himself in a shopping mall, the AP reports. "I know everyone will remember me as some sort of monster but please understand that I just don't want to be a burden," wrote Robert Hawkins, 19. "I just want to take a few pieces of (expletive) with me." More »

More about:  murder • suicide • shooting • Omaha • will • Omaha mall shooting • Robert Hawkins • suicide note

Millionaire Dog May Have to Fight for Her Biscuits

World's richest pooch already faces lawsuit

New York Times New York Times Sep 3, 07 5:09 PM CDT
(Newser) - When billionaire hotelier Leona Helmsley bequeathed $12 million to her pooch before she died last month, it's a good thing she left the eight-year-old Maltese enough to hire  a good lawyer. Trouble, who was inseparable from the 'Queen of Mean' when she was alive, and had a propensity to bite anyone who came near her, will have to stave off people who are already lining up to get a piece of her, ahem, fortune. More »

More about:  lawsuit • dog • pets • inheritance • will • Leona Helmsley

Helmsley's Heir Is the Dog

Queen of Mean leaves $12M to Trouble, a bunch to charity, ignores 2 grandkids

New York Post New York Post Aug 29, 07 1:16 PM CDT
(Newser) - When the Queen of Mean’s will was read, Trouble, the billionaire hotel magnate’s pampered, biting Maltese, came calling. Leona Helmsley left $12 million to the 8-year-old pooch, along with $38 million to three other family members. The rest—between $4 and $8 billion—went to her charity trust, the New York Post reports. Helmsley dissed two other grandkids, “for reasons which are known to them.”  More »

More about:  dog • pets • charity • billionaire • will • Leona Helmsley • Trouble

States Rewrite Organ-Donation Laws

New revision would make it easier to obtain organs

Washington Post Washington Post Apr 4, 07 11:26 CDT
(Newser) - Doctors will be able to take organs from potential donors in more sticky situations, under revisions to state laws on the boards in more than 24 states. Model legislation that's already passed in four states clarifies how to handle ethically complex decisions, helping to alleviate the chronic shortage of kidneys and other organs, the Washington Post reports. More »

More about:  health • law • organ donor • patient • state governments • will • organ harvesting

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