March 15, 2021
The press has made much of the handwritten will that Larry King executed in the months before he died and in which he purports to change his prior will executed in 2015 to leave his estate equally between his children. The facts pertaining to the King estate dispute are explained in more detail in this article from the Los Angeles Times.
The family dispute over the King estate highlights issues that sometimes arise when an elderly Testator/Testatrix makes changes late in life after becoming weakened physically and perhaps mentally as a result of age and disease. Here are four key takeaways:
The King will contest is likely to continue for some time, with the next hearing scheduled to take place later this month. Whether the probate court dispute will be expanded to other litigation between Southwick and Larry, Jr. remains to be seen.
See Robert Brunson’s three-part interview with psychiatrist Linda Austin for more insights into mental health and undue influence
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