WAEstate

Attorneys & Counselors

Call Now: (281) 759-3213

  • FB
  • TW
  • IN
  • YT
  • RSS
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • About The American Academy
    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • Mission Statement
    • Multimedia
    • Published Books
    • The Academy Fellow Designation
  • Services
    • Asset Protection & Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
      • Are You A Caregiver
      • Coping With Alzheimer’s
      • Guardianship & Conservatorship
      • Hospice Care
      • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
      • Medicaid Planning
      • Veteran’s Benefits
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration & Probate
  • Seminars
  • Testimonials
    • Client Testimonials
    • Representative Clients
    • Review Us
  • Resources
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Estate Planning Resources
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate Planning Reports
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Estate Planning FAQ’s
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Legacy Wealth Planning FAQ’s
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning Frequently Asked Questions
      • Trust Administration & Probate Frequently Asked Questions
    • LGBTQ Resources
    • Probate Resources & Trust Administration
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss of a Loved One
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
    • Special Needs Resources
  • Contact Us
  • BLOG

Elizabeth Edwards Leaves Philandering Husband Out of Her Will: Part 1 of 3

April 4, 2012 by Stephen A. Mendel, Estate Planning Attorney

This three-part blog series discusses the legacy of Elizabeth Edwards and her final days, including her revised will just days before her death. Elizabeth Edwards was smart, beautiful and most of all, very human, as seen during her final years battling cancer and dealing with the aftermath of her husband’s affair. What we may not know is that Elizabeth Edwards changed her will only days before she died, and in her new will, she disinherited her husband.

To understand the importance and unfortunate timing of her newly drafted will, we need to look closer into her personal life. Because Elizabeth Edwards did not legally divorce her husband, John Edwards, her decision to disinherit him may have no legal validity. According to the North Carolina elective share laws, because the two were never divorced, he may be able to receive at least a portion of her estate. The North Carolina Probate Code gives John Edwards the legal right to receive up to one-third of her estate, which is valued at over $1 million. Following her death in 2010, many legal scholars began wondering if her attorneys should have done more to protect her estate and help her write him out of her will sooner. However, since Elizabeth decided against divorcing her husband, her attorneys would have had to convince her otherwise or develop a more rock solid estate plan to disinherit him.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Stephen A. Mendel, Estate Planning Attorney

Stephen A. Mendel, Estate Planning Attorney

Mr. Stephen Mendel is an attorney who focuses a substantial part of his practice on estate planning. Mr. Mendel’s guiding principle is to provide his clients with quality legal services tailored to each client’s specific needs and goals.
Stephen A. Mendel, Estate Planning Attorney

Latest posts by Stephen A. Mendel, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)

  • Famous Estates-Champ or Chump? Nelson Mandela - September 27, 2019
  • Famous Estates-Champ or Chump? Jane Fonda - September 13, 2019
  • Texas Trivia – Name the first of six flags to fly over Texas. - September 6, 2019

Filed Under: Estate Planning Tagged With: Estate Planning

Other Articles You May Find Useful

  • Why It Is So Important to Update Your Estate Plan When You Divorce
  • The Type of Joint Ownership You Choose Matters
  • New Tax Proposal re: Retirement Savings
  • Staying Current on Estate Planning
  • What Is a Family Limited Partnership?
  • You Never Know: Planning for the Unexpected
  • About Stephen A. Mendel, Estate Planning Attorney

    Mr. Stephen Mendel is an attorney who focuses a substantial part of his practice on estate planning. Mr. Mendel’s guiding principle is to provide his clients with quality legal services tailored to each client’s specific needs and goals.

    Follow Us

    • FB
    • TW
    • IN
    • YT
    • RSS

    Blog Subscription

    Free Worksheet

    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    HOUSTON

    The Mendel Law Firm, L.P.
    1155 Dairy Ashford, Suite 104
    Houston 77079
    United States (US)
    Phone: (281) 759-3213
    Fax: 281-759-3214

    Map

    map

    Office Hours

    Monday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    The Mendel Law Firm

    The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an
    attorney-client relationship.

    © 2019 Mendel Law Firm, All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys