Gene Hackman was a legendary actor. His passing was a sad moment for many.
His wife passed away first, reportedly due to a rare virus. Gene followed six days later, passing from heart failure and advanced Alzheimer’s.
Both had Wills.
Her Will: Left everything to Gene but, if he died first, everything would go to charity. She also included a 90-day survivorship clause, meaning if they died within that timeframe, it would be as if they passed at the same time. This ensured her assets went directly to charity.
His Will: Left everything to his wife. But here’s the issue—she passed first. His estate wasn’t set up to account for what would happen if she predeceased him.
What happens now?
His estate may go through probate, and because his Will didn’t mention his three children from his first marriage, they likely have a legal claim. From what’s been reported, he had no contingency plan.
This situation highlights a critical estate planning mistake: assuming death will happen in the “right order.”
Gene was much older than his wife, so he likely assumed he would pass first. But life is unpredictable.
I know this firsthand.
My 20-year-old brother died 10 months before my dad, who had terminal cancer and passed away at 53.
My grandmother outlived them both.
That was the “wrong” order—but it happens all the time.
Lessons to Learn From This
– Plan for the unexpected – If someone you love dies before you, what happens to your estate?
– Don’t assume order matters – Just because someone is older doesn’t mean they will pass first.
– Make sure all scenarios are covered – Gene’s children weren’t even mentioned in his Will, but they likely have legal rights. (I’ll cover that in my next email.)
If you want to make sure your estate isn’t a legal mess, let’s put a plan in place. Give me a call.
