We previously posted about the disputed estate of Sherman Hemsley and we have an update to pass along.
The comedic actor passed away on July 24 at the age of 74. Hemsley, who is best known for his role as George Jefferson on the classic sitcom The Jeffersons, had never married and had no children.
He executed a last will that left everything to his longtime partner and manager Flora Enchinton. In fact, the verbiage of the will referred to Enchinton as his “beloved partner” according to reports.
This would seem like a rather simple estate case but you never know what can happen after you pass away. A man named Richard Thornton has emerged claiming to be the actor’s brother. In spite of the existence of a last will Thornton seems to think that he is entitled to any resources that remain.
This case is now in the hands of the probate court in El Paso, Texas, which is where Hemsley lived for the last 20 years. The judge has ordered a DNA test and an estate trial is scheduled for October 31.
As stated earlier Sherman Hemsley died on July 24. To this point his body is still being held in an El Paso funeral home. The trial will commence some three months after his death, and regardless of the outcome administering the estate will take some time as well.
This case demonstrates how lengthy the probate process can become if challenges are presented.
We will continue to monitor the situation and pass along the results of the trial when this information becomes available.
- Legacy Planning In the Age of the Silver Tsunami - November 21, 2023
- Estate Planning Neglect: Unraveling the Risks - November 2, 2023
- When Is a Trust Preferable to a Will? - October 17, 2023