Blog

When Disinheritance Is a Good Thing – the Last Will and Testament of Burt Reynolds

Hollywood star Burt Reynolds intentionally left his son, Quinton, out of his will, but it doesn’t appear to be due to bad blood.  The actor known for his roles in “Smokey and the Bandit”, “Deliverance” and “Boogie Nights,” provided for his 30-year-old son via a trust.

“Disinherited” is a word you don’t want to hear, especially when your dad is a Hollywood icon.  It’s usually the final word by the decedent to an estranged child or straying spouse.  In regard to Quinton, Reynolds’s will stated, “I intentionally omit him from this, my Last Will and Testament, as I have provided for him during my lifetime in my Declaration of Trust.”

The important thing to note is that Reynolds was a Floridian, and we love our trusts here in the Sunshine State!  In fact, trusts are often preferred over wills due to their privacy and administrative ease upon death.  When executed properly, trusts can avoid the costly and time-consuming probate process all together.

For celebrities like Reynolds, trusts provide privacy. Unlike a will, a trust is not filed in probate court when the settlor dies.  The media can review Reynolds’s will as it’s a public record; however, they don’t have access to the trust. Additionally, because a trust is not filed in court, next of kin are not notified. This makes it difficult for any excluded relatives to challenge the trust and its provisions.

In Reynolds’s case, we don’t know if Quinton is actually included in the trust because it’s not a public document.  Best practice is to draft a trust and will at the same time to ensure that the two documents don’t conflict.  The pour-over will is created to distribute any assets that may have been inadvertently excluded from the trust back into the trust so that the assets are distributed in accordance with the trust, the main testamentary vehicle.

There has been quite a bit of commotion surrounding Quinton’s disinheritance.  However, I’m sure his estate plan was executed exactly as he intended; as he most eloquently stated in 2005, “You are responsible for every mistake you made.”

Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds and son Quinton during “The Longest Yard” Los Angeles Premiere – Arrivals at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)

Portrait of Odelia Goldberg, Esq.

With over 50 years of combined experience, our probate, estate planning, real estate, elder law and asset protection attorneys provide peace of mind for our clients throughout South Florida.

Florida Bar Logo Broward County Bar Logo NYSBA Logo United States Patent and Trademark Office Logo Broward Attorney Real Estate Council Logo

Schedule a Consultation


1270 SW 26th Ave
Fort Lauderdale, Florida   33312

Phone: 954-832-0885


Directions

Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

The Law Offices of Odelia Goldberg Logo White

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation.
This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
© 2024 The Law Offices of Odelia Goldberg. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Web Development by IWD Marketing