Grossman Law Firm Blog

Gary Coleman's parents abandon probate case

Gary Coleman's parents gave up their bid to open probate of his estate when his will and a trust were provided by his attorney.  Though estranged for years, Coleman's parents sought to open his probate in the belief Coleman had no will or trust.  Since Coleman had no children, the parents would have had first priority to serve as administrator's of his estate.  In addition, the parents would would be the only ones to inherit under the rules of intestate succession.

Since Coleman did have a will and trust the parents had not chance of being appointed administrator or inheriting.  Presumably, Coleman put his assets in his trust.  Since he was estranged from his parents it is a sure bet he appointed someone else to be trustee and named other beneficiaries to inherit his assets.  Assuming Coleman left assets out of his trust and those assets need to through probate then he probably named the same person to serve as executor and trustee.  The will almost certainly left all the assets to his trust.

Under these circumstances his parents knew they would not get control of his estate and would not inherit.