JUSTIA 10 - Badge
AARP / Real Possibilities - Badge
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. - Badge
Super Lawyers - Badge
People Love us On Yelp / 2017 Award Recipient - Badge

Larry King’s Sad Legacy

Sowards Law Firm

Legendary talk-show host Larry King married seven women and had five children with many of them. He died at age 87 on January 23, 2021, after contracting Covid and then succumbing to an infection. Immediately after his death, his estate went straight to probate court.

If only he would have followed the advice that any estate-planning attorney could have given him. Estate plans should be regularly reviewed and competently updated, especially any time there are changes to the family.

King married his last wife, Shawn Southwick, in 1997. In 2015, the couple created an estate plan, in which Shawn was named King’s trustee and in which the couple signed post-nuptial contracts that limited King’s power to give leave bequests to his children.

Four years later, in early to mid-2019, King had a stroke, in addition to suffering numerous other grave health problems. Later that year, after over twenty years of marriage, King filed for divorce from Shawn. The divorce was never finalized.

Then, after that, King handwrote a one-page will that purported to leave his property equally among his five children. The document is barely legible and contains words and phrases that were scratched out. Its language is ambiguous. It does not mention Shawn. Later, in 2020, after two of King’s children died, he neglected to update the document, which he should have done to direct where the deceased children’s shares should go.

On King’s death, one of his children, relying on the handwritten document, petitioned to administrate the estate. Wife Shawn challenged, alleging that in later years King had become susceptible to undue influence and that he lacked mental capacity. To further complicate matters, California is a community-property state, meaning that Shawn could have an independent right to fifty percent of any assets acquired during the marriage.

The regrettable consequence of all this, which could have been avoided if King had consulted with an estate-planning attorney, is that the King’s estate will be tied up in a lengthy, costly, public battle. Not only must the family grieve the untimely deaths of two of the King’s children and the passing of the family patriarch, but they must also suffer the aspersions cast on King’s abilities in his final years.

The moral of the story? If King wanted to change his 2015 estate plan, he should have consulted an attorney. He never should have created a document that was open to such serious challenge, especially given the number of marriages and children involved, at a time when his health was frail.

King may have been a great and much-lauded figure, but he has left behind an object lesson in why responsible estate planning is so very important. And if you think this matters less for you because you haven’t had as many spouses and don’t own as much, think again. If you leave your estate open to this kind of happenstance, the money it will cost to fix it later will eat up a greater percentage of what should go to your family instead. Be sure to keep your plan current. Please contact us today at (408) 371-6000 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal matters. We would be happy to help.

Client Reviews

I recently had the pleasure of working with Sowards Law Firm to create my estate plan, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the experience. My company has a legal help portal where I discovered Sowards Law Firm, and I’m so glad I chose them. From the start, the entire process was incredibly smooth...

Prashant Joshi

They made it pretty easy for us to set up the legal entity we needed. Everyone we talked to was knowledgeable, professional, and considerate. We had to work around a difficult schedule, and the folks at Sowards made it work.

John Brawn

Everyone at Sowards Law Firm was extremely kind, helpful, and professional in helping me manage all of the legal work required after my husband passed away. They explained everything clearly, and focused on what would be the best options for me in the future. I’m grateful for their assistance and...

Lyn Savage

I have been working with Sowards Law Firm for all my estate needs and their service is impeccable, with the upmost professionalism. They walk you through scenarios in detail so that you can make informed decisions. I highly recommend this team.

Debra A

They made it SO EASY! Everything was explained and explored in regards to figuring out how to organize and structure. Very thoughtful and thorough. I will definitely recommend them, and have sent all of my clients their info to get their affairs in order.

Cindy Selleos

I used Sowards for my Estate planning needs. The firm provided excellent advice, and made the process very easy to complete in an expeditious manner. Each person that I interacted with was professional, friendly and competent. I have confidence that this multi-generational law practice is a solid...

Karen Bryant

Contact Us

  1. 1 Free Consultation
  2. 2 Available 24/7
  3. 3 Certified Specialists in Estate Planning

Fill out the contact form or call us at (408) 371-6000 to schedule your free consultation.

Leave Us a Message