Unfortunately, collecting assets through probate court is not always the easiest task. In fact, even having Walt Disney as a grandfather doesn’t help! Believe it or not, Walt Disney’s grandson, Brad Lund, has been experiencing major roadblocks in collecting his multi-million dollar inheritance for over 15 years! While Brad’s journey has been a long and tumultuous one, there are lessons we can learn from him. When it comes to matters of inheritance, probate court, and conservatorship, Brad’s story acts as a warning to many people.

Walt Disney’s Trust

Prior to his death, Walt Disney created a trust into which he placed all of his assets. According to the stipulations of Disney’s trust, 20% of his $400 million would go to his grandchildren. Specifically, each grandchild would receive a portion of their share at ages 35, 40, and 45. However, trustees were to distribute assets only if beneficiaries demonstrated “maturity and financial ability to manage and utilize such funds in a prudent and responsible manner” (Source: The Kingdom Insider).

What our Clients Say...
“I had the opportunity to use A People’s Choice again, Wow doesn’t say enough for the way the staff was able to get me in and out and all my answers answered. Very Professional, Organized and Friendly. I highly recommend!”
Debbie E.
“A People’s Choice – Saved me time, money and hardship. The people are professional and a pleasure to work with, I totally recommend them to everyone! I will used them for all my legal documents in the future. Thank you!”
C. Lazalde
“Super prices, great service, I can’t say enough about this place. We had A People’s Choice help us with a trust and POA. They are the best!”
Jessica S.
“Lightning fast response, I had my very simple document on the same day as my order for the very fair and reasonable price of $325 (including the rush fee!) compared to my attorney who quoted me 3 weeks and $2500. I will definitely use these folks again and highly recommend them!”
L. Carnes
“How much is peace of mind worth to you? This company of hardworking, caring individuals will help you get the job done in the quickest, most efficient way. Conveniently located. Check it out. Thank you!”
Diana K.
“A People’s Choice is a great option to get legal documents prepared inexpensively. They offer a very professional, low cost service for all sorts of legal paperwork. I always received a prompt reply to my inquiries and found the legal guide they gave me extremely helpful and informative. I strongly recommend calling this company. You won’t be disappointed and will save lots of money as compared to using an expensive attorney!”
Kathryn R.
“I can’t say enough about the level of service and professionalism I received working with A People’s Choice. Emails were always responded to quickly and thoughtfully. They really care about the process and helping you get the best result with no up-selling. The process played out according to plan and I ended up saving a lot of money by going with A People’s Choice over an attorney.”
M. Rice
“Made the process so easy for me. Also VERY prompt replies through email. So glad I used their services.”
Kristina C.
“We love A People’s Choice. It’s legally run and professional. Everyone has to have a recommendation and license. Highly recommended.”
Christy C.
“I needed to create a living trust, will and end of life statement. I checked out several options and found A People’s Choice. They’ve been in the business for years and their experience/expertise is a great asset. Second, it’s very helpful to have a real person you can work. Finally their prices are fair. Overall I rate A People’s Choice as excellent…quality, speed, personal service are qualities delivered!”
Bruce R.
“My wife and I needed to have some papers filed in court but found that traditional lawyers were quite expensive. We found the phone number for “A People’s Choice” and gave them a call, and am so happy that we did. They did a very professional job completing our paperwork and I might say, at a very reasonable price. And you can bet; I will contact A People’s Choice again if or when the need arises. “
D. Hileman
“I recently required the help of A People’s Choice, Inc. and found them to be entirely professional. Everything was done in short order yet all was explained to my satisfaction. They were friendly and courteous. I am happy and impressed.”
C. Zyobel
“We needed to add a few changes to our estate plan. Found “A People’s Choice” on the internet. People were very efficient and helpful. The cost was way less than an attorney would have charged. Thank you.”
Gene N.
“When my father passed away without a will, we needed help handling the transfer of his assets. Since there weren’t significant assets, I didn’t want to spend too much on the legal paperwork. A People’s Choice offered just the right service we needed. In particular, the staff was very responsive to our document filing needs, helping to turn around corrections almost immediately. They helped to ease a tough situation.”
Michael C.
“Cannot remember how I found A People’s Choice. I think it was through a web search. In any case I found the company and have been and am completely satisfied with the service provided. They were very friendly whenever we spoke on the phone and always responded promptly to any emails. The answers were always clear. The entire process was smooth and painless. I would recommend A People’s Choice without hesitation.”
Les A.
“The service provided by A People’s Choice was very professional and comprehensive. We have used A People’s Choice on a previous occasion and were completely satisfied. We would highly recommend A People’s Choice to anyone!”
R. Betancourt
“I was in need of serious help and didn’t know what to do. I had contacted a lawyer and he wanted to charge me $1800.00. Then I found A People’s Choice. They were great. They got my paperwork started and at a much lower cost, and steered me, with the help of lots of paperwork, in the right direction. Very grateful for the company’s services and would recommend them to anyone that may need the services they offer.”
April R.
“This team is efficient, professional, ethical and easy to work with. Any of my questions were responded to immediately. They did everything they could to help me. I highly recommend their services.”
Leigh A.
“I have worked with A People’s Choice since September 2013. They are very knowledgeable and experienced. Their work is done professionally and timely. They show a real concern for my situation. I recommend you give them the opportunity to be of service to you.”
D. Echeverra
“This company is excellent! They helped me get through all of my paperwork, submitted it to the court, and now everything is complete. Everything was clear and almost too easy. I saved thousands of dollars!”
Seth M.
“A People’s Choice is extremely customer orientated and friendly. Their service was fast and reliable. in the future, should I need their services again, I will not hesitate to call them. All e-mails were answered with either a phone call or e-mail sometimes even late at night.”
Tar
“A People’s Choice is awesome! They made the legal documentation process painless. I highly recommend A People’s Choice. The name says it all.”
Eric J.
“A People’s Choice is a business that delivers what they promise. I was treated like a VIP by their staff and Sandy was the best. As for their services, they promptly delivered all of the official documents and fillings on my behalf and their price is more than reasonable. In short, this is a business that I will always recommend and continue to use. Thank you!”
Juan B.
“A People’s Choice prepares legal documents so you can represent yourself and still look like you know what you’re doing. I utilized their services recently and found them to be professional as well as extremely helpful. I couldn’t be happier.”
Evan J.
“Very professional, excellent follow up and easy to work with. I will recommend them often! The staff rocks!”
Gene A.
“Great service. Highly professional and efficient creating legal documents. I am completely satisfied and highly recommend them to others. I am so glad I found you on the internet. People who are looking for professional legal services look no further, try A People’s Choice.”
Radtech N.
“I used A People’s Choice for a probate transaction and later for the preparation of a deed. All went smoothly. They were professional, efficient, easy to work with and reasonably-priced. Highly recommended.”
David S.
“I just recently moved to the Ventura area and didn’t know of any companies to help me with my legal paperwork. I am glad I chose A People’s Choice. They were very friendly and helped me with my documents in a very efficient way in very little time. Give them a try and you will be writing a positive review just as I did.”
D. Buelna
“I was very happy with the service received. They were extremely responsive by phone and email and completed the document in less than 24 hours! All questions were answered promptly. I would highly recommend this service to anyone needing a legal document prepared!”
M.D.
“Staff there were friendly, courteous and very professional. They did my Living Trust and the price was very reasonable. I am very pleased with their work and would highly recommend them.”
Anne M.
“Extremely satisfied with the performance of A People’s Choice. The communication was excellent and all was handled in a timely efficient manner.”
Pam T.

Get help with California estate planning!

START MY ESTATE PLAN TODAY

…or continue reading the article below to learn more about probate and estate planning.

Why Probate Court Withheld the Inheritance

Upon Brad’s 35th birthday, he was denied access to his first sum of inheritance by a new trustee due to a lack of demonstrated financial stability. This was just the beginning of Brad’s struggle with probate court. Starting in 2006, Brad began fighting to prove his own maturity and competence to judges who repeatedly denied it. In fact, one court official actually deemed Brad unfit to receive his inheritance because he “may have” Down syndrome. Then, even after Brad provided DNA evidence in court disproving this statement, the judge refused to retract his decision.

What the Court Did Instead

Instead of retracting the false claim that Brad had Down syndrome, the judge actually made another decision based on this idea! Specifically, the court ruled to appoint a “guardian ad litem”, or fill-in lawyer, on Brad’s behalf. This individual has the power to make decisions about Brad’s inheritance. Plus, Brad will be responsible for paying for their services! As a result, Brad is seeking a declaratory judgment that the court violated his rights. The complaint states:

“The imposition of a guardian ad litem has imposed significant constraints on Mr. Lund’s liberty and property interests in violation of the 14th Amendment, and his constitutional right to due process of law by not having any hearing” (Source).

Since filing this complaint, Brad has continued his fight to win his inheritance, and has even filed a separate complaint for anti-disability discrimination against the same judge.

How to Avoid Inheritance Issues in Probate Court

Unfortunately, there was likely nothing Brad Lund could have done differently to prevent his 15 years’ struggle with probate court. That said, while high profile cases may lead to more controversy, we can still learn a lesson from Brad. Cases of wrongful conservatorship appointments by the court are not uncommon. Plus, these fraudulent or unnecessary rulings can ruin a person’s life forever. Therefore, it’s important to support our family members and friends through probate and other court processes to ensure fair treatment.

That said, one of the simplest ways to save trouble for your family after your death is by avoiding probate and ensuring your assets are passed down automatically. While trusts can typically avoid the probate process, Brad Lund’s experience demonstrates why that is not always possible. Plus, you cannot be certain your estate’s trustees will remain the individuals you appointed. On the other hand, transfer on death (TOD) deeds and payment on death (POD) designations are good options if the beneficiary is not a minor.

Finally, A People’s Choice can help you draft your estate planning documents so you can protect your loved ones after your death. While we are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice, we can help you complete and file your will, trust, or other legal forms. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

Get help with your Legal documents today!

A People’s Choice can save you hundreds of dollars by preparing your legal documents instead of an expensive attorney!

GET STARTED!

Was this article helpful? We would love to know your thoughts! If you found this article helpful, please check the LIKE button below. Your feedback helps us plan topics for future articles.