Estate Planning Comes to Hollywood

As discussed in this excellent article in Forbes, the Oscar-nominated film The Descendents, starring George Clooney, is replete with estate planning-related issues.  While I thought the movie was overrated, I did think the film makers did a good job in their handling of such concepts as the need for a living will to handle end-of-life care; the complexity of intra-family relations  as it pertains to real property held in a long-term trust; the common law requirement that requires termination of a trust under the Rule Against Perpetuities;  and how best to pass an inheritance to a child in a manner that will not impair his or her incentive to be a productive citizen (also known as the condition of "affluenza"). 

I am pleased that the producers consulted with a law professor who teaches estate planning to ensure that the estate planning issues were handled appropriately.