Tinsel town has been abuzz since the murder of well-known and much loved publicist Ronni Chasen last month. She was gunned down as she was driving home down Sunset Boulevard. Investigations into her murder have now turned up a twist that’s very interesting to California estate planning lawyers - the revelation that the powerful and highly successful publicist had left behind an estate worth millions of dollars, and, possibly, no will.
An older will that has been found names several charities that stand to receive tens of thousands of dollars from the estate, as well as Chasen’s children and assorted relatives. According to copies of the will, the value is $6.1 million, and it was drafted in 1994. In it, the publicist left her memorabilia to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, with a provision regarding credit. She also left tens of thousands of dollars to some of her favorite charities including the Make a Wish Foundation and the Simon Wiesenthal Center. She then left the rest of her estate to her mother. However, her mother has since died. Because the mother is no longer alive, her niece Melissa Cohen gets a substantial amount from the estate.
However, that's not the end of it. According to supporting documents, Chasen prepared another will, probably in 2006. This last will cannot be located. According to the publicist's brother who has applied to be the special administrator of the estate, the will is likely in a safe deposit box. Beverly Hills police have not yet admitted if the contents of the will are likely to define their investigation going forward.
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