Zsa Zsa Gabor’s ninth husband, Frederic von Anhalt, was recently appointed her conservator in a Los Angeles court. Von Anhalt was appointed to care for the ailing actress in the face of a petition from Zsa Zsa’s daughter seeking to have her appointed as conservator instead. The daughter, Constance Francesca Hilton, was born to Zsa Zsa during her marriage to Conrad Hilton. Constance claims that she petitioned the court to be her 95 year old mother’s conservator because her mother was not being well cared for medically or financially by von Anhalt. Essentially, Constance claimed that von Anhalt intentionally kept Zsa Zsa sedated and isolated from her family.

Based on an agreement of the parties, the judge decided to allow von Anhalt to continue making medical decisions for Zsa Zsa, but directed that financial matters be reviewed by attorneys. The judge set a hearing early next year to review the agreement and evaluate how the arrangement is working. Zsa Zsa has been in declining heath due to a broken hip and a leg amputation which limits her mobility. She has been married to von Anhalt for 25 years. These recent developments are part of ongoing disputes between von Anhalt and Constance about Zsa Zsa’s finances and care.

What can we learn from Zsa Zsa’a situation? An effective estate plan will set out who will be in control and how that control is exercised in case you become incapacitated. Every adult should have a Durable Medical Power of Attorney and a Living Will to allocate medical decision making and to set out how you would like to be treated at the end of your life. Every adult should also have a Durable General Power of Attorney to allocate control of property in the case of incapacity. An MH Living Trust may also be a good option for dealing with control of your assets in case of incapacity. A Trust also provides more certainty than relying on a Power of Attorney. Although planning will not eliminate the possibility of disputes by family members, having an estate plan can mitigate any potential disputes and clearly state your wishes to alleviate any tension or doubt.

Morris Hall Can Protect You in Today’s Litigious Society:
We live in a litigious society, where over 1 million lawsuits are filed every year in America alone.  Financial predators are looking for ways to take funds from others and often use litigation as their means to do so.  At Morris Hall we provide your assets and your loved ones with important protections that can prevent financial predators from taking advantage of you.  We do this through proper and current estate planning techniques.  With an MH living trust, we can also protect your property, assets and loved ones from probate, estate taxes, gift taxes, creditors, Medicaid spend-down, conservatorship or guardianship proceedings, ex-spouses and more.  A living trust also keeps your asset and beneficiary information private and secure to avoid giving financial predators information to use against you and your family.  Without a living trust, this information will be made public.  For those living in Arizona, we serve the areas of Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Prescott, Flagstaff, Sedona, Tucson, Sonoita, Arrowhead, Avondale, Goodyear and Tempe.  In New Mexico we serve the areas of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, White Rock, Alamogordo, Truth or Consequences and more.  Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment with an attorney in your area!

This blog should be used for informational purposes only.  It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice.  If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.