The unexpected death of Liam Payne, best known as a member of the global pop phenomenon One Direction, made headlines worldwide. The 31-year-old singer passed away in Argentina in October 2024, and recent reports confirm he died without leaving a Will.

American actor, Gene Hackman, passed away in February 2025 at the age of 95. Hackman was a renowned, award-winning actor with a career spanning over four decades. He was best known for his work in Hoosiers, The French Connection, Superman, and The Royal Tenenbaums but has acting credits in over 100 films or TV shows, according to IMDB.

When coming to terms with the death of a loved one, the grieving period can be disrupted or worsened by issues with their Will, inheritance disputes, or other complications. These difficulties are often highlighted by high-profile probate and estate administration cases. This blog explores lessons that can be drawn from prominent celebrity deaths and the complexities that arose upon their passing.

Death remains to be a topic that many of us avoid thinking about and do not wish to discuss with our loved ones, which can sometimes lead to absent or ineffective estate planning. According to the ‘UK Wills & Probate Market 2020: Consumer Research Report’, less than 4 in 10 adults in the UK have made a Will, despite predictions that the COVID-19 pandemic would encourage more people to plan for the future.

The United Kingdom went into national mourning last week as the news broke that His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, sadly passed away on Friday at the age of 99. He was the longest-serving royal consort in British history, having been married to Her Majesty The Queen for more than seven decades. The question that is now starting to surface within the industry is “what will happen to Prince Philip’s multimillion pound estate?”.

The Argentine football icon, Diego Maradona, passed away in November after suffering a heart attack at the age of 60. Maradona’s passing has caused speculation about his wealth and complicated financial legacy, as it’s been suspected that he passed away without a Will.

In February 2020, the heartbreaking news broke that Caroline Flack, the popular TV and radio presenter, best known for presenting Love Island, sadly took her life at the age of 40.

Aretha Franklin died on the 16th of August 2018 at the age of 76 after an ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer. Recent news reports have now revealed how a handwritten Will has been discovered under a sofa cushion in the Queen of Soul’s home in Detroit. To ensure the Will’s validity, it is being examined by a handwriting expert.

Musician, DJ and record producer, Avicii died on 20th April 2018 after reportedly taking his own life. The Swedish electronic dance artist whose real name was Tim Bergling was born in 1989. Despite being just 28 years of age at the time of his death, he left behind an incredible legacy through his musical career and charitable gifts, and a sizeable estate, reportedly worth £20 million.