CM Law’s The Ultimate List: Top 50 Unusual Estate Administrations

Here are some of the most unusual estate administrations encountered. Each one is a unique case, showcasing the diverse and sometimes bizarre challenges faced during the process.

1. Estate Administration Involving a Pet Trust: The deceased left a trust fund specifically for the care of their pet cat.
2. Buried Treasure Found: Executors discovered a hidden stash of gold coins in the backyard.
3. Ghostly Presence Claimed: Family members refused to enter the house claiming it was haunted.
4. Estate Dispute Over a Rare Comic Book Collection: The value of the collection led to a prolonged legal battle.
5. A Digital Estate: All assets were virtual, including cryptocurrency and online businesses.
6. The Unclaimed Lottery Ticket: A winning lottery ticket was found among the deceased’s belongings.
7. A Secret Family Revealed: The discovery of a second family complicated the estate administration.
8. Priceless Artwork in the Attic: Executors found valuable paintings hidden away.
9. Exotic Animal Collection: The estate included a collection of rare and exotic pets.
10. A Will Written on a Napkin: The validity of an unconventional will was contested in court.
11. Buried in a Car: The deceased requested to be buried in their beloved vintage car.
12. A Fortune in Vintage Wines: The wine collection turned out to be worth a small fortune.
13. Estate Administered by a Minor: The executor named was under the legal age.
14. Hoarder's House: Sorting through the hoarded items took months.
15. Historical Manuscripts Found: Rare historical documents were discovered in the estate.
16. A House Full of Cash: Executors found large amounts of cash hidden throughout the home.
17. Estate in Multiple Countries: Assets spread across different countries complicated the administration.
18. Heir Refused to Claim Inheritance: One of the primary heirs declined their share of the estate.
19. Eccentric Funeral Requests: The will included unusual requests for the funeral ceremony.
20. A Library of Rare Books: The deceased owned a significant collection of rare books.
21. Estate Used to Fund a Scholarship: Provisions were made to create an educational scholarship.
22. A Mysterious Locked Room: Executors discovered a locked room that no one had known about.
23. Living Will with Unusual Conditions: The will had unique conditions for heirs to fulfill.
24. A Musical Instrument Collection: The estate included a valuable collection of musical instruments.
25. Unusual Burial Location: The deceased requested to be buried on their private property.
26. Estate Contested by Long-Lost Relative: A previously unknown relative surfaced to claim the estate.
27. A House with Secret Passages: The property included hidden rooms and passages.
28. Collection of Antique Weapons: Executors discovered a vast collection of historical weapons.
29. Estate with a Hidden Fortune: A secret bank account was found with substantial funds.
30. Conflict Over Social Media Accounts: The deceased's online presence led to disputes among heirs.
31. Estate Including a Decommissioned Lighthouse: An unusual property was part of the inheritance.
32. Family Feud Over Heirlooms: Old family heirlooms caused significant disputes.
33. Eco-Friendly Burial Requests: The will included instructions for a green burial.
34. Estate with Significant Debts: Unexpected debts significantly reduced the estate’s value.
35. Mystery Beneficiary: A large sum was left to an unknown individual.
36. Dispute Over Intellectual Property: The deceased’s copyrights and patents were hotly contested.
37. Unusual Bequests to Charities: Specific and odd bequests were made to various charities.
38. Estate Including a Private Island: A secluded island was part of the inheritance.
39. Conflict Over Digital Legacy: The deceased’s digital files and online presence caused disputes.
40. A Collection of Vintage Cars: The estate included a rare collection of classic cars.
41. Unconventional Executor: The named executor was an unlikely choice and faced many challenges.
42. A Houseboat as a Primary Residence: The primary residence was a houseboat with complex ownership issues.
43. Estate Divided Among Pets: Significant portions of the estate were left for the care of pets.
44. Hidden Room Full of Memorabilia: A hidden room containing valuable memorabilia was discovered.
45. Estate with Environmental Concerns: Property included land with significant environmental issues.
46. Heir Discovered Through DNA Testing: A surprise heir was identified through modern technology.
47. A Virtual Reality Inheritance: The deceased left assets in virtual worlds and games.
48. Burial Requests for Ashes to be Sent to Space: The will included a request for space burial.
49. Estate with Complex Business Holdings: The deceased had intricate business interests that were difficult to untangle.
50. Conflict Over Rare Stamps Collection: The valuable stamp collection led to prolonged disputes.