Lucille Ball: Dangers of Being the First to Die
Lucille Ball was the queen of television comedy to an older generation of Americans. Today,
more than 70 years after I Love Lucy premiered, reruns still air on late-night networks, making it
the longest-broadcasted TV show of all time and endearing Ball to a new generation of fans.
Rankings of the best I Love Lucy episodes can be found across the web. There are also real-life
lessons to learn from Ball, including from a lesser-known episode involving her daughter and
her widower' s second wife that provides important estate planning lessons about remarriage.
How Some of Lucille Ball' s Prized Possessions Ended Up at Auction
Ball had two children with her first husband, actor Desi Arnaz: Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.
The beneficiaries of the Lucille Ball Estate, estimated at $40 million when she died in 1989,
were her two children and her second husband, Gary Morton.1
But it is what Lucy' s daughter Lucie did not end up inheriting that sparked a fierce legal battle
between her and Susie McAllister, whom Gary Morton later married after Lucy' s death.
Morton died in 1999, and in 2010, more than 10 years after Morton' s death, McAllister
consigned several items to Heritage Auction Galleries, including love letters between Ball and
Morton, photos of the couple, a Rolls Royce, and some of Ball' s personal items like an address
book, backgammon boards, and lifetime achievement awards.2
When Lucie learned about the auction, she demanded some of the items be returned,
threatening legal action against McAllister to stop the sale. According to a countersuit filed by
McAllister against Lucie seeking a judge' s ruling to let the auction proceed, Ball left the personal
effects in question to Lucie in her estate plan - but Lucie never claimed them from the estate.
They then passed to Morton and eventually to McAllister from her late husband.
The judge ultimately ruled in favor of Lucie and said that the auction could be stopped if she
posted a $250,000 bond, but Lucie unfortunately could not afford it. Not all was lost, though, as
her legal team reached an agreement with the auction house to have the lifetime achievement
awards returned. The other items were auctioned off.3
Estate Planning Lessons from the Ball Auction Debacle
An attorney representing Lucie had strong words about the auction, saying it was insulting to
Ball' s legacy and contravened her "express desire that these items were to belong to her
daughter after her death."4
One of the stranger and unexplained aspects of the Lucille Ball auction saga is why Lucie would
have forfeited the items that ended up being offered for sale. While McAllister contends they
were never collected, both women agreed that Ball left them to her daughter in her will.
Assuming this is true, it means that Lucie made a mistake by not claiming the property she was
gifted. Typically, unclaimed inheritances pass to the next beneficiary in line - presumably in this
case Gary Morton.
However, in leaving the unclaimed heirlooms to McAllister, Morton may also have erred. It is
plausible he did not know that Ball wanted Lucie to inherit the personal effects. But he probably
should have known that they were better off with his stepdaughter than with McAllister, to whom
they could not possibly have had any sentimental value. Put yourself in McAllister' s position:
she lived with reminders of the couple' s life together for more than ten years out of respect for
them and finally parted with the items as she remodeled her house and sought a fresh start.
The entire situation between McAllister and Lucie might have been avoided if Morton had asked
himself why McAllister would want the old love letters, photos, and awards. So the second
lesson that can be learned from this legal drama is that if you inherit property from a previous
spouse and later remarry, you need to think carefully about who should inherit it.
Fitting the Small Details into the Big Picture of Your Estate Plan
Whether you are on the giving or the receiving end of an estate plan, we have your needs
covered.
If you were named as an estate beneficiary and are not sure how to claim the accounts or
property gifted to you or need to take action to protect your beneficiary rights, our estate
administration attorneys can help. We can also assist with the often complicated estate planning
decisions that come with remarriage and blended families.
Thoughtful, proactive action is the key to successful estate planning. To discuss your estate
plan goals and concerns, schedule a meeting with our attorneys.
MEREDITH | PC
4325 Windsor Centre Trail
Suite 400
Flower Mound Texas 75028
214-513-1013
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as written advice about a Federal tax matter. Readers should consult with their own professional Counselors to evaluate or pursue tax, accounting, financial, or legal planning strategies.
You have received this newsletter because I believe you will find its content valuable. Please feel free to Contact Me if you have any questions about this or any matters relating to estate planning.
