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Casey Kasem’s passing may leave unresolved questions

On Behalf of | Jun 19, 2014 | Estate Administration |

The Kasem family had a somber Father’s Day as Casey Kasem, the iconic radio personality, passed away on Sunday. He had been in hospice care since Thursday afternoon, an attorney for Kasem’s daughter, Kerri, reported. The rift between Kasem’s children and his wife, Jean had been widely reported as his health declined in 2013. Among the many legal issues that had been litigated between the parties, Kerri recently won a conservatorship that allowed her to make decisions about his medical care, since Kasem was diagnosed as suffering from a form of dementia

Kasem was best known for his weekly radio show where he highlighted the 40 most popular song in pop music for that given week. The show, “American Top 40,” began in 1970 and ran until 1988. Another version of the show came about in 1998, when Ryan Seacrest took over the show. Before “American Top 40,” Kasem was an announcer on Armed Forces Radio, and worked at radio stations in New York, California and Ohio. He had been in the radio business since 1952, and was known for his trademark sign-off “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”

News of how his estate is to be divided has not broken yet. It remains to be seen how he intended to distribute his assets. But given the disputes between his wife and children, it would not be surprising if there is more legal turmoil. Nevertheless, the story is a prime example of why it is important to have a detailed estate plan to properly set expectations in the event of one’s passing.

Source: ABC News.com “Casey Kasem dead at 82,” Lesley Messer, June 15, 2014

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