Celebrity estate planning news is always of interest to people, and we have been keeping a close eye on the dispute that has surrounded the Sherman Hemsley estate.
You may recall that Hemsley, the comedic actor who portrayed George Jefferson on the classic sitcom The Jeffersons, passed away back in July. Unfortunately he was not promptly laid to rest. A fellow named Richard Thornton challenged Hemsley’s will and the matter was hung up in probate for months.
There was a last will executed by Hemsley that left everything to a woman named Flora Enchinton, who was his longtime close friend. She was also appointed executor of the estate by Hemsley.
In spite of the fact that a document existed that clearly expressed the actor’s wishes Thornton had other ideas. He contended that he was Hemsley’s brother by blood. Of course this does not mean that he is somehow entitled to Hemsley’s estate regardless of what the actor himself stated in the will.
This is essentially what the court finally decided, though it took quite a long time for this ruling to be handed down. The validity of the will was confirmed by the probate judge in El Paso, Texas and the body of Sherman Hemsley has finally been put to rest in a proper manner.
The public knows Sherman Hemsley as a celebrity, but in fact he served his country honorably in the United States Armed Forces before he became famous. His body is buried in Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
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