Jerry Lewis, the iconic comedian and entertainer, passed away in August at the age of 91, leaving behind a considerable estate estimated at $50 million. Alongside his wife and adopted daughter, Lewis also had six sons from his previous marriage. However, the details of his will, a public document, revealed a surprising decision regarding his offspring.
Upon examination of Lewis’s will, a specific clause came to light, clearly stating, “I have intentionally excluded GARY LEWIS, RONALD LEWIS, ANTHONY JOSEPH LEWIS, CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH LEWIS, SCOTT ANTHONY LEWIS and JOSEPH CHRISTOPHER LEWIS and their descendants as beneficiaries of my estate, it being my intention to that they shall receive no benefits hereunder.”
The inclusion of the word “intentionally” underscores the deliberate nature of this decision. In legal terms, such explicit language leaves no room for misinterpretation. Jerry Lewis made it unequivocally clear that his sons from his first marriage were not to inherit any portion of his estate, extending this exclusion even to their descendants.
This raises the pertinent question: why did Jerry Lewis choose to disinherit his six sons? While the will itself offers no explanation, and Lewis himself is no longer here to provide one, the reasons behind such decisions are often complex and personal. Publicly, no specific conflict or estrangement that would lead to such a drastic measure was widely reported. Ultimately, under the laws governing estate distribution, Jerry Lewis had the right to allocate his assets as he deemed appropriate. The motivations behind his choice remain private and speculative.
However, the public nature of a will also brings to light the alternative estate planning tool Jerry Lewis could have utilized: a trust. Unlike wills, trusts are private documents. Should Lewis have opted for a trust to manage his estate, the details of his beneficiaries, and specifically the disinheritance of his sons, would not have become public knowledge.
Furthermore, trusts offer several potential advantages beyond privacy. They can be structured to minimize or eliminate estate taxes, provide protection from creditors, and potentially streamline the transfer of assets to beneficiaries, avoiding the often lengthy and costly probate process associated with wills.
In conclusion, Jerry Lewis’s will publicly revealed his decision to intentionally disinherit his six sons from his first marriage. While the precise reasons remain undisclosed and open to speculation, his legal right to distribute his estate as he saw fit is undeniable. The case also highlights the distinction between wills and trusts, particularly concerning privacy and the broader aspects of estate planning. For individuals seeking to manage their assets and legacies with greater confidentiality, and potentially offer additional protections and efficiencies for their heirs, trusts present a compelling alternative to traditional wills.
