When news broke that country music legend Naomi Judd left her entire $25 million estate to her husband Larry Strickland, with no mention of daughters Ashley Judd and Wynonna Judd in her will, the headlines practically screamed betrayal.
“Naomi Judd Cuts Daughters Out of Will!”
“Wynonna Furious Over Being Excluded!”
“Ashley and Wynonna Get Nothing!”
Here’s the thing: those headlines were designed to shock you, not inform you. Because what Naomi Judd actually did wasn’t cruel or unusual. It was smart estate planning that millions of married couples do every single day.
And yes, there are lessons here that apply to your family too, whether your estate is worth $25 million or $250,000.
What Really Happened with Naomi Judd’s Estate
Naomi Judd died by suicide in April 2022 at age 76, leaving behind a complicated legacy. She was one half of The Judds, the mother-daughter country duo that dominated the charts in the 1980s and early 90s. She was also the mother of actress Ashley Judd and, of course, her musical partner Wynonna.
When her will was filed in probate court, it revealed that she had named her husband Larry Strickland as the executor of her estate. The document made no specific mention of Ashley or Wynonna receiving assets.
Cue the media frenzy.
Reports suggested Wynonna was upset, believing she deserved recognition for being the “major force” behind Naomi’s success. After all, they’d performed together for years. Their music catalog was worth millions. Surely Wynonna should have been included, right?
But here’s what those breathless headlines missed: leaving everything to your spouse doesn’t mean you love your children less. It often means you’re planning smarter.
Why Spouses Often Inherit Everything (And Why That Makes Sense)
Let’s talk about something most people don’t understand until they sit down with an estate planning attorney: the unlimited marital deduction.
In plain English, this means married couples can transfer unlimited assets to each other without paying a penny in federal estate taxes. Zero. Zilch. Nothing.
This is huge when you’re talking about a $25 million estate.
For 2022 (the year Naomi died), the federal estate tax exemption was $12.06 million per person. Anything above that amount gets taxed at rates up to 40%. Yes, 40%. That means if Naomi had left her $25 million estate directly to her daughters, roughly $5 million of it could have been subject to estate taxes.
That’s potentially $2 million in taxes that could have been avoided by using the spousal exemption instead.
By leaving everything to Larry, Naomi effectively doubled the amount that could eventually pass to her daughters tax-free. When Larry dies, he’ll have his own $12.06 million exemption (adjusted for inflation), plus whatever exemption remained unused from Naomi’s estate. This strategy, called portability, allows married couples to preserve as much wealth as possible for the next generation.
So was Naomi cutting her daughters out? Or was she protecting more of their inheritance from the IRS?
The Executor Question: Why Burden Matters
Let’s talk about another piece of the puzzle: why Naomi chose Larry as her executor instead of one of her famous daughters.
Being an executor isn’t an honor. It’s a job. A time-consuming, detail-oriented, often frustrating job that can last for months or even years.
For a $25 million estate that likely included real estate, investments, intellectual property rights, and business interests? That job becomes nearly a full-time responsibility.
Think about what an executor has to do:
- Locate and inventory all assets
- Pay outstanding debts and final expenses
- File tax returns (personal and estate)
- Manage assets during the estate administration
- Deal with attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors
- Handle disputes or claims against the estate
- Distribute assets according to the will
- Keep detailed records of everything
Now imagine you’re Wynonna Judd, still touring and performing. Or Ashley Judd, maintaining an acting career and public advocacy work. Would you want to add “manage Mom’s $25 million estate” to your already packed schedule?
Naomi likely understood that naming Larry, her spouse, her partner, someone without the same public demands on his time, was actually a gift to her daughters. It freed them to grieve and continue their lives while knowing someone they trusted was handling the details.
That’s not cutting them out. That’s protecting them from a burden they didn’t need.
The Songwriting Catalog: Where It Gets Complicated
Here’s where Naomi Judd’s estate gets genuinely interesting: the music.
The Judds’ songwriting catalog and performance rights were likely worth millions. Naomi almost certainly owned half of those rights, with Wynonna owning the other half as her performing partner.
If those rights went to Larry through the will, then suddenly Wynonna finds herself in business with her stepfather. She owns 50% of the music she helped create, and he owns the other 50%.
This is where estate planning for families with business interests or intellectual property gets tricky. You can’t just think about dollars and cents. You have to consider working relationships, ongoing management decisions, and how assets will be used going forward.
We don’t know the full details of how Naomi structured ownership of the music catalog. It’s possible she used trusts or other arrangements that kept those assets separate. It’s possible there were agreements in place long before she died. It’s possible Wynonna’s inheritance was always secure, just through different legal mechanisms.
Which brings us to the biggest lesson in Naomi’s story…
Privacy Matters: What We Don’t Know About Trusts
Here’s something important: we only know what Naomi’s will said because wills become public record when they go through probate.
But trusts? Trusts stay private.
If Naomi was smart (and her choice of spousal inheritance suggests she was getting good advice), she may have used trusts to transfer significant assets outside of probate. Those trusts wouldn’t show up in the will that made headlines. They wouldn’t be part of the public record. They’d remain ‘private family business’.
This is exactly how many wealthy families, and many not-so-wealthy families, protect their privacy.
When you use a revocable living trust as your primary estate planning tool, your assets pass to your beneficiaries without going through probate. That means no public court filings. No detailed inventory of your assets in the courthouse records. No headlines about who got what.
Even in Florida, where our probate process is relatively straightforward compared to some states, probate still means public records. Anyone, nosy neighbors, estranged relatives, tabloid reporters, can look up your will and see exactly what you owned and who inherited it.
Trusts prevent that exposure.
So when you see reports that Ashley and Wynonna were “left out” of Naomi’s estate plan, remember: you’re only seeing the part that went through probate. There could be, probably were, other arrangements that kept their inheritance private.
Lessons for Your Own Estate Plan
You don’t need to be a country music legend to benefit from the strategies Naomi Judd’s estate plan demonstrates.
When Leaving Everything to Your Spouse Makes Sense
If you’re married and your spouse depends on you financially, leaving your assets to them first usually makes sense. This is especially true if:
- Your combined estate might face federal or state estate taxes
- Your spouse will need those assets to maintain their lifestyle
- You have minor children who will be in your spouse’s care
- Your marriage is solid and you trust your spouse to eventually provide for your children
Your children aren’t being “cut out.” They’re simply inheriting later, after both parents are gone, often with better tax treatment and more protection.
Choosing the Right Executor
Don’t choose your executor based on who you love most. Choose based on who can actually handle the job.
The right executor is someone who:
- Lives close enough to handle local tasks
- Has the time to dedicate to estate administration
- Understands finances (or is willing to work with professionals)
- Can handle family dynamics without getting pulled into drama
- Will follow your instructions even when others disagree
Sometimes that’s your spouse. Sometimes it’s your most organized child. Sometimes it’s a trusted friend or professional. There’s no wrong answer, except choosing someone who isn’t equipped for the responsibility.
Using Trusts for Privacy and Control
If privacy matters to you, and it should, talk to your estate planning attorney about trusts.
A revocable living trust allows you to:
- Avoid probate and keep your affairs private
- Maintain control over your assets during your lifetime
- Specify exactly how and when beneficiaries receive their inheritance
- Protect assets from creditors and lawsuits
- Plan for incapacity without court involvement
Yes, trusts require a bit more setup than a simple will. But for most Florida families, the benefits far outweigh the modest additional cost.
Communication: The Missing Piece
Here’s one area where Naomi’s plan might have fallen short: communication.
If Wynonna was genuinely upset about being excluded, it suggests she didn’t understand her mother’s planning strategy. Maybe Naomi never explained her reasoning. Maybe those conversations were too difficult to have. Maybe family dynamics made transparency impossible.
But for most families, talking about your estate plan, at least in general terms, can prevent hurt feelings and confusion later.
You don’t have to share every detail. You don’t have to justify your choices to anyone. But letting your loved ones know that you’ve planned carefully, that you’ve considered everyone’s needs, and that your decisions were made thoughtfully? That conversation can save your family from years of wondering and resentment.
Common Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid
Naomi’s estate plan got some things right. But there are still lessons in what we don’t know and what could have been handled better.
Mistake #1: Assuming equal means fair
Leaving equal amounts to each child isn’t always the right answer. Sometimes one child needs more support. Sometimes one child has already received substantial gifts. Sometimes equalizing inheritances means shortchanging your spouse or creating tax problems.
Fair doesn’t always mean equal.
Mistake #2: Ignoring tax implications
Estate taxes, income taxes, capital gains taxes, they all matter. A $1 million inheritance that generates huge tax bills is worth less than $800,000 that passes tax-free. Work with professionals who understand how taxes affect your specific situation.
Mistake #3: Choosing executors based on emotion
Your oldest child might be responsible and loving but live across the country with a demanding career. Your youngest might live locally and have flexible time but struggle with financial decisions. Choose the person best suited for the actual job, not the one who’ll be most hurt by not being chosen.
Mistake #4: Forgetting about business assets and intellectual property
If you own a business, rental properties, patents, copyrights, or other income-producing assets, you need special planning. These assets can’t just be divided like bank accounts. Think about ongoing management, voting rights, and how to prevent forced sales or partnerships that don’t work. Asset protection strategies can help preserve these valuable interests for your heirs.
Mistake #5: Prioritizing probate avoidance over everything else
Yes, probate in Florida can be time-consuming and expensive. Yes, trusts offer privacy and efficiency. But avoiding probate isn’t the only goal. Sometimes a will is perfectly adequate. Sometimes the cost and complexity of trusts aren’t justified for smaller estates. Focus on your actual goals, not just avoiding court.
Mistake #6: Creating your plan and never updating it
Naomi was married to Larry Strickland for over 30 years. Her estate plan presumably evolved over time as her wealth grew, her family dynamics changed, and tax laws shifted. Your plan should too. Review it every few years and whenever major life events occur, marriages, divorces, births, deaths, or significant financial changes.
Your Estate Plan Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect, But It Has to Exist
Look, Naomi Judd’s estate plan wasn’t flawless. The public nature of her will suggests she could have used more trusts for privacy. The apparent confusion about her daughters’ exclusion hints at communication breakdowns. The songwriting catalog situation may have created complications for Wynonna.
But you know what? She had a plan. She made intentional choices. She used tax-saving strategies. She appointed an executor who could handle the responsibility.
That puts her ahead of the roughly 60% of Americans who die without any estate plan at all.
Those are the estates that create real disasters: families fighting in court, assets distributed according to state law rather than the deceased’s wishes, unnecessary taxes, and years of legal battles.
Your estate plan doesn’t have to be as complex as Naomi’s. You probably don’t have a $25 million music catalog to worry about. But you do have people you love, assets you’ve worked hard to build, and wishes about how you want things handled.
Don’t let sensationalized headlines about celebrity estates scare you away from planning. Let them educate you about the strategies that make sense for your family.
Take the Next Step
Whether you live in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, or anywhere in South Florida, you deserve an estate plan that protects your spouse, provides for your children, minimizes taxes, and keeps your private business private.
At Carol L. Grant, P.A., we understand that estate planning isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every family has different dynamics, different assets, and different goals. That’s why we take the time to understand your specific situation before recommending solutions.
Our comprehensive estate planning services include:
- Wills and trusts designed to avoid probate and protect your privacy
- Powers of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions
- Tax planning strategies to minimize estate taxes and preserve wealth for your heirs
- Medicaid planning to protect assets while securing long-term care eligibility
- Special Needs Trusts for families with disabled loved ones
- Probate and trust administration to guide executors through the process
- Guardianship assistance when court intervention becomes necessary
We also work closely with families who have already lost a loved one, helping executors and trustees navigate the legal requirements of estate administration with compassion and expertise.
You deserve a plan that makes sense for your specific situation, not a one-size-fits-all template, not strategies copied from celebrities, but a thoughtful plan designed around your family’s needs.
The conversation starts with understanding your goals. Who do you want to protect? What do you want to accomplish? What concerns keep you up at night?
From there, we can create a plan that addresses those specific concerns, using wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and whatever other tools make sense for you.
Ready to create your own strategic estate plan? Carol L. Grant, P.A. helps families throughout South Florida navigate complex estate planning decisions with clarity and compassion. Carol provides personalized attention and practical solutions for every client.
Schedule your consultation today or contact us:
Carol L. Grant, P.A.
1601 N. Flamingo Road, Suite 1
Pembroke Pines, FL 33028
(954) 404-8274
Carol@CarolGrantLaw.com
Monday through Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning
Does leaving everything to my spouse mean my children won’t inherit anything?
Not at all. When you leave assets to your spouse, those assets will eventually pass to your children after your spouse dies (assuming that’s what your spouse’s estate plan says). The benefit is that married couples can transfer unlimited assets between each other without estate tax consequences, potentially preserving more wealth for the next generation.
What’s the difference between a will and a trust?
A will directs how your assets should be distributed after you die, but it must go through probate, a court-supervised process that’s public and can take months. A revocable living trust allows your assets to pass to beneficiaries without probate, keeping your affairs private and often reducing costs and delays. Many people use both: a trust for major assets and a “pour-over” will to catch anything not already in the trust.
How do I choose an executor?
Choose someone who has the time, organizational skills, and emotional capacity to handle the job. They should live relatively close to where you live, understand basic finances (or be willing to work with professionals), and be able to remain neutral if family conflicts arise. This might be your spouse, an adult child, a trusted friend, or even a professional fiduciary.
Will my estate plan become public after I die?
It depends. Wills filed in probate court become public records that anyone can access. Trusts, on the other hand, remain private. If privacy is important to you, work with your estate planning attorney to structure your plan so that most or all of your assets pass through trusts rather than through probate.
How much does estate planning cost?
Costs vary based on the complexity of your situation. A basic will and power of attorney package might cost a few hundred dollars, while a comprehensive plan with trusts could run several thousand. However, the cost of NOT planning, probate expenses, potential estate taxes, family disputes, almost always exceeds the cost of creating a plan. Most estate planning attorneys, including our firm, offer initial consultations to discuss your needs and provide clear pricing.
When should I update my estate plan?
Review your plan every three to five years, and definitely update it after major life events: marriage, divorce, births, deaths, significant changes in wealth, moves to different states, or changes in your relationships with beneficiaries or executors. Tax laws also change, so periodic reviews ensure your plan still accomplishes your goals efficiently.
Do I need an estate plan if I don’t have much money?
Yes. Estate planning isn’t just about distributing wealth, it’s about who makes medical decisions if you’re incapacitated (healthcare directives), who manages your finances if you can’t (power of attorney), and ensuring your minor children are cared for by people you choose. Even modest estates benefit from planning, especially when you consider that avoiding probate can save your family thousands of dollars and months of stress.
What happens to my business or intellectual property when I die?
Business interests, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual property require special planning. You need to address management succession, valuation, and how to prevent forced sales or unwanted partnerships. If you own a business or create intellectual property, discuss these assets specifically with your estate planning attorney to ensure they’re handled properly.
Can my spouse change my estate plan after I die?
Your spouse can change their own estate plan at any time, which means they could potentially disinherit your children from previous marriages or change the distribution you intended. If you have concerns about this, talk to your attorney about trusts or other structures that provide for your spouse during their lifetime while ensuring your children ultimately receive their inheritance. This is particularly important in blended families and second marriages.
What if my family disagrees with my estate planning decisions?
You have the legal right to dispose of your property as you see fit (with some exceptions for spousal rights in certain states). However, clear communication during your lifetime can prevent disputes after you’re gone. Consider explaining your reasoning to family members, or at least letting them know that your decisions were made thoughtfully. You might also include a letter of instruction with your estate documents explaining your choices, even if that letter has no legal force.
