Elizabeth Edwards leaves husband John out of will

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

The will Elizabeth Edwards signed days before her death last month made no mention of her estranged husband and two-time presidential candidate John Edwards.

The document Elizabeth Edwards signed Dec. 1, six days before her death, also named her eldest child, lawyer Cate Edwards, as the executor of her estate.

In the will, filed in Orange County Superior Court in North Carolina, Edwards left personal effects, furniture, automobiles and other property to be divided among her children — Cate, 12-year-old Emma Claire and 10-year-old Jack.

Other documents valued Elizabeth Edwards' estate at $496,000 in cash, securities, household furnishings, vehicles and ownership in businesses. She also owned real estate worth an additional $1 million, and she controlled a trust that may hold more assets that do not have to be disclosed in court.







Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2011%2F01%2F06%2Fnational%2Fa052732S81.DTL

If she willed them to John, then they lose her tax exclusion.

I'm certain there was a separation agreement that was part of a pending divorce action.

Either North Carolina allows you to disinherit a spouse when you have a separation agreement or if EE couldn't, she expected JE not to challenge her Will.

DU front page. Not quite breaking news.

I wonder if her estate included just the assets she gained after their separation and her personal possessions - maybe the trust includes her share of the marital assets. Does any lawyer understand this?

It kind of seems like she wanted a final message that while she wanted him to be there for the kids - he was not completely forgiven and she wanted the world to know that by not letting him speak at the funeral and this will.

Back in 2007, Edwards' campaign put his assets at $29.5 million.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/17/candidates.wealth/index.html

Why should she name him in her will? I don't think this is particularly news-worthy.